Ask the Author: Cheryl St. John
Answered Questions (12)
Cheryl St. John
I tried to respond last week, and couldn't post it.
I was delighted to hear from you! Land of Dreams remains one of my favorites and the bestselling book of my career. I got rights back to it years ago and republished it independently. So it's still going strong.
I think I either saw a review you posted or followed someone who left a review to their friends and saw you there.
Thanks so much for getting in touch!
I was delighted to hear from you! Land of Dreams remains one of my favorites and the bestselling book of my career. I got rights back to it years ago and republished it independently. So it's still going strong.
I think I either saw a review you posted or followed someone who left a review to their friends and saw you there.
Thanks so much for getting in touch!
Cheryl St. John
I think a lot of readers "like" reviews because they give us an idea of how others are enjoying a story. Also a nice way to find books to read.
Cheryl St. John
I sure am! I have Crosby's story planned as well as the twins, Steph and Brooke. Even Liz will get a short story! Thanks for asking!
Cheryl St. John
Cintia, I completely understand your frustration. I have a book coming out in February that might be helpful. It's called Write Smart, Write Happy by Writer's Digest. In it I deal with the frustrations and pressures of being a writer in this competitive and ever-changing business. But to answer you now, I have a few suggestions:
Passion is #1. Find what you love to write and write more of it. Always hold onto the key idea that inspired you to write a particular story and don't be swayed from it. Excellent writing and good technique are imperative, but they're nothing without passion.
Surround yourself with other writers who understand you, who support and encourage you. Don't listen to the naysayers. If people drag you down or discourage you, separate yourself from them.
Same for social media or any publication that gets you down. Protect your creativity. Guard it. Work on your self-confidence. Indeed, there are a lot of writers, but you are the only you. Only you can write this story and present in from your viewpoint.
Years ago I unsubscribed from publications that made me feel as though I was fighting a losing battle on my way to publication. Of course, it's good to be wise about the market and the business, but sometimes too much information is crippling.
My philosophy has always been, "What if this is the one?" and "What's the worst that could happen?"
Find a good writing organization locally or in person. I belong to Romance Writers of America and Romance Writers of the Heartland, plus a critique group of supportive and encouraging writers. You're not alone. You may be just the person to lift up someone else. Put yourself out there. This is a vulnerable occupation, but there are others like you.
Best wishes to you!
Passion is #1. Find what you love to write and write more of it. Always hold onto the key idea that inspired you to write a particular story and don't be swayed from it. Excellent writing and good technique are imperative, but they're nothing without passion.
Surround yourself with other writers who understand you, who support and encourage you. Don't listen to the naysayers. If people drag you down or discourage you, separate yourself from them.
Same for social media or any publication that gets you down. Protect your creativity. Guard it. Work on your self-confidence. Indeed, there are a lot of writers, but you are the only you. Only you can write this story and present in from your viewpoint.
Years ago I unsubscribed from publications that made me feel as though I was fighting a losing battle on my way to publication. Of course, it's good to be wise about the market and the business, but sometimes too much information is crippling.
My philosophy has always been, "What if this is the one?" and "What's the worst that could happen?"
Find a good writing organization locally or in person. I belong to Romance Writers of America and Romance Writers of the Heartland, plus a critique group of supportive and encouraging writers. You're not alone. You may be just the person to lift up someone else. Put yourself out there. This is a vulnerable occupation, but there are others like you.
Best wishes to you!
Cheryl St. John
Rye Dalton and his Laura-love in LaVyrle Spencer's Twice Loved. Loved that story and their romance whole-heartedly.
Cheryl St. John
You must be intuitive!! Oh my goodness.
I just got rights back to that book. It had never been digitized, so I had to send it out for page by page scanning to revise and republish it. JUST GOT THAT WORD FILE TODAY! You will see A Husband By Any Other Name with a new cover and in print and digital in 2016. Thank you for asking! And you made my day/week/month becaue I was hoping readers would still want to read it! XOXO
I just got rights back to that book. It had never been digitized, so I had to send it out for page by page scanning to revise and republish it. JUST GOT THAT WORD FILE TODAY! You will see A Husband By Any Other Name with a new cover and in print and digital in 2016. Thank you for asking! And you made my day/week/month becaue I was hoping readers would still want to read it! XOXO
Cheryl St. John
Hi Nancy! What a treat to hear you've enjoyed the trilogy that much! The Wedding Journey was a pleasure to write. fyi I also have a free prequel to that series on my blog. Here: http://cherylstjohn.blogspot.com/p/fr...
When authors are involved in a continuity series like The Irish Brides, we start out with what the editors call the "bible." It contains the basic story themes, characters, and a thread that will be carried through all the books to unite them. In all of them I've done, the authors form an email loop, like a yahoogroup, where we plot, plan, compare notes and characterization, character traits and descriptions. We read each others' synopsis' and sometimes as people finish, they share scenes or the whole book with the others.
I was recently partnered with Sherri Shackelford and Karen Kirst for a trilogy called Cowboy Creek, a Kansas boomtown story about mail-order brides. My book is called Want Ad Wedding. The nooks will release April, May and June 2016. Hope you'll look for those!
Thanks for posting your question.
When authors are involved in a continuity series like The Irish Brides, we start out with what the editors call the "bible." It contains the basic story themes, characters, and a thread that will be carried through all the books to unite them. In all of them I've done, the authors form an email loop, like a yahoogroup, where we plot, plan, compare notes and characterization, character traits and descriptions. We read each others' synopsis' and sometimes as people finish, they share scenes or the whole book with the others.
I was recently partnered with Sherri Shackelford and Karen Kirst for a trilogy called Cowboy Creek, a Kansas boomtown story about mail-order brides. My book is called Want Ad Wedding. The nooks will release April, May and June 2016. Hope you'll look for those!
Thanks for posting your question.
Cheryl St. John
Thank you! It's not out until August.
Cheryl St. John
Nishtha, I loved hearing that you can find my books in India! I am still writing about ranchers. Am currently working on a book about a Kansas boom town (cattle). I have an August book coming out that is set on a ranch. It's called Sequins and Spurs.
Cheryl St. John
Thanks, Michelle! I don't think the emotions from my stories spill over into my life, but rather the other way around. I tend to remember and use emotional experiences in my stories. Not the exact situations, of course, but the feelings they produced. I study books and movies for my emotional reactions to situations, the more emotional the better. And then I apply the things that make me feel strongly to my story.
If there's a lot at stake for the character, the reader's involvement is greater. I love a story that makes me laugh or cry, and I want to give my readers that experience. I think that's why we lose ourselves in books, because we can vicariously live those emotional highs and lows from the safety of our own rather normal lives.
xoxo
If there's a lot at stake for the character, the reader's involvement is greater. I love a story that makes me laugh or cry, and I want to give my readers that experience. I think that's why we lose ourselves in books, because we can vicariously live those emotional highs and lows from the safety of our own rather normal lives.
xoxo
Cheryl St. John
I always encourage beginning writers to believe in themselves. Being unsure of your ability is natural, but you've been given a gift. There will be times when no one else believes in you, so stay confident that this is your gift and you're meant to use it.
Cheryl St. John
I'm working on a proposal for a story about a country music singer. I got the idea because I enjoy taking characters back to their small town roots and having them figure out what to do with their lives. My next Harlequin Historical (Aug 2015) is about a singer in the 1880s. I thought a contemporary singer sounded fun.
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Feb 09, 2021 01:28PM · flag
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