1. To start off, what made you decide to take the plunge into the world of publishing?
Writing a
book was on my bucket list, definitely not unique to me. My first book, a blend
of memoir and life philosophy, lives only in my laptop and is too personal for
publishing any time soon. Some skeletons are better left in the closet. However,
before I reached the end, I was hooked. So I wrote a pure fiction novel to
publish under my real name. My books are available in most ebook formats as
well as paperback.
2. Tell me about your book.
Yesterday
to Tomorrow is Book 2 in "The Women of Lakeshore Drive" series of
three. The series began with When Least Expected and follows three women
over a progression of time. Each is a complete stand-alone story and can be
enjoyed without reading the others. This second book opens with three friends embarking
on a 22 day cruise. It's not exactly a vacation but more of an escape. Their
hopes are to move from yesterday into tomorrow because today is not a happy
place for them. Quirky passengers on board ship introduce a bit of mystery, a hint
of romance, and a touch of international intrigue.
3. So you write contemporary women's fiction. What do you think sets your books apart from the mainstream women's fiction today?
I write contemporary women's fiction with
baby boomer characters. Their lives take twists and turns, just as with younger women, but they are armed with a
lifetime of experience. Sometimes the perspective of maturity is helpful and
other times it's a hindrance to them.
4. Tell me about yourself.
I'm on the
leading edge of the baby boomer generation myself. My grandmother was a strong
business woman and she passed down her legacYesety of independence and common sense.
I married my high school sweetheart and we raised a family together. Now in our
retirement years, writing is my fourth career.
5. Who is your favorite author, if you have one?
My reading choices range from non-fiction to mystery to action to love stories, so there are many authors I like. If I were to name one favorite, I suppose it would be Arthur Hailey although he is no longer living. I love the factual reality of the settings of his fictional stories.
6. If you could achieve one thing with your writing, what would it be?
If I could
achieve one thing with my writing, it would be to hear both my adult daughters
say, "Wow! This book is great, Mom." I'm not certain they've ever
read one of my books. Is this evidence I have moved from seeking the approval
of my parents to seeking the approval of my children?
7. Can we expect more books from you soon?
Yes, of
course I have more books coming. The Female Descendant, final book of
this series, will be published in late Fall. For next year, I have a companion
book on the drawing board in which a nosy neighbor will report on the 'comings
and goings' of the three main characters . I've begun a book in a completely
different genre, paranormal romance, for 2015 publication. There's also an
outline for a nostalgic little Christmas book that keeps popping up to remind me
it's waiting to be written. Let's mark 2015 for that one, too.
Off-beat questions
1. As a writer of women's fiction, have you watched a lot of what are considered "girl" movies, or "chick flicks?" Have any favorites?
You asked if
I've watched a lot of what are considered 'girl' movies or 'chick flicks,' and
my answer is no more of this type than any other. I do have a couple favorites
though and they're total opposites from one another. I love the original
version of "Imitation of Life." I cry every time I watch it. The
other is "Pretty Woman" and it never fails to make me laugh.
2. What inspired the setting for your novel? Ever been there yourself?
As to what
inspired the setting for my novel, it came down to a matter of logistics. The
story called for a cruise of two to four weeks in length that crossed the
International Date Line and included Christmas and New Year's days in the itinerary.
I wanted an actual cruise, not a made-up one, and this one fit the bill. I've
been to some of the ports but not most of them, so it did require research for
accuracy . A deck plan of the ship lay open beside me the entire time I was
writing.
Purchase a copy of her book:
"I
intend to die young at a very advanced age." That's my motto! Born Sheryl
Black, I grew up primarily in Knoxville, Iowa, attended Grinnell College, and
married my high school sweetheart, Rich Fawcett. Today we live in Omaha NE. We
raised two daughters, and have four granddaughters. We enjoy boating, flying,
world-wide travel, and spending summer days on the Lake of the Ozark in
Missouri. My career path ranged from owning my own dance studio to selling
residential real estate, with intervening years of volunteer work. That
included a stint as Chairman of Committee on Auxiliaries, Iowa Hospital
Association. I have written from time to time throughout my life, fiction and
non-fiction. Published works include full length novels and short stories.
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