Hi Sherri, first of all, could
you tell us a bit about yourself.
By day, I work in professional
licensing for design professionals. At night, I’m an independent author. I primarily
write mysteries but have also written sci-fi and non-fiction.
What do you think makes your
genre special?
I believe the mystery genre is
special because it engages the mind – it makes you think, and the stories tend to
stay with you even after you finish reading the book. I believe a good mystery
also helps us to see the world around us with new eyes, and broadens our
perspective. Nothing is mundane when you’re a mystery fan. You always look for
the details in things, to tell you more about what it all means.
What do you think makes a
great story?
The ability to take you
outside yourself and your life and put you in another world. I think a story
that captures you and really makes you think is the best kind of story there
is, no matter what the genre.
What is your latest book
called and could you explain to us in 20 words what it is about?
My latest book is titled Anywhere
But Here. It’s about a young woman who battles the demon of depression –
literally!
Which kind of reader do you
think will enjoy your book?
I wrote the book mainly for
the 18-35 year old age range, but I believe it can appeal to a wider audience.
I believe young adults would like it because they can relate to the struggles
of finishing school and starting out in life. I think we can all relate to our
expectations not working out and having to make life over, as we all go through
those times when everything falls apart and we have to pick up the pieces and start
over. I also hope that people with depression or those supporting loved ones
with depression will find inspiration and hope in it. It’s a battle, but it’s a
battle that can be won.
Is it a Standalone, or part of
the series? If it the latter, how long do you think will it go on?
This is a standalone book,
although I’m not opposed to returning to Palmetto Beach or visiting Jana
Lanning for future adventures, if the inspiration strikes.
What influenced or inspired
you writing it?
I recently blogged about the
incident that was the catalyst for this novel. One time several years ago, I
was out with some people, all of whom struggled with depression. They were
discussing treatment options when one of them realized I hadn’t said a word.
They asked what anti-depressant I was on, and I said “none; I don’t have
depression.” The entire conversation shut down immediately. I was disappointed
because it was the first time I heard people actually suffering from depression
talk about their struggles candidly, and discovering one “outsider” halted it.
I was learning so much from them, and another opportunity arose. I went home
and searched “depression” on the Internet and literally got tens of thousands
of hits. I found it ironic that there’s so much information out there, but it’s
never discussed publically. I already had an idea about a story of a young
woman struggling to start out in life and thought that people might receive the
message better if they read a fictionalized account of one person’s struggle.
If people won’t talk about it, I hope this novel will at least get them
thinking about it.
Why did you choose especially
this title? Was it your first choice?
Frankly, titles usually give
me a migraine. To me, the hardest part is summing up the entire plot in just a
few words. Usually, something a character says in the course of dialogue once
they’re in the thick of their conflict strikes me as “the perfect title.” That
was the case in this novel. Anywhere But Here was my first
choice, and I’m glad it stuck. I still think it sums up the plot well because
it’s about a woman that wants anything but what she has in life.
What was the hardest part for
you working on your book?
The hardest part was keeping
Jana’s fantasy world and reality straight. In this novel the protagonist, Jana,
receives an enchanted music box that causes her depression to take form and
create a fantasy world that sucks the life out of her. The fantasy world
started out mirroring her expectations for life, but altered to draw closer to
her reality by pulling in people and events as it occurred, drawing the worlds
closer. This was a challenge for me. At one point, I actually had to draw up a
two column timeline of what she was thinking and what was actually happening to
make sure I was pulling the two worlds together right. That was a special
challenge!
Was there a scene that you
didn’t want to add or remove in your finished work?
I was fortunate in that the
events of the book stayed pretty much as I planned. I did a lot of
brainstorming and planning prior to writing the novel. Of course I had ideas
and inspirations for things I didn’t plan, but they fit in with the overall
plot structure. I was lucky with that particular element on this novel.
Do you already know what to do
next?
I’ve signed a contract to
publish a sci-fi novel titled Splinter through Whiskey Creek Press in
the next year. This is an apocalyptic novel about 1,000 survivor’s of Earth’s
destruction. They think it was an unfortunate collusion of a solar flare and
the Earth’s magnetosphere reversing, but dark matter rips open parallel
universes and the survivors start to get glimpses of events suggesting that
Earth might have been destroyed on purpose by a Doomsday cult. I’m also working
on another mystery novel tentatively titled Move. It’s about a young
woman that unknowingly makes a deal with a djinn (genie). Unfortunately, the
djinn takes the concept of “reaping and sowing” very seriously and his way of
solving the problems creates more trouble for the protagonist.
Where can we find more about
you and your books?
People asked me why I didn’t
do a Christmas letter and I said “I have a blog, and I’m all over social media.
Finding out what’s happening in my life on a day to day basis isn’t hard.” This
is true. I love social media. You can find me online at:
Website and Blog: http://www.sherrithewriter.com/
Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/sherrithewriter
Twitter at http://twitter.com/SherritheWriter
Any last words?
Give independent
authors a chance! There’s a lot of talent out there that traditional publishing
passes on because it doesn’t fit their “formula.” Sometimes the best writing
comes from breaking the mold and stepping out of the box. E-publishing has
brought a lot of that talent out for the public to enjoy. Who knows? You might
find your next favorite author in the indie market!
Meet Jana Lanning:
A recent college graduate who can't seem to get a grip on life. All of her
plans for the future have fallen apart within two weeks of graduation. The only
comfort she finds is in a mysterious music box sent to her by a friend. At
first she looks to it for comforting memories of her past, but soon she's
having strange dreams of a life where she's the queen of a world where
everything she desires comes to pass. It seems ideal until elements of reality
and her dream world start to merge, leaving her ill and confused. When she's
confronted by attacks in both worlds, she must face her demons and choose which
reality she prefers; and what price she'll pay to keep it.
0 Kommentare:
Post a Comment