Ask the Author: Sherry Lewis
Answered Questions (8)
Sherry Lewis
I usually don't keep a set reading list because my choice of books depends so much on my mood at the moment. That's probably one reason I have so many books I bought while in one mood but haven't read yet because... well, because I'm a bookaholic, I guess.
Seriously, though, there are some books I'd like to read this summer, but probably won't have time to finish all of them. One series of books I'd like to read is the Poldark series by Winston Graham. I've read the first in the series, ROSS POLDARK, but haven't read the others yet.
The other series I'd like to read (again) is the Harry Potter series. It's been a while since I read the books. My oldest granddaughter is reading them now and asks me questions frequently that I don't feel equipped to answer since the stories aren't fresh in my mind. How am I supposed to choose a husband from between Ron Weasley's older brothers? I have to read those books again for my own protection!
I always have a tall stack of cozy mysteries I want to read, as well. For the first half of this year, I've read a lot of romance for contest judging purposes, so there aren't any romances on my immediate TBR stack--except the one I started forever ago and had to abandon when the contest books began to arrive. It's one I bought years ago and am finally reading, SECOND THYME AROUND by Katie Fforde
I'm one of those people who needs variety in all things--what I eat, what I watch, what I write, and what I read. Nothing makes me feel edgy and nervous as quickly as too much of the same thing without a break. So usually I try to vary my reading as I go, picking a mystery, then a romance, then a classic, then a YA, a long, delicious family saga, an old favorite, something from the library, something from my Kindle, something from my yet-to-be-read shelves...
Seriously, though, there are some books I'd like to read this summer, but probably won't have time to finish all of them. One series of books I'd like to read is the Poldark series by Winston Graham. I've read the first in the series, ROSS POLDARK, but haven't read the others yet.
The other series I'd like to read (again) is the Harry Potter series. It's been a while since I read the books. My oldest granddaughter is reading them now and asks me questions frequently that I don't feel equipped to answer since the stories aren't fresh in my mind. How am I supposed to choose a husband from between Ron Weasley's older brothers? I have to read those books again for my own protection!
I always have a tall stack of cozy mysteries I want to read, as well. For the first half of this year, I've read a lot of romance for contest judging purposes, so there aren't any romances on my immediate TBR stack--except the one I started forever ago and had to abandon when the contest books began to arrive. It's one I bought years ago and am finally reading, SECOND THYME AROUND by Katie Fforde
I'm one of those people who needs variety in all things--what I eat, what I watch, what I write, and what I read. Nothing makes me feel edgy and nervous as quickly as too much of the same thing without a break. So usually I try to vary my reading as I go, picking a mystery, then a romance, then a classic, then a YA, a long, delicious family saga, an old favorite, something from the library, something from my Kindle, something from my yet-to-be-read shelves...
Sherry Lewis
It really depends on the book. Some ideas have come to me in a flash; others are carved one piece at a time with a lot of hard work. When an idea or a setting or a character shows up fully formed, it's easy to feel inspired. Many days, however, I find inspiration by sitting down at the computer and getting to work.
Working regularly helps to keep me inspired. Whenever I let too much time pass between writing sessions, it's almost like starting all over again. Working every day helps me stay connected to the characters and their emotions.
Working regularly helps to keep me inspired. Whenever I let too much time pass between writing sessions, it's almost like starting all over again. Working every day helps me stay connected to the characters and their emotions.
Sherry Lewis
I have lots of it, n fact. That's why I've written a series of books on writing. But if I had to pick just one piece of advice, it would be to keep learning, to keep trying new things. What works for you today may not work for you tomorrow. What works for someone else may not work for you. There is no "right" way to write, and there's no "wrong" way, either. But sometimes you have to experiment to find what works for you.
Sherry Lewis
That's a tough one. There are so many causes of writer's block, from scenes gone wrong, o characters not fully developed, to huge life interruptions, the treatment is different every time. If it's trouble with the book itself, I try to keep my nose to the grindstone and muscle through one way or another. I may change the setting of a scene or change the point-of-view I'm working with until I find my way past the block.
If it's a bigger life event, however, such as illness or a death in the family, sometimes you just have to wait it out and let time heal the wounds. The good news is, no matter how awful the life event, I haven't met a case of writer's block yet that couldn't be healed...eventually.
If it's a bigger life event, however, such as illness or a death in the family, sometimes you just have to wait it out and let time heal the wounds. The good news is, no matter how awful the life event, I haven't met a case of writer's block yet that couldn't be healed...eventually.
Sherry Lewis
This may sound uninspired, but I was talking to Older Daughter one day as we sat on a park bench, waiting for our mechanic to fix my car. I made some off-the-cuff comment about writing books set along the Gulf Coast. Forty-five minutes later, the car was ready and we'd roughed out plans for an 8-book series.
Sherry Lewis
I'm currently working on an untitled book which will be the first of 8 connected novels. At this point, I think they will have elements of romance, but may also contain elements of other genres. We'll have to wait to see where the characters take us.
Sherry Lewis
Two great things: I get to use my imagination as much as I want, and I can work wherever and however I want--at the beach, at the park, at the food court, or at home in my pajamas.
Sherry Lewis
I actually used one in a book I wrote as Sammi Carter, CANDY APPLE DEAD. A dear friend of mine was found dead inside the clothing store he owned and his death was never solved. Writing that book many years later helped me find some closure, even if the answers were all fictional.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more