Spotlight Interview - Heather Sharpe

Spotlight Interview with Heather Sharpe

Tell us a little about yourself.

Hi! I am an ex elementary teacher turned stay at home mom.  I live on six acres out in the middle of nowhere with my husband, toddler, and way too many cats and dogs.  I’m a softie, though, and can’t kick them out in the cold, so our bed gets pretty crowded at night.  J I’ve been writing for three years, and am overjoyed to have three books coming out over six months this year.

Do you work with an outline or just write? 
I usually just write, but on longer works sometimes I’ll open another document to use to make notes of things I want to remember to tie up later in the book.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? 

The hardest thing for me is transitions. I know where I want my characters to go next, but sometimes struggle getting them in position.  As a reader, sometimes I skim through these parts to get to the next action, and I tend to want to write the same way—skipping straight to each action scene.  The best writing advice I got once was to type TRANSITION in my manuscript and keep writing while I have momentum, then go back later and fill in the blanks instead of letting myself get stuck and dropping the ball just because I can’t figure it out at the moment.

How do you come up with the titles of your books? 

Titles are very hard for me. Many times I’ll ask my husband for help. He writes as well, and has come up with the title for two of my manuscripts.

Please share an enticing tag line of your current work with us.
Double Trouble anthology, available now: Will she ever determine which is Tanna’s Twin?
My book releasing January 8, For the Love of a Sphynx: When time’s the enemy, there’s no room to pussyfoot around.

If your book were made into a movie, who would you want to play your main characters?

Hmm. I’ve never really thought about it! I guess probably Jake Gyllenhaal because I can’t get enough
of seeing him!) and Zooey Deschane.

Where can we purchase your book?

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Double-Trouble-ebook/dp/B00A28RW7E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354037354&sr=8-1&keywords=heather+sharpe

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/252003

Do you prefer to write with a pen and paper, or computer?

I prefer paper, but use a computer so I don’t have to rewrite it later.  I keep paper handy, though, when we are in the car because that’s when I invariably get some of my best ideas. 

What does your writing space look like?

Most of the time I write sitting on the couch in front of the TV while my baby sleeps on the cushion beside me.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?

I used to read a lot, but now if I’m not writing, I’m playing with my son. He is fifteen months old, and very busy!  

What did you want to be when you were twelve years old?

Either a teacher or a vet. To be a vet, I was going to be one that never put animals to sleep. J

Who in your life has been the most influential?

Easily my husband. We’ve been together since I was fourteen, and he has been the greatest influence on my life. He’s the one that finally convinced me to start writing, and encouraged me every time I doubted myself.

What is your favourite colour?

Yellow-I love how cheery and happy it is.

What is your favourite pleasure food?

Goody bars-chocolate brownies topped with white frosting, then chocolate covered rice crisp cereal on top.  Yum.  Now I have to go make a pan… 

What is your favourite season?

Spring, when everything starts to turn green, and the air has a slight chill but is warm enough to not need a jacket.

 

What is your favourite television show?

Big Bang Theory

 

What is your favourite movie?

The Avengers

 

Who is your favourite actor?

Heath Ledger

 

What is your favourite song?

Nickelback’s Burn it to the Ground

 

What is your favourite comfort clothing attire?

Fuzzy pajama pants and an oversized T-Shirt

 

What books might we find on your bedside table?

Christine Feehan or Gena Showalter (any of either of their books!)

 

Describe yourself in three words.

Tired, happy, and hungry (now that we’ve talked about goody bars!)

 

Thank you for visiting with Still Moments  Magazine! 

Thank you for having me!

Learn more about Heather, visit her web site:
http://heathermsharpe.webstarts.com/index.html

Krista's Corner - December 2012

Christmas Shopping…

Everyone does it right? And yes that includes myself because if I didn’t, I’d never be able to live with myself as a mom or with my 4 children. I’m never so concerned with whether I get anything, but my husband always thinks differently.

My favorite part of Christmas is watching the varied looks of shock and surprise across my kids faces when they open something they never expected to get. There’s nothing like it and sometimes I have to fight off the tears. It just makes me happy!

My least favorite part of Christmas is the actual shopping. I did the Black Friday shopping way back when, when I was pregnant with my now teen and we lived in a smaller town so I never thought it was too bad. Fast forward 13 years to the present and my teen now wants to go Black Friday shopping with me…ugh. My husband of course thought it was a great idea and a good experience for our teen so we went two hours away to a town big enough to have an indoor mall and every other store under the sun.

Now, I should have known hubby would be in favor of this idea as he proceeds to volunteer to stay back at the hotel with the younger three while the teen and I venture out. Holy Buckets!!! I do have to admit there were some good deals to be had and the teen was great at helping me pick things for her younger three siblings but then her ulterior motive for wanting to go with me finally comes out… “Mom aren’t we going to get anything for me?” What? Does she seriously think I’m going to shop for her while she’s with me? Now mind you, my mother is in her 70’s and still shops for my sisters and I, but we are at an age where when we go shop with her, we see something we like, she picks it up and says “now forget you saw me buy this”. But seriously, it’s hard enough to surprise kids as they get older so I just said, NOPE! Her face deflated…a lot, but she still had a great time shopping around the mall at four in the morning and I got some really good ideas for her to buy later. 

I’m not one in favor of buying gift cards, especially for kids. I just think it’s too impersonal. I definitely don’t blame others for wanting to go that route because it is much easier but I’d rather get a $5 gift than a $25 gift card. It’s the thrill of receiving the gift, ripping off all that paper and being surprised. 

Christmas isn’t that far away now and the countdown is on so I wish you all a stress-free and fairly inexpensive shopping experience and a very merry holiday to you and yours.

Krista Ames is a full-time author, mom and wife, and resides in northern lower Michigan with her husband and 4 children. Krista loves to hear from readers! krista@kristaames.com

A Writer's Words - A Purl Among Men

A Purl Among Men
by Lily Carlyle

      Joanne’s heart hiccuped a beat when the tall gentleman entered her yarn shop. She took a slow, steadying breath, chiding herself for her nerves. But she couldn’t help it; he was so handsome, his silver hair reminiscent of the platinum wedding band she’d worn for nearly twenty-five years.
      And, of course, not many men visited the yarn shop she’d opened with the proceeds of her divorce settlement.
      “What can I help you find, Mr.—I mean, William?” On his last visit to the shop, a few months ago, he’d insisted Joanne call him by his first name. He’d been coming in every few months for the past two years, always buying several skeins of her best-quality, finest—and most expensive—yarns, but never asking questions or for advice. Joanne assumed he bought the yarn for his wife. An invalid, maybe? At first, he’d worn a wedding ring, but lately his finger had been bare. Although he did seem to be getting thinner, so perhaps it simply no longer fit?
      “I’m looking for yarn for an afghan for my daughter-in-law’s den. She’s trying to have a green home,” he said, with an uncertain emphasis on green.
      “I have just the thing. I got a new shipment of bamboo yarn only this morning.” 
      “Bamboo yarn? How do you make yarn from wood?” 
      “Well, it’s grass, really.” Explaining the virtues of bamboo yarn to William, Joanne found herself leaning closer to him, breathing in his male scent—Irish Spring soap with just the faintest essence of a subtle cologne, and when he leaned across her to pick up a skein, his hard chest brushed against her arm. She gasped.
      “I’m sorry, did I bump you?”
      “No, I, uh, hit my elbow on the shelf,” Joanne replied, a hot flush creeping up her face.
      William looked at the shelf, a good three feet away, and back at Joanne’s blush, but didn’t say anything, fingering a thread of the yarn.
      “Is this easy to work with? Sometimes I have trouble with the gauge…”
      Now it was William’s turn to blush, and Joanne watched the red creep from his neck all the way up to the tips of his ears, wondering what to say to alleviate his embarrassment. She had a feeling that gushing, Wow, that’s great! or Lots of men knit, as true as it was, wouldn’t do the trick.
      She was saved by William sighing and explaining, “See, I’m a retired airline pilot. It didn’t take long, after I got married and had kids, to get tired of the whole bar scene when I was on trips. Television seemed too mindless and I missed my family so much that I couldn’t always concentrate on books. Jokingly, my wife suggested I start knitting, and I actually found I liked it. There was something soothing about it.” 
      He took a deep breath before continuing. “After I retired, I gave it up for a while, spending time on other hobbies, but then after my wife was diagnosed with cancer, and I spent long hours by her bedside, I started knitting again.”
      Without even thinking, compassion obliterating her self-consciousness, Joanne took his warm hand in hers and squeezed. “I’m so sorry about your wife.”
      “She died two years ago.” 
      Just about the time you started coming into the shop regularly, Joanne thought.
      He smiled, a tight, rueful smile, but a smile nonetheless. “Like I said, there’s something very soothing about knitting. Which is why you see so much of me.”
      “It’s always a pleasure to have you visit.” Joanne smiled. He must be lonely, she thought.
      “You know, we have several knitting groups that meet after hours…” But even as she said it, Joanne wondered if she really wanted to share William with all the women in her knitting groups. From those still in their twenties all the way up to the grandmas, they would all be attracted to his good looks and kind manner.
      His face lit up for the briefest moment, before it fell again. “I’m not sure I’m ready to come out of my knitting closet.”
      Joanne chuckled, and to her surprise, William joined in, relieving his tension with a good belly-laugh.
      Realizing she still held his hand, Joanne dropped it, a little of her self-consciousness returning as she took a deep breath. “My assistant will be coming in a few minutes to mind the shop for the afternoon. Can I buy you lunch?”

      William shook his head. “No, you can’t buy me lunch. Knitting notwithstanding, I’m an old-fashioned guy. But I’d love to buy you lunch.”

      And with that, he picked up her hand, giving it a warm squeeze.

 

© 2012 Lily Carlyle

All Rights Reserved

 

Lily Carlyle decided she wanted to be a writer when she was seven years old, but convinced of the impossibility of earning a living that way, she studied history instead (a decision she still can’t explain). After working as an archivist for many years, she returned to her first career choice. Her short story, “Santa Bebe,” will be included in Still Moments Publishing’s Christmas anthology For the Love of Christmas (December 2012).

 

 

     

 

Guilty Pleasures - Jennifer Daiker

An Interview with Jennifer Daiker

What fast food item do you adore?

I’m a cheat I love a Wendy’s frost with French fries. Ice cream and French fries are the ultimate treat!!

Fuzzy or tube socks?
Long stripped fuzzy socks.

Chocolate or vanilla ice cream?

Chocolate!

Dogs or cats?

Cats (dos)

 

Pen and paper to write or a computer?

Pen and paper!

 

Ereader or paper back?

Paper back. The smell is divine!!!

 

Bubble bath or shower?

Bubble bath!!!


Chick flicks or action movies?
Christmas love stories!!!

Hot dogs or hamburgers?

How about one of each?

 

Cowboy boots or sneakers?

Sneakers… with funky designs

 

Flats or stiletto shoes?

Flats… with funk designs

 

Boxers or briefs on a man?

Boxer briefs

Beard or clean shaven man?
Depends on the season ;)

Favourite place to vacation?

The Wizarding World in Florida

 

Favourite drink from the bar?

Fuzzy Navel

 

Favourite article of clothing?

Coca-Cola shirt I wear every Friday.

 

Favourite time of day?

2 pm when you know the work day is almost over!

 

Favourite season?

Fall, the leaves falling is so majestic and romantic

 

Favourite television show?

Spy (only on Hulu)

 

Favourite movie you’ve watched more than once?

Stealing Christmas (Tony Danzy and Lea Thompson are rockstars!)

 

Favourite actor?

Emma Stone

 

Favourite song you listen to over and over again?

The Swell Season

 

Favourite candy your sweet-tooth craves?

Chewy Sweet tarts

 

What books might we find on your bedside table?

Currently I HUNT KILLERS

 

What would your first thought be if you won a lottery?

YES! I finally get the pool I want!!

Jennifer Daiker:

"I am a twenty-six year old child progidy…ahem, I mean, I am a quirky soul who loves to eat coleslaw and mac and cheese for dinner, and watch entirely too many Christmas movies."

http://jennifer-daiker.blogspot.com/