Ask the Author: Cheryl R. Cowtan
Answered Questions (17)
Cheryl R. Cowtan
I'll email you Eve
Cheryl R. Cowtan
Well, I just returned from Cuba, and though Cuba is not often featured in the fictional book world, I have been inspired to write a romance about the location I spent 7 days at.
Cheryl R. Cowtan
I just finished "Mask of Duplicity" by Julia Brannan and will probably consume this series until it either loses me or ends with the same fabulous writing it has started with.
Cheryl R. Cowtan
Stubbornly, I decided to go on my pre-paid $5000 cruise in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic paranoia! After leaving our first tropical port, my nostrils reacted to a foreign pollen spore making me sneeze on the Captain who immediately ordered me quarantined to the engine room's oil storage closet, in which I found a crew member hiding his feverish coughs and gasps for breath.
Cheryl R. Cowtan
Hi Patricia,
Thanks for asking. I have a terrible routine. ;) Especially lately, but here are a few things I've noticed. If I set a time each day and stick to it, I write much more. If I leave a manuscript for too long, I dread going back to it and have to read the whole thing over again to get back into the story (timewaster). If I can stick to opening my manuscript at least every other day, I can stay on point.
Thanks for asking. I have a terrible routine. ;) Especially lately, but here are a few things I've noticed. If I set a time each day and stick to it, I write much more. If I leave a manuscript for too long, I dread going back to it and have to read the whole thing over again to get back into the story (timewaster). If I can stick to opening my manuscript at least every other day, I can stay on point.
Cheryl R. Cowtan
Well, in Book 3, Rachel has to go back and deal with that Boeglin. She can't not save those villagers now that she's made it impossible for Gräfen to. In book 3, the village patrol, the villagers, the Boeglin, the upcoming family masquerade will all become clear as Rachel returns to be Mistress of Madhouse.
Stay tuned!
Stay tuned!
Cheryl R. Cowtan
Yes, the background to the Fergus She is moving much slower, being a subplot to the bigger story of Rachel. This whole plotline is so rich, I can see myself writing many novels to cover all the time periods. In book 3, I will continue the format of the background (Scarlett, Ebba, Abitha, William, Edward 1600s Virginia Colony Jamestown) interweaving within the more modern story (1980s Guelph, ON, Canada & 1890s Gräfen's location).
Eventually, everything will connect.
Eventually, everything will connect.
Cheryl R. Cowtan
I agree. Gräfen has more to give. I can think of a number of ways to let Gräfen back out, and a number of reasons. He's one of those grey villains. Can he be good? Or good enough that we can forgive him his transgressions? Can Rachel ever be free if Gräfen is free? Maybe Gräfen is the only "man" who could handle and/or tolerate Rachel. But can Rachel go backwards? She just made a good choice. I think she has to go forwards, unless she has no choice and must release Gräfen to survive.
Another great question. How can Rachel and Scarlett find a compromise? How can they allow each to live? And would it ever work? Scarlett is too vicious. Unless Rachel could control her, Scarlett can't be let out to play. This is a good question. I'll let it percolate and see what my imagination comes up with.
Another great question. How can Rachel and Scarlett find a compromise? How can they allow each to live? And would it ever work? Scarlett is too vicious. Unless Rachel could control her, Scarlett can't be let out to play. This is a good question. I'll let it percolate and see what my imagination comes up with.
Cheryl R. Cowtan
Yes, Rachel is as strong as a person can get. She just keeps on fighting and like Scarlett says to Gräfen, "look at how this body survives". Unfortunately though, that kind of strength is not great in a relationship. Rachel has a lot of baggage, and some serious relationship issues including probably separation anxiety. So, the chances she could have a healthy love relationship with Angus very slim. And then there is the problem with the betrayal. Could she ever really forgive him for bringing up the She? Is she someone who can let that go and return to love? I think she thinks she can, but in truth, over time, Rachel's resentment would turn to poison and destroy anything Rachel and Angus could salvage.
However, that said, I would love for them to get together. But... she's changed over the two books. She's not the same person. Would she even want a man like Angus? Or would she want a man she could control, like Man-boy from book one? Or would she want a simple, hard-working man like Còmhan? I think by the end of book two, we see that Rachel doesn't need any man at all. Perhaps that will be the gift of all this suffering is that she will realize she is strong enough to not need a man--not need love.
... But that's no fun for us LOL So, we gotta find her a man in book 3!
However, that said, I would love for them to get together. But... she's changed over the two books. She's not the same person. Would she even want a man like Angus? Or would she want a man she could control, like Man-boy from book one? Or would she want a simple, hard-working man like Còmhan? I think by the end of book two, we see that Rachel doesn't need any man at all. Perhaps that will be the gift of all this suffering is that she will realize she is strong enough to not need a man--not need love.
... But that's no fun for us LOL So, we gotta find her a man in book 3!
Cheryl R. Cowtan
Hi Gray,
Thank you so much for taking the time to ask some great questions. It's true, there are many unanswered threads because the reader only can know what Rachel knows, and Rachel is what we call an "unreliable narrator" because she has been kept in the dark and can only know what she can uncover and/or what others will tell her.
I'm glad you asked about Magda's stepmother. I wondered what to do with that when I was writing Girl Desecrated. Who was this woman Rachel never met? Well, in light of the depth of the deception from Magda, perhaps there never was any woman, no step-mother at all? Perhaps Magda just lived with her cousins the whole time she was "befriending" Rachel over the years. These are some tidbits that could come to light in the second book. I just have to decide if they are worth spending time investing in and how to naturally bring this information in.
Thank you so much for taking the time to ask some great questions. It's true, there are many unanswered threads because the reader only can know what Rachel knows, and Rachel is what we call an "unreliable narrator" because she has been kept in the dark and can only know what she can uncover and/or what others will tell her.
I'm glad you asked about Magda's stepmother. I wondered what to do with that when I was writing Girl Desecrated. Who was this woman Rachel never met? Well, in light of the depth of the deception from Magda, perhaps there never was any woman, no step-mother at all? Perhaps Magda just lived with her cousins the whole time she was "befriending" Rachel over the years. These are some tidbits that could come to light in the second book. I just have to decide if they are worth spending time investing in and how to naturally bring this information in.
Cheryl R. Cowtan
Now I think you are probing to find out the secrets in my life. Are you my neighbour? LOL
A mystery in my life... I'm not sure I have one. Do people generally have unsolved mysteries in their lives? Like who was that guy I dated? Or ... I'm at the funeral, but I'm not sure who we're burying...
Or perhaps I'm missing the boat.
Why was that boat late?
What dock was I suppose to be on?
Why would the ticket guy sell me the wrong ticket?
No... I don't think I have any mysteries. I'm one of those people who analyze an occurrence until it's in shreds. My husband (the engineer) loves that about me. So, I think I solve everything twice over.
A mystery in my life... I'm not sure I have one. Do people generally have unsolved mysteries in their lives? Like who was that guy I dated? Or ... I'm at the funeral, but I'm not sure who we're burying...
Or perhaps I'm missing the boat.
Why was that boat late?
What dock was I suppose to be on?
Why would the ticket guy sell me the wrong ticket?
No... I don't think I have any mysteries. I'm one of those people who analyze an occurrence until it's in shreds. My husband (the engineer) loves that about me. So, I think I solve everything twice over.
Cheryl R. Cowtan
Hmmm. That's a good question. I hate choosing favourites.
I think Scarlett and Rhett in "Gone with the Wind" are unforgettable because they just couldn't get together and make their relationship work, and it drove me crazy.
I loved the dynamics of poor boy and rich girl in "Grease" between Olivia New John and John Travolta.
I also love the older, more worldy dancer, played by Patrick Swayze in "Dirty Dancing" and the naïve, coming of age, Jennifer Grey.
The twist in the relationship between MadMartigan and Sorsha made their relationship in "Willow" exciting and unforgettable - especially the fight and love scenes. If you haven't seen it, watch here https://youtu.be/0O0Uwt-Pai4
And what about Buffy and Spike from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". That was thrilling because it was wrong--so wrong in terms of what Buffy stood for and what she wanted to do.
Hmmm when I try to think, which relationship made me swoon, made me want to be a part of it or read about it forever... I can't think of one, but that's just because I probably don't remember. The definitive answer will strike me at 3 a.m. tonight!
I think Scarlett and Rhett in "Gone with the Wind" are unforgettable because they just couldn't get together and make their relationship work, and it drove me crazy.
I loved the dynamics of poor boy and rich girl in "Grease" between Olivia New John and John Travolta.
I also love the older, more worldy dancer, played by Patrick Swayze in "Dirty Dancing" and the naïve, coming of age, Jennifer Grey.
The twist in the relationship between MadMartigan and Sorsha made their relationship in "Willow" exciting and unforgettable - especially the fight and love scenes. If you haven't seen it, watch here https://youtu.be/0O0Uwt-Pai4
And what about Buffy and Spike from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". That was thrilling because it was wrong--so wrong in terms of what Buffy stood for and what she wanted to do.
Hmmm when I try to think, which relationship made me swoon, made me want to be a part of it or read about it forever... I can't think of one, but that's just because I probably don't remember. The definitive answer will strike me at 3 a.m. tonight!
Cheryl R. Cowtan
I always loved reading and wanted to write - cheap answer, right? But wait... there's more. When I was in high school, the new found freedom of being ignored by teachers during class gave me much enjoyed reading and writing time. I read novels, right there at my desk, and only once did a teacher actually speak to me about it. I also started to write novels in my Hilroy journal book. I'd write during Science, English, Math and then during lunch, my friends at the cafeteria table would read what I had written. They would twitter, and exclaim and groan when they got to the end. Then, they would demand another chapter and of we'd go to class, where I would continue ignoring my teachers. Well! That was definitely the beginning of the writer's bug. And now, here I am, a published author on Goodreads, asking questions of myself. Yes, this is the life! LOL
Cheryl R. Cowtan
One of the best things, at this point in my career, would be having a say. Writing (even fiction) allows me to rant about whichever topic drew my righteous stink-eye. No one interrupts, I just hammer away, righting (writing) whatever wrong I feel has been done, and righting (writing) it through a plot of redemption, challenge, heroic journey, or tragedy.
Cheryl R. Cowtan
Well, if I've got it right, writer's block is having the time and opportunity to write, but not having anything to write about. I have the opposite problem. I have lots to write about, but can't find the time or opportunity to get it all down. What would that be? Time block?
Cheryl R. Cowtan
So many ideas await my attention, but submitting my two finished manuscripts really should be my priority. Writing is awesome! Such an adventure full of hope and emotion. But submitting that finished work to potential publishers becomes boring and uninspiring very quickly. I would like to finish "The Raised Hand of Man", which is a female's foray into the dark seedy world of misogynistic men. It's a cross-genre of poetry and fiction, and though harsh, includes some of my greatest creative efforts.
Cheryl R. Cowtan
My most recent manuscript, The Fergus She, is the result of reading a number of vampire texts and realizing that the vampire experience almost always occurs from an outside catalyst (outside of the victim's body). Then I thought, imagine if the protagonist was dragging a V around on the inside, only didn't know it. And imagine if the protagonist thought this inner demon was mental illness. And imagine if I added a sexy highlander like Jamie from "Outlander", and then of course, I'd have to have him betray my protagonist, because love hurts. Sucks, really. SO, the highlander would resurrect the inner "she-V" and my protagonist would lose control over her life. How horrible for my protagonist, Rachel, UNLESS that resurrection occurred through the best sex ever, and it was worth being possessed by the she, to be with the highlander. Well, you can see how my ideas start and where they end up. I do have to say that my Scottish hottie is almost as good as Diane Gabaldon's Jamie. Almost. And my protagonist Rachel? She just rocks like the 80s! And the She? Well, I nicknamed her Scarlett. Imagine a spoiled, petulant O'Hara with fangs.
Wait! You don't have to imagine.
You can buy it. Girl Desecrated hits stores October 31st, 2016 - just in time to be your spooky Halloween read. Preorder now http://www.cherylcowtan.com OR go through the sneak peek slide show for free reads.
Wait! You don't have to imagine.
You can buy it. Girl Desecrated hits stores October 31st, 2016 - just in time to be your spooky Halloween read. Preorder now http://www.cherylcowtan.com OR go through the sneak peek slide show for free reads.
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