1)
What is your writing routine?
Since writing is my full-time job, I write six or seven days a week. My
word goal
is 1500. Sometimes that takes two hours, other times it takes four, just
depending on how things are flowing that day. When I’m not writing, I’m
chatting with fans on Facebook, editing, and marketing.
2)
Which author/s inspire you to write?
I started out reading Fern Michaels, Nora Roberts, and Barbara Delinsky.
I was so impressed with their ability to ‘paint a picture’ with words and make
a reader feel as though they were there. I think romance has moved away from a
strong narrative in recent years, but it’s still an amazing talent they
possess, and those authors are still among the best, in my opinion.
There are so many great new authors out there right now. Recently I’ve
enjoyed Bella Andre’s Sullivan’s series, Marie Force’s Gansett Island series,
and Ruth Cardello’s Legacy series. All are fantastic!
3)
Which is your favorite romance subgenre to read? To write?
I love to read and write
contemporary romance.
4)
How do you deal with criticism/rejection?
The
unfavorable reviews sting at first, but with time, you develop a thicker skin
and you realize not everyone will like your books. So long as you’re appealing
to the vast majority of your readers, that’s all you can hope for as a writer.
5)
What do you expect from an editor?
I work with three professional editors on every project: a content
editor, copy editor, and proofreader. I expect them, especially my content
editor, to call me out when something doesn’t make sense or feel right to them.
I want them to be my harshest critic, because I know if it doesn’t appeal to
them, it won’t appeal to readers either.
6)
Tell me about your latest release
I just released Trade Off, a book about a hockey player returning to his
hometown to try and come to terms with his ex-girlfriend’s decision to marry
his best friend.
7)
Tease us with a blurb
or short excerpt
Here’s the blurb…
Professional
hockey player, Aiden Cooper, should be happy. He’s been traded to Nashville.
But going home also means he has to face the truth. The love of his life is
married to his former best friend and new teammate there’s not a damn thing he
can do about it.
When Sela
Clarke finds out her former boyfriend, Aiden Cooper, is finally coming home,
she panics. How can she pretend she’s still in love with her husband when the
only man she’s ever loved is bound to uncover the lie that tore them apart?
8)
Which is your favorite character in the book? Why?
Since I have
seventeen books in this series, it would probably be easier for me to tell you
my favorite character in the series. It would have to be Trey Turner, the hero
in book one, Shameless. That was the book my sub-conscious was nagging me to
write for years. I really learned to love Trey’s character and I always look
for opportunities to bring him back in subsequent books.
9)
What are you working on right now?
As of this
moment, I’m working on book three in the Nashville Nights Next Generation
series, Game On.
10)
Your biggest piece of advice to aspiring novelists?
Be patient! It
takes time to develop a loyal reader base. I also think it’s important to
continue to develop your craft. Learn from the best, and always be open to
receiving advice from people who’ve travelled the same path.
11)
Where can readers find you?
I’m very active on Facebook, and love to chat with my readers there:
Reader can also learn more about my books at my website:
Shameless
by Cheryl Douglas
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Trey Turner may be topping the country
music charts, but his life has been going downhill since his wife left him five
years ago. He's desperate to make amends for the mistakes he's made and
convince Sierra their love deserves a second chance.
Sierra Brooks is happy for the first time
since her divorce. She has a career she loves, and a man who loves her.
Unfortunately, the man she intends to marry isn't the only one professing his
love for her. He may be able to offer her safety and security, but will she
decide to risk everything for another chance with the man who broke her heart?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT
Chapter One
Trey Turner tipped the plastic
bottle and watched the little white pills scatter across the desktop. One would
take the edge off; twenty would end it all. He considered his options. He
wasn’t ready to give up; he couldn’t do that to his family.
He put one of the pills on his
tongue and swallowed it with a mouthful of scotch as the phone rang. He knew it
was the morning radio show calling to interview him. His manager, Luc Spencer,
had arranged it and, despite his protests, Luc insisted it was necessary. The
public was demanding answers; it was time to end the speculation.
He checked the call display and
pushed the button to activate the call. “Hello.”
“Trey, Johnny Madson, KX790 in
Nashville. How the hell are ya this mornin’, buddy?”
Trey rubbed his eyes, willing the
pill to take effect. “I’m good.”
“We’re going live in three
minutes. Stand by.”
Trey endured the longest three
minutes of his life as he waited for the radio host to return. He glanced at
the list of questions and answers his publicist, Avery, had provided. He’d been
doing this long enough to know they always surprised you with questions they
knew were off-limits. He hoped he was sharp enough to dodge the bullets this
morning.
“Trey, we’re live. Our listeners
are anxious to hear about what’s been happening with the king of country music.
Where’ve you been, man?”
“I’ve been in the studio working
on the next album.”
“That’s what we like to hear.
Tell me, when do you plan to release it?”
“By early next year, I hope.”
“Can we assume you’re planning a
world tour to promote the new album?”
In his current state of mind,
just the thought of a tour was overwhelming, but he owed it to his fans and his
label. “That’s the plan, Johnny.”
“Good stuff. I know your fans are
looking forward to that. We get calls and emails about you every day. People
want to know what you’ve been up to. They’re dying to know when the new album’s
coming out.” He laughed. “The pressure’s on, man.”
“Yeah, I know. I plan to deliver
the goods.” If only he could figure out how to break through the mother of all
creative blocks and write a song he wouldn’t be embarrassed to attach his name
to.
“So why did you decide to sign
with a new record label, Trey?”
Because my old label was putting
pressure on me to get off my ass and produce a record, he thought, considering
the fall-out if he came clean. He was tempted to tell the truth and accept the
ramifications. He was so tired of living a lie, pretending to be the man, the
musician, everyone expected him to be. “There was just a difference of opinion
with the old label. No hard feelings.”
“Are you expecting this album to
go platinum like all the others?”
Platinum, hell he would be
satisfied if it didn’t end his career. “We’ll see what happens, Johnny. It’s up
to the public to decide.”
“So, you’ve been spotted around
town with some of the most beautiful women in Nashville. Is there anyone
special in your life right now?”
He clenched his jaw in
frustration. He had come to expect this question, but he still resented it.
“No, not really.” Megan would take offense, but he didn’t care.
“You are one of the most eligible
bachelors in the world. Think you’ll ever marry again?”
“No.” The only woman he wanted to
call his wife was determined to forget he was alive. He’d had his one chance at
forever and he blew it. He sure as hell didn’t deserve another one.
“Can you tell us about the car
wreck you were involved in last year, Trey? We understand a woman and young
child were killed. Your Hummer and their mini-van were hit by the driver of a tractor
trailer who fell asleep at the wheel, right? Rumour has it you were lucky to
escape with your life. That would have been a hell of a loss for country music,
man.”
Trey wanted to tell him the loss
of life that occurred was much more valuable than his, but he kept his mouth
shut. He could imagine the headlines: Country Superstar Trey Turner Wishes He
Had Been the One to Die in Fatal Crash.
“I’d rather not discuss that,
Johnny.”
“Sure, I understand. We’ve all
heard you’ve fallen off the wagon after three years of sobriety. Is that true,
Trey?”
He glanced at the highball of
scotch to his right. “I’d rather not get into it.” Which he knew was akin to
admitting guilt. His manager and publicist would go ballistic, not to mention
his record label. He had to end this call or risk digging himself a deeper
hole. “Look, man, it’s been good talking to you, but I gotta roll.”
“Yeah, sure. Thanks for talking
to us, Trey. We’re all looking forward to the new album, so don’t keep your
fans waiting too long.”
“I’ll try not to. Thanks,
Johnny.” He pressed the button to end the call.
His hand shook as he reached for
the crystal glass. He took a long swallow of the amber liquid, savouring the
familiar burn on the way down. He knew it was toxic, eating him alive from the
inside out. He hated that he needed it, hated the fact that alcohol was the
only thing that seemed to take the edge off and calm the fear and anxiety so he
could get through another day.
He looked up at the ceiling.
“What the hell am I gonna do?” he whispered. He needed help, was desperate for
guidance, but had no idea where to turn. His faith had been tested to the
limits, and he couldn’t face the idea of admitting the truth to his friends and
family. He had never felt so alone.
He knew that every day he lived
without creative inspiration was another day closer to sealing his fate. He
couldn’t stall his manager and record label forever. They expected answers and
he knew he had to tell them the truth; his career was over. But every time he tried
to tell his best friend and manager, he panicked. He was terrified that,
without music, he was looking into the abyss of a dark, empty, meaningless
future. His music was the only thing he had left.
He pulled the newspaper clipping
out of his desk and stared at the black and white photo of the little girl who
had died in the fiery crash. Six years old, the same age his daughter would
have been. Trey couldn’t comprehend why he had been spared when a little girl
with her whole life ahead of her had been taken. If he could, he would have
traded places with her in a heartbeat, given her a chance at the life his
daughter deserved. A knock on the
door of his studio interrupted his reverie and he silently wished he could
escape. Escape the questions and expectations of a world where he no longer
felt he belonged.
“Come in.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and
Links:
Cheryl began her professional career as a nutritionist, but her love of
books started at an early age. She studied writing for many years before she
decided to pursue her passion as a full-time career. After receiving
constructive criticism from several well-known authors, Cheryl finally had the
confidence to write her first romance novel.
The first book in the Nashville Nights series, Shameless, was a book
that had been dwelling in Cheryl’s subconscious for years. For her, the
surprise came when the manuscript began taking on a life of it’s own.
Characters came to life, secondary characters became more prominent, outlines
were forgotten, and a single title evolved into an eight book series, and
another eight book spin-off series entitled Nashville Nights, Next Generation.
One word would aptly describe Cheryl: workaholic. She lives and breathes
her writing, when she’s sleeping, watching TV, driving, reading… it’s always in
the periphery of her mind. Her imagination rarely takes a holiday, even when
she escapes to a sandy beach with her husband and son, she’s planning,
plotting, outlining, and daydreaming.
Cheryl feels blessed to be able to get up every day and do something she
loves. The thousands of fans who have embraced the Nashville Nights have made
that possible. She writes for the readers who ask for more, she writes to
satisfy the muse residing inside of her, but most of all, she writes because
she couldn’t imagine doing anything else with her life. It took her
thirty-seven years to decide what she wanted to be when she grew up, but now
that she knows, she’s convinced she’s found her purpose.
Book Information
Book Title: Shameless (Book One, Nashville Nights)
Book Genre: Contemporary Romance
Book Publisher: Self published (Douglas Publishing)
Release Date: Currently Available
Buy Links
Amazon Buy Link for Shameless:
Barnes and Noble Buy Link for Shameless:
All Romance Ebooks Buy Link for Shameless:
Other Links
Website:
Facebook:
Comments???
Thank you for hosting today.
ReplyDeleteHi Rachel, Thanks so much for having me! I look forward to chatting with you and your readers today!
ReplyDeleteGreat interview, the book sounds fabulous. I can't wait to read it.
ReplyDeleteKit3247(at)aol(dot)com
As a reader I have to say that the fact that you work with three professional editors is very much appreciated. I love that you want to present the best book possible.
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Thanks so much for your interview and sharing about your writing experience! Great excerpt...this sounds like a fantastic series!
ReplyDeleteivegotmail8889(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thank you for sharing the excerpt! This book sounds amazing, I can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteuilani25(at)hotmail(dot)com