Cherry's next action adventure novel will be GIDEON coming this Fall.
Over the last decade-ish J
I've carved a niche for myself with my sexy, sassy, fast-paced, action
adventure novels which have appeared on numerous bestsellers lists, won dozens
of awards and garnered praise from reviewers and fans alike. When people
ask me- “What’s the book (any of my books. Lol) about?” My response is -
“Running-chasing-attraction-shooting--wild-money-sex-running-shooting-more-wild-monkey-sex-running-chasing-shooting-happily-ever-after
J
I loathe writing first drafts. To me it's like
wading through wet cement, and it take me forever because there's always
something I'd rather be doing . Which is why I no longer write by the seat of
my pants, I plot and then plot some more, so that the map of my story is easy
to follow and relatively painless. Once that first draft is done, it's another
story. I can't be torn away from my computer. I go back and layer and texture,
polish, tweak, and fluff!
Writing is not for sissies. It's hard, hard work.
And solitary work at that. But through the years I've found two other
passions to fuel me, and spark my creativity.
The first is teaching. I love, love love teaching everything I've
learned about writing over the years to other authors. It give me such a kick
to see the OMG! look in someone's eyes a second before their head goes down, and
their fingers fly as they write or type at lightening speed. I know that
whatever I just said resonated, and she's no longer even in the same room, but
off applying it to her own story, oblivious to everyone around her. I know what
that feels like, and I want the writers/students in my classes, to have that
ah-ha moment every time a teach the craft of writing.
The second is my passion for mentoring other writers, particularly fledgling
writers at every stage from rank beginners, to authors with several books
under their belts. So many people say they want to write a book, but they never
sit their butts in the chair and actually write. Or they write the same
three chapters over and over again, tweaking and polishing and changing a word
here and there (sure, lady - that's the EASY part! Lol) . Many of them enter
every contest, get fabulous feedback on the same three chapters, year after
year, after year…. but never finish the book. I gently, with great love,
and very little sympathy (sure it's hard, cupcake. But if you want it badly
enough you'll stop talking about it, and buckle down and put in the work) nudge them to sit their as- butts in the
chair and write, and finish the book! Lol
I have an active motivational group on Facebook called Butt In
Chair Challenge ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/ButtInChair/) for
anyone who needs a weekly nudge. Everyone has to report in once a week with
their anticipated word or page count, then come back the following week to let
me know if they met their goal. (threats
and bribes are involved J
Sometimes all I need to do is show them a picture of a great high heel - I can
motivate with graphics. J)
 |
| COMING THIS FALL! |
I've kicked a LOT of butts over the years, and have dozens and
dozens of published books filling the shelves in my office from people I've
mentored. Proving that sitting one's butt down and finishing the damn book
pays off!
I don't delude myself, I know I have very little if anything to do
with their success. I think of myself as the magic feather Dumbo was given to
help him to fly. J
Everyone needs to be seen. We all want to be acknowledged. No one sits behind
us as we type, saying "WOW! That sentence is amazing!" I don't read my mentees (is that a word??! Lol)
work. But I am always right there beside them mentally, encouraging them to
keep going, urging them to finish this book, and start the next, propping them
up when they get that rejection letter, encouraging them to keep submitting,
keep writing, keep learning. I want to see them publish. I want their success.
There's plenty of room for all of us. I can't wait to buy their book the second
they tell me it's available. Their success gives me enormous satisfaction and
joy.
Two of my dear friends, Tina De Salvo*(Elli) and Stella Barcelona*(Deceived) published their debut novels this month. While I had nothing to do
with their success, I'm so proud of their dedication, and their willingness to
learn everything necessary to get their novels from first draft to completed
book. I did a little nudging, but not
much. Neither needed that feather. But if they'd wanted or needed it - I
would've handed over a bushel-full of feathers in a heartbeat. J
Cheers,
Cherry
*Tina De Salvo & Stella Barcelona are Guesting here at RTG on May 29th & 30th.
