Welcome to
my blog, Cheryl. I’m so happy you’re here to discuss your book, A
Sisterhood of Women Living Life: A Short Story Collection – Book 1, and
to find out more about you too. I’m
currently reading your book, and I have to say, you have a keen way of setting
up the conflict for your characters right from the start. I’ve been able to
feel the emotions along with your heroines. I can’t wait to dive back in and
discover what else they have in store for me as a reader.
On with the
questions... ♥
Q: In the
preface of the book you address your readers and explain that most of the
stories are based on real-life events: from your own experiences and those of
your close friends and relatives. I won’t ply you to find out which ones are
real and which ones are fiction, but I wondered what kinds of emotions you felt
while breathing life into your characters and putting them in some familiar
situations?
A: Jan, my emotions while writing this book were
all over the place: anger, frustration, love, happiness, joy and pain. I wanted
to develop characters that were like the actual person, but I had to also make
my characters fictional. In some stories, I added believable events, while
elaborating on the truth.
Q:
The stories
are geared around romance but from the title I’m sensing some real camaraderie
between women in order for your characters to survive the circumstances you put
them in. Can you say a little bit about the roles your secondary characters
play?
A: The Dreaded After Call, is about a long–distance relationship gone
haywire and the main character leans on her secretary, Avril, who is a wise
young woman. In Wine A Little, I was
a wine connoisseur many years ago and used some of my background to write that
story and the secondary character was a kind gentleman who was not afraid to
show his love. In Rape’s Revenge, the
secondary character was a mother, who was strong in her faith and beliefs; and
she guided her daughter to do the right thing. In A Widow Moves On, the man she had fallen in love with was not the
man that she knew and loved. He had a secret and skeletons in his closet. In Dark Secrets and White Lies, I show how
when you tell one lie, you generally have to tell another lie to keep the first
lie a secret. The lies had escalated and
it was almost as if the truth was hit by an avalanche of lies.
Q:
Given that
your book is a collection of short stories, was there one story in the grouping
that you found easy to write? One that was more difficult? Were there any
stories that didn’t make the cut; meaning you decided not to share it at this
point?
A: The easiest story to write was Wine A Little, because it was a “light
weight” topic. LOL. The hardest story to write was Rape’s Revenge. Anytime children get hurt in the process, I tend to
cry. Yes, I had a couple of stories that didn’t make the cut for Book 1. I
don’t want to reveal them because I think they will make the cut for Book 2.
Q:
Settings in a
story can play a big part. Sometimes the setting is subtle; in the
background not rousting much conflict. Sometimes, however, it adds to the drama
and escalates the tension. Can you whet our appetites by picking a setting from
one of your stories and how it was the perfect place for conflict to
arise?
A: Yes, in A
Widow Moves On, the couple always went out to dinner or other places,
rather than his home. So, the setting of his family room was the perfect place
for her to “notice” things that seemed out of place. I don’t want to give away the ending.
Q: Which heroine
was your favorite to write? What trait of hers do you think your readers will
pick up on right away and fall in love with her?
A: The young woman in Dark Secrets and White Lies, was a
Millennial and she was somewhat of a challenge for me to write her character
and stay true to the events. I think my
readers will pick up on the fact that she was frustrated and angry with herself
for continuing to lie. I, especially, wanted this book to have something for
women of all ages.
Q: On the flip
side, which hero was your favorite? What trait of his do you think the readers
will connect with?
A: In Wine A Little, I so enjoyed writing the hero and making him a man
that we can all love. He was kind, caring and loving—all the time.
Q: Romance is
easy; love is not. Were there any heroines/heroes that as you wrote their
story, you weren’t sure they were going to get their happily-ever-after because
they didn’t seem to be able to resolve their issues?
A: You’re absolutely right, romance
is easy and love is not. In Rape’s
Revenge, I knew what the outcome was going to be, but I had to figure out a
way to execute it without making all of the characters look bad.
Q:
Please
describe how you felt when your book was finished. Were you emotionally spent
from everything you put your characters through? Did you break into song? Dance
around the room? (There have been times when I’ve
burst into song and danced when I type The End - *grins*)
A: Of course, some stories drained me
more than others, but, overall, I was elated when the book was finished. I usually give myself some type of treat when
I finish a book, such as a special chocolate candy, a movie that I’ve been
wanting to see or dinner at a new restaurant.
Q: This was book
1. Are you currently working on book 2? If so, when do you plan to publish it?
A:
No, I have two projects that I need to finish before I start working on
Book 2. However, I plan to publish Book
2 in late 2017 or early 2018 depending on the editing.
Great information about your book. Thanks for sharing it. Okay, now a little about you...
Q:
You wear a
lot of hats when it comes to the whole scope of writing. You’re a writer,
journalist, editor, writing instructor, accountability writing coach for debut
authors, and an experienced blogger. You are so kind to fellow authors and
pay-it-forward by highlighting them and their books on your blog. How in the
world do you balance everything?
A: It is definitely a juggling
process. I took an early retirement, so that I would have time to write. Now,
I’m busier than ever. I teach writing workshops and have several clients in my
accountability writing programs. On my
blog, I pay it forward to other authors on a regular basis and I write every
day. I am extremely busy and yes, each day still only has 24 hours. LOL
Q: Regarding your workshops, I see on your blog that there's one coming up in March. Would you
tell us more about that in case some aspiring writers/or seasoned writers want
to attend?
A: Yes, my workshops are held in
Maryland at a Bed & Breakfast, so writers feel relaxed and they can get
their writing juices flowing. Each
workshop has a specific theme. On March
4th the theme is Getting Focused. Writers can get help to start or finish a novel, write poetry, or revise
a short story. I provide motivation and inspiration. On April 15th
the theme is Getting Published. Writers get tips, shortcuts and advice on
self-publishing and traditionally publishing their books. The workshops are a
one-day event from 9-5 and at a reasonable cost. Writers can email me.
Q:
When it’s
time to step away from writing, what do you like to do? How do you recharge the
batteries for your muse?
A: I recharge by writing a “new” story. I also
enjoy going once a month to the local Writers Group for a few hours. We share
our stories, good news, tips, advice and new releases. The camaraderie is great for renewal.
Q:
If you could
live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
A: On the beachfront, where I could
look out at the water and enjoy the sound of the waves and the smell of the ocean.
But then, I probably wouldn’t get any writing done.
Q:
Music is a
constant inspiration for me. Is it for you as well? Which musical artist sings
to your soul?
A: Yes, music is an inspiration for
me. I wouldn’t be able to write without some kind of music playing. I like R &
B and Gospel. If the house is too quiet, I cannot concentrate. My
grandkids all know that they can talk to me when they come over, but they say,
“Shhh. Grandma is writing her new book.” They love to look at my blog and see
my picture.
Q:
You have a
trailer for your book. Would you like to share it with us?
A: Yes, I have a new trailer coming out soon for
A Sisterhood of Women Living Life. Readers can check my blog for actual release
date. I currently have a Blog Giveaway in
Celebration of 500 Blog Posts and 500 Tweets. The prize is for three winners.
They will receive an eBook copy of A Sisterhood of Women Living Life and The
Proposal: A Leap of Faith, as well as a $10 Starbucks Gift card. All they have
to do is leave a comment on my blog.
You’ve been
a joy getting to know, Cheryl. I’m glad you visited my blog and I hope you’ll
come back soon.
Bio for Cheryl Holloway:
Cheryl Holloway is an amazing contemporary romance author,
journalist, award-winning editor, writing instructor, accountability writing
coach for debut authors and experienced blogger. She has written several
eBooks, The Cougar Tales Series, Book
1: Father and Son; Book 2: The Italian Basketball Player; Book
3: Jamaican Lover, The
Bane Bath Salts, (Teen Drug Prevention), and her latest release, A
Sisterhood of Women Living Life: A Short Story Collection.
They are available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Smashwords. Cheryl has
worked for the Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press. She has several
forthcoming books, including Lana’s Dream and How
to Enhance Your Life with Prayer. When she’s not writing books, she
is either writing her blog or reading. Cheryl Holloway’s passion is to Pay-it-Forward to other authors on
her blog.
You can follow Cheryl here:
It's nice to get to know more about you, Cheryl! Thank you, Jan, for posting this wonderful interview.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you stopped by, Wanda.Cheryl is an amazing woman and author, and it was a pleasure getting to know her.
DeleteNice feature...I love to see authors supporting other authors. Thanks, Jan!
ReplyDelete