You grew up in the Midwest, I believe. Especially in St. Louis? And you had at least one sister and one brother. Yes, actually I’m the second of four. Two girls and then two boys. Were you an outdoorsy type. I’m thinking you were, considering the books you have written. I was more sporty than outdoorsy. I loved team sports. My family didn’t camp at all though I had a grandmother who taught me about birds. I still love to go birding. Did you ride horses when you were growing up? How about dogs and cats? Were they a part of your life?
Weirdly, I was not a horsey kid. My mom was, and one of my daughters was, but it skipped me! We had a golden retriever growing up, but I’ve had cats for the last 35 years, since I married my husband.
How did you end up in the New Bern area? We moved to this area because my in-laws live here. They are both in their 90s, living just down the road, and still are very independent. I love getting to see them!!
I actually grew up in Bethesda, MD. Met my future hubby in New Haven, CT, he proposed but was moving to St. Louis for work … so since I said yes, I went to St. Louis! We ended up in the Midwest for 30 years…Loved living in the Midwest.
What prompted you to write Rachel Alexandra? She sounds like a remarkable mare. I wanted to tell a story that kids would enjoy and Rachel Alexandra was in the news in 2009, when I was looking for a topic. I didn’t know much about the racing world, but I liked her distinctive blaze and the fact that she was racing and beating the boys. Girl-power story on four legs is how I describe her story. Tell us a little about her and what kind of research you had to do to learn her story. I had a career’s worth of interviewing people, but it was a little hard to break into the racing world. I started with the Kentucky Visitors’ Bureau which put me in touch with a woman who said I should really talk to Hal Wiggins, Rachel Alexandra’s original trainer. He opened all the rest of the doors for me, but basically my research was interviewing everyone connected to Rachel that I could and reading all the news accounts of her exploits. She has a kind face and intelligent eyes. She is a really smart horse. Her jockey, Calvin Borel, always talked about how he was just a passenger. She didn’t have to always run in front. …but she seemed like a strategic runner…Bay horses are especially beautiful. What is her lineage? Medaglio D’oro was her sire, and Lotta Kim was her dam. And was or is she a good broodmare? Rachel had two offspring, but then she almost died from an infection after giving birth.
The cover of this book is delightful and grabs the reader immediately. What is the premise of this story? Well, this photo appeared in the obituary of Anna Merz in 2013. As you say, it grabbed my attention! As I read all the obituaries of this remarkable woman I realized this was a story I wanted to tell young readers, especially because of her special relationship with Samia, the rhino pictured on the cover. How did you come to write it? As with the Rachel Alexandra book, I started by doing on-line research and in-person interviews. First, I traveled to Cornwall, England, to interview Anna Merz’s goddaughter, who was very close to her. Naomi Campbell (not the supermodel) put me in touch with many people who knew Anna well. Did you get to meet a rhino or two while you doing your research? Presumably, with a sturdy fence between the two of you? And where were you doing your research? Who is the woman doing rhino raising? Through some of my interviewing, I not only got to meet rhinos, I also got the opportunity to go to Kenya and to the sanctuary Anna Merz founded (that’s really what the book is about) and meet with many people who knew her well and worked side by side with her for many years. It was a thrill.
The only thing I’d like to add is that, sometimes, I think that non-fiction gets a bad rap as being boring or something, but in my own experience, I have found so many amazing, true stories, especially about ordinary people doing extraordinary things and I love sharing those stories, whether in the classroom or at a cocktail party!!
I’m most proud of finding the love of my life 49 years ago and helping him raise his four children. I am also proud of having raised a foal and made him a good riding horse. And I’m quite proud of having published three novels and a collection of short stories since I turned 73. I’m not done yet, even though I’m now 82.
If I remember correctly, Bill Furney and his charming wife Jeanette met me during the first Authors’ Sunday Event at the end of November 2022. Bill was dressed as a pirate replete with a crimson sash around his waist and pirate’s sword guarding his books. Jeanette was dressed as a damsel in distress. I wrongly assumed that all his books would have a pirate theme, but that turns out not to be the case.
I bought a copy of Ivy Moon, thinking she was the damsel in distress. Well, Ivy may be in distress, and she may be a damsel, but don’t think she needs help. She’ll end up helping you.
Bill and Jeanette live just past Fairfield Harbour on Pastures Creek close to Blackbeard’s sailing club. They spend many mornings and evenings on their dock watching the abundant wildlife in their natural marsh habitat…sometimes with a complementary adult beverage. But that is not where they started out.
Where are you from originally? Were you a bookish child, or did you do wild and daring things to challenge your boyhood friends? Or a bit of both?
Bookish? I read a lot growing up, but no one ever called me bookish. Back then, boys were men. Calling a boy bookish wouldn’t fly well and would probably lead to a butt whuppin’. Anyone labeled bookish would have been teased mercilessly and relegated to the girls’ table at lunchtime.
I didn’t have friends growing up. My mother used to tie a pork chop around my neck so the dogs would play with me. That was kinda wild, now that I think about it.
Tell us about what you did before you retired to Fairfield Harbour and why you chose this lovely neighborhood that calls itself part of the enchanting town of New Bern. I believe you said you had been a journalist? Where? And what did you report about? And why did you switch writing gears?
Whereas these skills prepared me for civilian life in metropolitan arcadias such as Chicago, L.A., and Philadelphia, I instead decided to go to a university of higher learning which I won’t name here for fear of sullying their good name. After arming myself with a BS degree in Journalism, I ventured out into the world as a reporter where I proceeded to hone my skills at pissing people off with the written word.
I actually did accomplish stuff along the way. I earned degrees in public relations and advertising; became one of the first five people in the country to become a Certified Communicator in Public Health; was a reporter and columnist with the Jacksonville Daily News; and became the director of communication for several government agencies. In 2001, I helped form and became communication director for the Office of the Public Health Preparedness and Response – the state agency created to respond biological attacks and pandemic outbreaks.
Upon retirement, Jeanette and I moved to New Bern mostly because nobody here knew who I was yet. Living on a creek is a big bonus because it allows us to escape by land OR sea. We’ve been here a little over six years, so we need to be prepared. (See “neighbors ban together” above.)
In regard to writing, I wouldn’t say that I changed gears. I knew that I wanted to write novels when I went to college. I’m also a realist. I didn’t want to starve to death waiting to become rich and famous. That’s why I majored in journalism with an emphasis on public relations. In terms of creative writing, the best thing about working for a newspaper for a couple of years was that it taught me discipline. There’s no waiting for “inspiration” when you have a daily deadline to meet. If I were giving writers one piece of advice, it would be this; write something every day. Even if it’s only a paragraph or two. Push through blocks by writing something. Anything. You can always go back and change it. But waiting for inspiration does nothing but give yourself an excuse to procrastinate. If you procrastinate you aren’t a writer because you are procrastinating. Which makes you a procrastinator. (Profound, right?)
Have you always been attracted to watery areas? No desert sands for you?
Nothing against the desert, but I was born on the coast and grew up around the sounds and ocean. Mountains are great too. I loved living in Colorado. It would have been a perfect state, if it had an ocean. Also, when I was a child, I would listen to my parents’ album with American folk songs. There was one song titled, The Keeper of the Eddystone Light that I played over and over. It went…
My father was the keeper of the Eddystone Light
And he slept with a mermaid one fine night
From this union there came three
A porpoise and a porgy and the other was me
One night while I was a-trimmin’ of the glim
A-singin’ a verse from the evening hymn
A voice from the starboard shouted, “Ahoy!”
And there was my mother a-sittin’ on a buoy
“Oh, what has become of my children three?”
My mothеr then she asked of mе
“One was exhibited as a talking fish
And the other was served in a chafing dish”
I mean, that’s pure genius. Who wouldn’t want to live on the coast and be a writer after subjecting one’s self to a Clockwork Orange behavioral conditioning treatment like that?
As pretty much every writer/author is asked at some point on his or her literary journey, where do your ideas come from? Tell us the story of how you came upon Ivy’s story. She’s a very strong character, but also gentle and helpful. I’d like to be her friend.
The ideas come from anywhere and everywhere, usually when you least expect it and usually followed by a “what if?” The inspiration for Ivy Moon started after Hurricane Florence deposited a 36-foot Catalina on our back steps. One of my friends said, “I hope you checked inside for bodies.” And I thought, wow! What a great idea for a story. As you know, Ivy Moon starts with the sailboat being swept into a back yard here in the Harbour, but instead of a body, it’s a young teen (age unknown) with amnesia who is in the boat. But it was that little quip that started me thinking, “What if?”
Tell us about your swashbuckling characters, and how your lovely wife came to personify one of them.
Hahahahaha… The truth is, Jeanette isn’t personifying either of them. She’s sort of portraying the character Sweets Nightingale, a lady of the evening who plies her wares in Charles Town (now known as Charleston). I personify Bloody Bill Scarlette, one of Blackbeard’s (fictional) former lieutenants who is retried and living at Ocracoke. We started wearing period clothes after my first book signing at the Beaufort Pirate Invasion. All the other authors were in period garb and looked at me like I was a weirdo because I was in contemporary clothing. When in Rome…
The swashbuckling ladies you referenced are, of course, Anne Bonny and Mary Read, two real infamous female pirates. I could talk about them for hours but suffice it to say that I was forced to write their story at cutlass point. The truth is, I kept seeing all these historical pieces about pirates that went into great detail about male buccaneers and then ended with…”and the two female pirates, Anne Bonny and Mary Read.” The writer in me kept asking, so who the hell were they and why aren’t their stories included in the retrospectives? The answers to those questions are in my historical fiction, Black Hearts White Bones. I invite readers to pick up a copy and find out.
What do you do when you’re not writing and selling your books. I believe you said you have a dog? Or did I just make that up?
You know, the usual stuff, fishing, boating, plundering, insulting people on the Internet. But yes, we have a West Highland White Terrier named Finlay. We are very proud of him because he has become a famous international model who appears on the cover of Ivy Moon Last Girl on Earth. Being the Fabio of the K9 world is heady stuff, but we’ve worked hard to make sure fame doesn’t go to his head.
Do you have family you try to keep toeing the line? Or do they make you toe the line? And what line is that?
Sadly, no one in my family has toes.
I look forward seeing the pair of you on October 29th, which is just around the corner. Sarah
While I won’t be able to make this authors event, I wish everyone attending the best and hope to see you soon.
Note: All of my books are on Audible.com and are performed by wonderful voiceover actresses. For those who don’t listen to audio books I invite you to go to my website where you can listen to the five-minute samples of my books just for the fun of it.
In addition to Amazon and Kindle purchase options, my books can also be found at the Next Chapter Books and Arts downtown New Bern.
BUY LOCAL!
Sadly, Bill and Jeanette seem to have more adventuresome plans for October 29th, but I’m sure you will see them out and about.
I met Natalie Singletary at the first New Bern Farmers’ Market’ Authors’ Sunday event in November 2022. I believe she has participated in all three of them, if you count the one we’re having this October 29th. When you check her website, https://obconwriting.wordpress.com/, you’ll see the poetry and intrigue she uses in her writing. Plus, her book covers will pull you in. I wanted to open them up right there on her website.
Welcome, Natalie, and thanks for participating in my series of blog interviews. It gives me a chance to be nosy without being considered rude. I noticed you live in Havelock. Is that your birthplace or are you from elsewhere? Tell us a bit about your life, please. What teacher/s inspired you along your journey? What relative? Do you have a partner who encourages and inspires you?
I was born in Marietta, Georgia, but had left there before I was three years old. After my biological mom passed away, my aunt took me and my sister in. She was in the Navy and, when I was seven, was stationed at Cherry Point after a three-year stint in Naples, Italy. I’ve grown up in eastern North Carolina, in the Havelock-New Bern area, being here for a bit over twenty years. As for inspirations, my childhood pastor, Pastor Ryan, when I was young, made me promise I would never stop writing. Thus far, I have kept that promise, and while he was referring to my poetry, I have expanded on such since then, branching into flash fiction, short stories, as well as a couple of novels. One is a young adult dragon series that is in the planning stages currently. To this day, he is still my favorite pastor. I have a few people in my life who constantly encourage me now, my main cheerleader being my sister. She loves chatting about my books and projects with friends and strangers alike.
How does your life journey color your novels?
My first book, as well as my first compilation of poetry, were both pieces I used for coping with difficult situations that were going on at that point in my life.
What inspires you to write a particular story? Let’s start with Dirty Laundry, which is a great title and I love the cover illustration of the laundry line.
Dirty Laundry was a compilation of poems I had written over time when getting emotions and thoughts out during difficult portions of my life. There are some poems that are gut-wrenching even now when I read them in preparation of choosing which to read for our Authors’ Sunday Event.
What prompted Just of Starters? Again, the desperate eyes on the person’s face pull the reader in. How does that play into the story’s arc?
So Just for Starters was actually a flash fiction and e-book class assignment from my time at Full Sail University. It’s a supernatural compilation of flash fiction and is free to download on SmashWords.com. It mentions about five to six different perspectives on a bigger problem that the universe is having with werewolves. It’s also a part of a trans-media experience that can be found on my website.
Diamond Trilogy: A Dramatic Miniseries seems also to be a collection of short stories. Am I correct? Do you prefer to write short stories? How do you keep them from growing into novels without making the reader feel as if something is missing? Is it because you also write poetry?
The Diamond Trilogy: A Dramatic Miniseries is a three-part series in one, written in script form. It was written as a stage play of sorts. From what I’ve gathered, it being in script form helps the reader be a part of the story. I give them a setting, and the readers are able to fill in the rest. Writing short scripts is only second to poetry for me. I have yet to publish a novel, though a couple are in the works.
The cover of your last book, Remnants, appears to be a piece of Vincent Van Gough’s famous painting “Starry, Starry Night.” Is that correct? This is a book of poetry, correct? What inspires you to tell your story poetically as opposed to prose?
The cover of Remnants is actually a card I drew with alcohol markers when I was doodling one night. You’re not the first person to bring up “Starry Night” when they saw it, though. I absolutely love space and astronauts and was toying around with what I could do with my markers and cards. Many of my journal covers that I have designed under ObCon Writing/Natt3r Creations have been the work of my alcohol markers. I love the way that they can be blended with each other.
It is, in fact, a book of poetry of sorts. One of my classmates and I have participated in Inktober, an artist challenge, for the last three years. Instead of using our ink to draw, we use it to write and hold each other accountable every day. The challenge happens every October. Remnants is the first compilation of our Inktober endeavor. I turned it into a prompted journal that has, not only my poetry and flash fiction attached but also leaves lines for the reader to write their own. I love telling stories with minimum context because it forces the reader to fill in the blanks themselves.
What are you working on now?
I am currently working on an Inktober novel challenge, as well as another book of poetry. I am also turning The Tombstone Confessions, a spooky novel by Casper Luna, into a working script. He will also be at our event on the 29th, promoting his book. Then there is the previously mentioned dragon series that is in the works.
What do you do to rewind?
I enjoy crocheting, making blankets out of discarded hoodies, and drawing and designing journals. I also make wrap-around skirts and zipper bags. I love creating in most forms, to be honest. I’m looking to get back into dancing in the near future as well.
Thanks for being on my blog. Please add any other information I didn’t cover. Sarah
Thank you so much for your time, Sarah! I look forward to seeing everyone on the 29th!
I seem to have the busiest people to have on my blog. Whew, try doing what Rose does with her life. Not only does she write books, she runs a horse farm, writes and produces a podcast, participates in a critique group, and has just started up a publishing company. Whew, makes me want to take a nap just thinking about it. I bet she even cooks the meals at her house and cleans while the food is in the oven.
Hey there Rose. Please start with a bit about where you grew up. It’s a place that I now find dear to my heart. I was enchanted to hear about you walking over the Bridgeton Bridge across the Neuse from downtown New Bern. How many stories came to your mind as you made that journey? It reminds me of the walk I made most days in the small town where I grew up. We kids were charged with walking to the Post Office/General Store to get the mail every day. We were given a dime to spend on candy. How about you?
I grew up on Half Moon Road, a dirt road in Bridgeton. It was out in the country and every Saturday we made the weekly trip to “town,” New Bern to get groceries, pay bills, that kind of thing. When I was old enough, my mom let my friends and me walk to New Bern across the Neuse River Bridge. The river in New Bern is about a mile wide so it was a beautiful stroll into a thriving downtown. My friend and I would window shop, walk around and look at new fashions, have lunch, and take in a movie over at the Masonic Theater and walk home. (As you may know, the bridge Rose is talking about no longer exists. ed)
You didn’t start out as a writer, and I don’t think you’ve given up your other endeavors. But they do all seem to have been creative in one way or another. What other artistic endeavors have you pursued? I love horses! So when I got a job at a newspaper as a marketing director,I sold ads to trade for teaching me to write. I loved every minute of it. Ken Ripley, the Editor of the Spring Hope Enterprise, not only taught me to write but also taught me graphic design and layout. I was soon publishing the first equestrian magazine in North Carolina, Carolina Hoofbeats. I moved from there to a weekly equestrian television show, showing on channel 28 in Raleigh for about years. Carolina Hoofbeats TV. This was moved to streaming networks as technology grew and is still available on Farm and Ranch TV. Then onto Equestrian Expos, an equestrian podcast Today’s Horsewoman and COVID hit. Put me out of business for the most part. So once again reinvention.
I wrote a book, Fortunate Tides. I wanted to do something different as I had only written non-fiction. I got it published, made a thousand mistakes, and realized how hard marketing your book is.
How did you come to be a writer? Were you always making up stories? Or watching people to see how they differed from each other? I took a class at the community college on magazine writing. Submitted my story to the local newspaper and the editor hired me to write a bi-weekly column. Soon I was writing features, planning special sections, doing graphic design and management.
How did you become a publisher? What kinds of books do you publish? Do you do any children’s books? It was a logical evolution to publish. I have published magazines for years. I was the President of Triangle East Writers for a year. While serving I built the group up, did a six-workshop series and raised enough support funding-wise for them to become a 501c3. Since they were in good shape, I decided it was time to pursue this dream. There has always been magic in something in print becoming a paper you can hold in your hand. So often, it is hard for people to get their work in front of a publisher or an agent. I wanted to open new doors. So, I became a traditional publishing company. Authors do not incur any fees with me. I have an extensive marketing background and assist all my authors in their marketing strategy, book tours, etc. And, yes I will look at children’s books.
Please tell us a bit about the books you have written? Their titles and themes? Their age ranges? Genres? Dates they were published? Where they are available? Cover photos, please. A little bit about how the book came to you.
Fortunate Tides was self-published in 2021. It wasn’t on the market for very long due to all my errors. I took it off the market and retooled the original story to become ChasingtheWind.
Both books are Contemporary Women’s Fiction, Adventure with a dash of Romance.
How do you come up with your podcast episodes? Whom do you do the podcasts about? And why do you choose the particular events/people to work with? How do people learn about your service and what do they have to do to an interviewee? Please give us the link to your service.
I look for podcast guests with stories that catch my eye. I don’t want their job resumes. I want to know about them as people. Make me want to know your story, about you, etc. My podcasts are available on every major streaming network in the world, and we enjoy an audience that is world wide.
I choose events and people because I like them, I believe in what they are doing. I like to give new authors an opportunity to get their books out there in the world. I encourage people to write to me and tell me about their work, their books, themselves and see if we can setup an interview. My podcasts can be found at: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1976358/share Carolina Writers Speak
While you do or have done all the stuff you already do, did you get around to having children of your own? I know your handsome devil helps you out a lot, but what else does he do? I believe you told me he also rides horses. Makes him a good person in my book.
In my first marriage I had a magnificent son, James Baxley who lives in Virginia. He has blessed me with 4 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren! Rodney, my husband, is a Maintenance Manager at AAF Flanders in Smithfield. In a previous marriage he had 4 children and 7 grandchildren! I am very proud that Rodney enjoys doing most of the things that I do so it’s fun to do together. He does ride horses, we raise them as well.
What else do you two get involved in?
We also garden and love to camp and cook! Rodney is a technology buff.
Be sure to stop by Rose’s table on October 29th where Rose will be selling her books, in addition to talking about her podcast service and her publishing company. But sadly, she won’t have any of her horses there. Maybe some pictures for us to ooh and ahh over. Sarah
If you have lived in the Washington, NC, to New Bern, NC area for any length of time, there is a good chance you’ve crossed paths with Sherri Hollister. She has a lovely smile and an intriguing chuckle.
You may have had a child or grandchild who went to school with one of Sherri’s sons or their progeny. If you’ve bought a bottle of liquor at the store she manages, you’ve probably at least seen her or maybe even bought at bottle or two from her.
But, if you are a reader and/or author of books, I’d be surprised if you haven’t run across her. Especially if you read spicy mysteries that may make you blush or start to pant.
Her most recently released book is the 5th in the Harrell Family Chronicles. This one focuses on staggeringly hot Remy who runs the family’s potash factory in Beaufort County, NC. And things are not going as planned.
Plus, his girlfriend is in a pickle that gets more dangerous by the second.
When Sherri is not doing one of the above-mentioned activities, she helps run the Pamlico Writers Group. A good place to get to know more about writing and the writers of the area. The link to Pamlico Writers Group is https://thepamlicowriters.wordpress.com/ or you can contact us through our email pwgcritique.group@gmail.com . They are having a meeting at the China Bay Buffet, 2871 US-17, Chocowinity, NC, on October, 31, 2023. There will be a guest speaker, ME! We’ll have time to talk about writing and this that, in addition to filling your bellies and souls with Chinese food.
Welcome, Sherri. I’m looking forward to seeing you at our event. Please give us links to your books and your website. My website is https://sherrilhollister.com . I’m on Facebook, Instagram, Linked In, X (it used to be Twitter), and TikTok. My books are available at most eBook retailers, with print books available at Amazon, Barnes and Nobel, and Books2Read, I also have audio (AI narrated) available at Google Play and a few at Apple.
Let’s start with what your family is up to. I can’t remember if you have 5 or 8 sons. And how many grandbabies? And probably a few great-grandbabies, right?
Ha, ha, I have six sons and we’re up to 23 grandchildren. No greats as yet since my two oldest grandsons just graduated from high school. Ryan is at Pembrook and Jack is working.
You grew up in the Washington area. And, if I remember correctly, have never lived anywhere else. Did you ever dream of living elsewhere? What do you love the best about your neck of the woods?
Actually, I grew up in a small community known as South Creek. It’s about 7 miles outside of Aurora, about an hour from Washington. I was born in Louisiana. We lived in Hampton, Virginia before moving to North Carolina. My parents were both raised in North Carolina. My dad was born and raised in the house next door to where I grew up but both houses are gone now. I’ve lived in Louisiana twice, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, Texas, New Mexico two different times, but home is North Carolina.
I loved living in different places and would love to travel but I was so glad when we decided to move to North Carolina when I was 9. North Carolina, especially Aurora and South Creek were where I belonged. It was where my roots were. I love the water and the pines. It’s one of the reasons I write about it.
When did you decide that you would be an author? And how did you get your start? Who helped you improve your writing? And what pushed you in the direction of writing mysteries? I believe at one point you were writing more romance novels.
I started writing when I was about ten years old. Author was just one of the many things I wanted to be when I grew up. I wanted to be an archeologist. I was in eighth grade when my teacher started calling me Agatha Christy. I’d planned to be a romance writer, not a mystery writer, but I guess he knew what he was talking about.
Who helped me improve my writing? The list is long and still growing but let me start with my mentor and good friend, Marni Graff, also known as the mystery author M K Graff. She is the one who pushed me to publish. Jim Keen, Louis Edwards, the late Doris Schneider and Kaylene Wilson, Angela Silverthorne, and the members of the Pamlico Writers Group who encouraged me to self-publish. PWG, the North Carolina Writer’s Read and the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers were encouraging and helpful in teaching me the craft and business of writing. Donna Steele, Reese Ryan, Kate Parker and Merry Simmons from my Heart of Carolina group as well as critique partners, Beta readers and good friends who have helped and encouraged and taught me to be a better writer. I know I’m missing several. As I said, the list is long. My best friend Robina pushed me to share my writing instead of hiding it under the bed. My husband who gives me courage and strength and acts as my research partner and cheerleader.
I started out writing historical romances, but then we had several family catastrophes. I was afraid I couldn’t write. I was in a dark place when I started writing again and I needed to purge my soul. Chrome Pink and the Leeward Files series were my way of digging out from under all the rubble. When I started the spin-off series, The Harrell Family Chronicles, it still had suspense but wasn’t as dark. Returning to my love of historicals feels as if I’ve come full circle; the fact that it’s a mystery is probably Marni’s influence. I still want romance in my stories but I like having suspense, mystery, or other action in the stories as well.
In Remy’s Dilemma, you put at least part of the story’s action in a fish camp setting that belongs to Remy’s family. Is it based on such a camp that is your family?
The Harrell Family Campgrounds is part dream and part reality. When my husband and I were a young married couple, our dream was to have our own family campgrounds. Since that never happened, I created one for my characters. The location of the campground is the true location of my hometown (South Creek) but I’ve fictionalized it. The actual land I use in the story was part of my family’s old sawmill. I added the rest to fit my fiction.
How did you come up with the storyline for this book? And how did you make it different from the first four books in the series? How did you weave the connections to make the books come together as continuations?
In The Leeward Files, the original owners of the phosphate plant are killed. It is discovered in The Harrell Family Chronicles that there are other heirs, and their mother is one of them. Each of the stories focuses on one of the relatives. Willow’s Retreat is about Remy’s aunt and uncle and their thirty-year marriage that is on the rocks, and someone threatening their family to gain control of the phosphate plant that was involved in illegal activities under the former owners. Janie’s Secrets is a second-chance romance. Remy broke his teenaged sister Janie and his friend, Mike, apart when he learned Janie was pregnant. His interference kept them apart for ten years and put their daughter in jeopardy. The family has to rescue Janie’s daughter and help reunite the lovers. Roxy’s Betrayal is a dual timeline to Janie’s story, the good sister Janie versus the bad sister Roxy. Roxy falls for former Leeward deputy accused of murder. This forbidden love story combines this unlikely hero with a man in need of a second chance. Trent’s Melody combines my love for reality game shows like The Voice and America’s Got Talent with my obsession with HGTV makeover shows. Trent and Melody get a second chance at their happy ever after when they are pitted against each other in a men’s versus women’s makeover show. Remy’s story takes on cyber attacks and Sothy’s past. As the oldest of seven, Remy believes he has to take care of everyone, but sometimes he needs to let someone take care of him.
I believe that Remy is the last of the Harrell Family stories. Is that correct? So, what’s next?
Remy’s Dilemma finishes the storyline that started with Chrome Pink. I will probably revisit Leeward and the Harrell Family, but they will either be standalones or a new series.
Presently I am working on the sequel to my historical mystery The Americans Are Coming, An Applegate Mystery series, Whose Killing the Dukes of Applegate, and I have an obligation to write three short stories for anthologies for an international romance group I belong to. I also have plans for a women’s softball romantic comedy series, The Dirty Princesses.
Love The Dirty Princesses title. As usual, it’s nice to spend time with you, Sherri. And thanks for being my interviewee.
Thank you for allowing me to talk about myself and my books. I’m used to being on the other side of the microphone. I’m looking forward to Sunday, October 29th at the New Bern Farmers Market and to your talk at the Pamlico Writers Halloween Luncheon.
Meet Joan Aubele here and in person on 10-29-23 at our third Authors’ Sunday event.
For those of you who don’t know about our authors’ event, Julie McKeon, who runs the New Bern Farmers’ Market, 421 S. Front Street, asked me to organize it in January 2022 because it seemed a shame to only have the building open on Saturdays and occasionally other days of the week. We held the first event last November of 2022, the second in April of 2023, and now we will be open from 1 to 4 on October 29th, 2023.
We will have coupons from Blackbeard’s Triple Play Restaurant, 415 S. Front Street for a discount on a meal. Collect the coupon when you buy any book at our event.
We will also have Sipping Sunshine (lemonade and tea) truck and The Burger Bus from Swansboro parked in our lot.
We will also have coupons from Next Chapter Books & Art, 321 S. Front Street, New Bern, NC if you stop at 10 authors’ tables and have the author initial the coupon. No need to buy a book, but do at least look at them.
Inside the building, we will have places for you to sit, munch, sip, and read. Plus, several authors will read from their books.
Please plan on bringing the whole family to meet many of our 38 authors. We will have several children’s book authors, ranging from those who write for the very young to those who write for young adults.
If you like to read mysteries, we’ll have plenty of those–some of which are a bit on the spicy side. Look for authors who write whatever comes into their heads from Fantasy to Pirates, or authors who wish to help you better yourselves. If you want to learn some history, we’ll have that covered, as well as those who want to further their understanding of the Christian Bible. And of course, we’ll have horse stories because how can you not?
Hi Joan, thanks for all your help putting this event together.
Were you born in the New Bern area?
No, actually, I was born and raised in Chicago. After sixty-one years of residing in the Midwest, my husband and I decided to pull our long-standing roots and move to the quant sailing community of Oriental, North Carolina.
I am married to my high school sweetheart and even though it’s been forty-five years since we said, “I do,” we’ve never gotten out of the honeymoon stage. We’ve raised three daughters, and to date, have six grandchildren.
Do your stories come from your life? Or do they come from the people you’ve seen along the way? Or do they come from events that you’ve witnessed or been a part of? My first memoir, “The Dance,” is primarily my story of the miracles I am blessed with.
Whereas “Hearts Ablaze” is a combination of my own, in addition to others’ blessings that I’ve witnessed or had the pleasure of being a part of.
From what I’ve read or learned about writers tend to either plot their stories in outline form (an outliner) and others have ideas that seem to smack them upside their heads and lead them down paths (a pantser.) I expect most of us are a bit of both, but I’ve heard a number of writers say that their characters frequently take over the plotline. How would you characterize yourself? I begin with an outline, but as either late-night thoughts or upon waking, random thoughts smack me upside the head. I quickly jot them down on Post-it notes so as not to forget them! I truly believe the Holy Spirit is whispering, “Hey, don’t forget this part!”
Tell us a bit about your published books. I understand your second one is now live and spreading its warmth. What compelled you to write spiritual books? Who is in your target audience?
Glad you asked-–here’s“The Dance” synopsis: Four months after giving birth to her third child, a twenty-nine-year-old woman is given a death sentence by her doctor. Diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, she’s told to make funeral arrangements and say goodbye to her family.
She has always relied on her religious beliefs but becomes the unsuspecting recipient of what can only be described as miracles.
Twenty-five years in the making, Joan, or Joanie, as she is known to friends and family, humbly shares her triumphant story as an inspiration to all. This lovely, Deluxe 2nd Edition of her best-selling memoir, “The Dance – A Story of Love, Faith, and Survival,” includes a new Forward, a heartfelt message from Joan’s oncologist, and a special preview of her next book, “Hearts Ablaze.”
“Hearts Ablaze” synopsis: To Joan’s pleasant surprise, her memoir, “The Dance” reaches Amazon’s Number One Hot New Release spot within four days of publication. Joan’s true and moving testimony of miracles and the power of prayer have created ripples as far as France, Egypt, South Africa, and Bangladesh.
Julie, her local librarian, amongst many others, urges Joan to write a follow-up book. “You need to share the effects of that best-selling book, and all it’s created.” And so, ladies and gentlemen, “ Hearts Ablaze – The Ripples We Create” is born.
This compilation of short stories from pivotal life happenings that Joan has witnessed in her travels is sure to inspire. Hearts Ablaze truly demonstrates how God is forever placing people in our path to ultimately fulfill His master plan. As you immerse into each story, you’ll quickly realize that you are in fact already creating ripples.
Quite simply I write to inspire folks to live their best life and to create those ripples!
5. Do you publish your books yourself? Why? If you go through a Trade Publisher, whom do you use? And why? Do you use an outside editor before you submit your books for publishing? I, for instance, send my work to a woman who has taught me a great deal and improved my writing immeasurably. I have self-published both books as well. I believe the stories found within the pages are extraordinary enough, so I didn’t want to see the stories altered in any way. Naturally, I had both books edited, and since “|The Dance” was my first baby, I also had several beta readers from my local library writer’s group take a look at it.
6. What are you working on now? Sarah, I’m strictly in the process of marketing these books now, but the random thoughts are already popping into my mind for a third memoir!
7. What do you do when you’re not writing your stories? Do you have any hobbies?
If I’m not exploring our new surroundings, I’m either bicycle riding around town, chilling on our dock, or sailing with my husband, Crazy Carl.
In addition, I keep ”The Official Oriental and Surrounding Area Newbie’s Group that I formed last year, afloat.
8. Feel free to add any comments that I have not covered here. I look forward to seeing you on the 29th. Sarah
Several years ago, my oldest daughter treated me to a weekend inspirational, Christian women’s conference. I was truly inspired and dream of someday being one of those speakers, to help make a difference in people’s lives. Although spending time with my family remains my number one priority, I am now fulfilling my dream of becoming one of those speakers.
I’m proud to be a Diocese Approved Speaker and bring my amazing story to life in many Churches, Hospitals, Libraries, cancer support groups, MOPS organizations, Relay for Life events, etc.
I’m truly addicted to participating in book-signing events and conducting presentations. I LOVE that personal connection – we begin as strangers, and part as friends!
Sarah, thank you so much for this awesome opportunity – see ya on 29th!
After every major war or incident, our country does something to honor those who died. Well, we do for a time, but then memories fade, and the survivors die. Then a new war is waged somewhere on our planet.
I personally shudder when somebody plays Taps. It hits way too close to my heart. My father and maternal grandfather both died in the Philippines during WWII. And a great uncle died in Italy during that war. And one uncle died just before that war when the bomber he was flying blew up. Plus, I had ancestors die during the Revolution and most of the wars to follow. And before that, I had ancestors die because their home countries didn’t approve of their religious beliefs.
Now, there are some notable exceptions to the rule. For instance, we do still celebrate our Revolutionary War with the Fourth of July, or Independence Day. But we don’t recite Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address as often anymore, though it is such a powerful and heart-wrenching piece of prose. And should be remembered.
And I’m not alone. Countless families have lost souls to war. After a while, we’ve sealed off those parts of our psyches and gone on with our lives.
A generation of children has learned to go on with their lives after 911, the latest horror to sear our hearts. Except for all the service personnel and their grieving families who still remember the destruction of the day and then the hollows in their hearts of those who died.
Now, of course, we mourn those who are dying or mourning the dead in Ukraine, or countless countries in Africa. Many places in this world or ours suffer needless deaths. Is it the same throughout the universe? Or have more distant solar systems learned how to live in peace? Can’t we try?
Can’t we give a little of ourselves or our land or our beliefs to live in harmony? Can’t we at least try? Can’t we forget how to play Taps?
Can’t we look forward to celebrating the good things that have happened or could happen in our world and in our universe?
You can point to Christmas and Easter, but that’s only for a group of people and not everyone. Or you can point to any other religious holiday, which is supposed to be a time of forgiveness, healing, and joy. But is actually brought about by the death of someone else?
So, here’s to all who have sacrificed for the rest of us, and here’s to trying to live in harmony with each other. Let’s vow to cherish each other no matter our skin color, or our religion, or nationality. And let’s do try to remember that we are all part of the universe.
Computers and I have a love/hate relationship. And I do mutter a lot while I’m using mine. It probably thinks things like: Yeah, ain’t my fault. Or, So learn, already. Or, Pfft, it ain’t THAT hard.
Sassy little machine, don’t you think? But all of that is true, which, sadly, doesn’t it make any easier.
So, thanks to my friend, Stanley Trice, who not only knows computer stuff but writes interesting and slightly off-center books, I now have a well-designed website with a much simpler name. Allow me to introduce you to https://sarahmauryswan.com.
According to Stanley, my old site’s name, https://sarahmauryswanlovesbooks.com was too wordy making it less likely to get computer search hits. I’m looking forward to seeing if I get more responses with the new name. I wanted to make
Computers and I have a love/hate relationship. And I do mutter a lot while I’m using mine. It probably thinks things like: Yeah, ain’t my fault. Or, So learn, already. Or, Pfft, it ain’t THAT hard.
Sassy little machine, don’t you think? But all of that is true, which, sadly, doesn’t make it any easier.
So, thanks to my friend, Stanley Trice, who not only knows computer stuff but writes interesting and slightly off-center books, I now have a well-designed website with a much simpler name. Allow me to introduce you to https://sarahmauryswan.com. According to Stanley, my old site’s name, https://sarahmauryswanlovesbooks.com was too wordy making it less likely to get computer search hits. I’m looking forward to seeing if I get more responses with the new name. I wanted to make it stand out from Sarah Swan, who is also a writer, though I’ve never seen any of her writing.
But one of the things that makes using someone else to do the computer end of things is to have a useful newsletter. I write the article and my computer smarty, Virginie, sends out my post through my newsletter. (BTW, don’t you just love Virginie’s name?) My blog is linked to my site now. Ain’t that the Cat’s Meow?
Since the purpose of this particular post is to entice people to stay connected, and because I sorta think I’m starting over, I’m giving everyone who signs up for my newsletter a chance to get a free e-book. Take your pick and I’ll send you the link for the e-version of either Terror’s Identity, 2015; Emily’s Ride to Courage, 2018; Earthquakes, 2019; or Little Bits: A Collection of Short Stories. After you get and read your book, please do let me know what you think of it. If you hate it, I’ll be a little sad, of course. If you love it, picture me doing a happy dance. But, in either case, I’ll learn from what you say.
Writing is always a learning process and the business of selling one’s books is the hardest part, at least for me. Still, the stories keep coming to my head from one source or another, which means I do have to tell them to somebody. And, no, not many people snore or find excuses to go elsewhere. Means I must be doing something right, if only for me.
Usually on my blog posts, I do reviews of children’s books I have read, but now I’m going to make changes. After 15 or so years, I am no longer reviewing for the Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database: https://clcd.com. I’ll miss doing that, but I don’t relate to lots of modern children’s books. The grammar is way too confusing for an eighty-two-year-old woman. And my reviews probably don’t help potential readers find the books they’d like.
I am branching out to write books for “Grown Ups.” I have always loved reading spy stories, fantasy, and mysteries; particularly cozy mysteries. The first mystery is titled SERENDIPTY’S CONUNDRUM, which features an old woman’s adventures. I’m hoping to have the first one done by next spring and would like you to come along on my journey to being a literary grown-up.
Take care of yourselves and enjoy what you’re doing.
I am trying to be better at marketing my books. But it’s not easy for me so my website is withering on the internet vine, as it were. I have decided it will be easier if I let someone else do the hard part. And a writer friend of mine suggested a friend of his.
The first version of my website was designed and managed by someone who knew what she was doing. So, I happily submitted to her what I wanted to write in my monthly newsletter. With the help of her employees, she would send out my missives. But the designer decided she wanted to do something else with her life and I was left doing it all myself. Since computer stuff is not really my strong suit, the website has withered.
Now, after years of trying to keep up with my website, I am back to having someone else run the darn thing. She is actually in Canada and has the delightful name of Virginie. It is early days of working together, but she’s been quite patient with me and very helpful.
Glory be! I can send Virginie what I want to put on my website and she will see that’s it done properly and speedily. She’ll even mail out my monthly newsletter. I’m sure she won’t yell at her computer as much as I yell at mine. And the people who have asked to keep in touch to hear what I’m writing at the moment will get a monthly update. Whew. And if you don’t want to hear about me, feel free to unsubscribe. I promise not to bother you.
I’m hoping to write my blog more regularly and again include my reviews of books.
At the moment I am finishing my Early Reader book, Space Junk, about a seven-year-old girl, Keandra Maria Ortiz, who wants to build spacecraft as her Pap does. She soon learns that there might be a better way to explore the universe so that we Earthlings don’t continue to pollute Space.
I am also finishing a young adult novel titled Bad Hair Day, about a teen girl who learns that having your hair not be perfect for school is not really a big deal compared to the other things that others endure.
And I just released a collection of short stories titled Little Bits: A Collection of Short Stories. I also answered writers’ prompts for the Carteret Writers Summer Doldrums series. Sixteen days’ worth of challenges. Such fun. And, who knows, maybe I’ll get another collection of short stories out of the challenges. One of the stories will be part of a chapter in Bad Hair Day.
Those will be my last two children’s books because I’m too old to write the language of young English speakers today. It makes me shudder to read or write me or they when I should read I or he/she/it. I have reviewed children’s books for the Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database since 2008, but I find it increasingly hard to relate to the characters. Snobbish and intolerant of me I know, but at 82, I’m entitled; I guess.
My next project is a grown-up’s murder mystery titled Serendipity’s Conundrum. Now I don’t have to feel the least bit guilty if I read lots of mysteries. I’ll just call it research.
For my website, I’m renaming it to something like: https://sarahmauryswan.com because I was told that my current website name is too cumbersome. Please vote on whether you prefer the newer version or the old version: https://sarahmauryswanlovesbooks.com.
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