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14 June 2012

Getting to Know you Thursdays with Sherri Shackelford with giveaway

Please welcome debut author for Love Inspired Historical Sherri Shackelford to my blog today. I have enjoyed getting to know Sherri at the Love Inspired Historical Goodreads group. 


Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I have three children and live in the Midwest. A place we affectionately call the ‘heartland’, but everyone else calls, ‘what we fly over to get to the other coast.’ I work part time in the afternoons, and write in the morning while the kids are in school.

2. When you were a child did you have a favourite book or books?
I liked The Little Princess and The Secret Garden. I guess I’ve been a ‘happily ever after’ kind of girl all my life!

3. Do you have a favourite Genre to both read and right write?
I am rather narrow-minded in the book reading category. I read almost exclusively romance, although I do read across genres. I adored the Zebra Regencies, and I still campaign to bring back the regency book club. I like secular and Christian books. I have a soft spot for Julie Garwood. Of course Cheryl St.John is a favorite!

4. Did you have favourite authors growing up who have influenced you?
I really, really wanted to write sexy, sophisticated books like Lisa Kleypas and Gaelen Foley.  I just didn’t have a very ‘sexy’ voice in my writing. Then I decided I wanted to write category regencies. Unfortunately, all the regency book clubs had shut down by the time I realized I had found my calling.

5. When did you know you wanted to be an author?
I was in my mid 30’s and I still didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up. I knew I loved to read, and decided I’d try my hand at writing a book. Once I started writing, I couldn’t stop! It became a compulsion. I knew I was a writer, because every time I became discouraged and quit, something drew me back in.

6. How did you go about becoming an author?
I worked and learned and worked and learned and got shot down, and worked some more, and then got rejected, then worked some more.  I experimented with different genres, and developed my voice. I liked the Victorian Era, but I didn’t want to write about Lords and Ladies. I was brainstorming one night about how I could accomplish writing in the Victorian Era, but still have regular people as my characters. Then it hit me: Westerns.

7. If you were not a writer what would you like to be?
I would be independently wealthy – possibly a lottery winner or an heiress. (Jenny here, Heiress would be good although there are pressures with that maybe I can be an elusive heirless)

8. Outside reading and writing what do you like to do?
Eat and sleep. I really shine at both those activities. As a writer, I’m ho-hum, but when it comes to eating, I’m Olympic-level.

9. Do you have a place you love to visit or would love to visit?
Venice, Italy. For a romance writer, I’m a remarkably unromantic, but I could fake romance in Venice.  Especially if there’s wine.

10. If you could have a meal with 3 living people who would you choose and why?
Dog the Bounty Hunter. He’s a reality show bounty hunter with a PAST. I really want to apprehend a suspect, and then deliver the inspirational speech. That’s my favorite part of the show.
The Queen of England. I’m assuming we’re all having lunch together, and I think that Queen and Dog would have a lot more in common than you’d think.
Christine Lagarde. She’s the finance minister of France, and she seems like a really cool person. . 

You can find Sherri on line at http://sherrishackelford.com/.

Sherrie's debut book is as follows, Dont you love the cover.

Winning the Widow's Heart

(June 2012, Harlequin Love Inspired Historical)

In the Care of the Lawman 
When Texas Ranger Jack Elder stormed the isolated Kansas homestead, he expected to find a band of outlaws. Instead, the only occupant is a heavily pregnant woman-and she's just gone in to labor. A loner uneasy with emotion, Jack helps deliver widow Elizabeth Cole's baby girl and can't get back on the trail fast enough. The robber and murderer he's after killed one of Jack's own, and he vows to catch the man. But when he returns to check on Elizabeth and her little one, he discovers that she may hold the key to his unsettled past-and his hoped-for future.

GIVEAWAY
Sherri is giving away a copy of this book to one reader of my blog. To enter leave away to contact you. (You can still comment if you dont wish to enter just let me know) and you must leave a comment for Sherri about the interview, her book or a question. Entries close 6pm Australian time Thursday 21 June.

18 comments:

Narelle said...

Jenny, thanks for the interview :) Sherri, I wouldn't mind visiting Venice and relaxing in a gondola :)

narelle (at) narelleatkins (dot) com

Sherri Shackelford said...

Ahhh, Venice! Hello, Narelle. What a beautiful name!

Janice said...

That cover picture is charming with its contrast of the lawman, tough guy, softening up enough to hold the baby. It sounds like a tremendous story for a first book by an author. Congrats, Sherri!

I am glad I received this interview to get acquainted with a new author. I don't know the time difference between Georgia, USA and Australia, but I hope this posts in time to be entered to win a copy!

Blessings, Janice jsmithg(at)hotmail(dot)com

Ladette said...

Okay, I've seen this book before and I wanted to read it, but now that I've read this interview I REALLY want to read it!!! :) I do love the cover... I love the back blurb and I love this answer:

"7. If you were not a writer what would you like to be?
I would be independently wealthy – possibly a lottery winner or an heiress. (Jenny here, Heiress would be good although there are pressures with that maybe I can be an elusive heirless)"

Sherri Shackelford said...

Janice, I'm with you on the time difference! I have no idea what day I'm posting for poor Jenny! It could be tomorrow, or a week from Tuesday...

Ladette, Money does come with a host of new problems, but I'm willing to suffer..if I must...

joye said...

Enjoyed reading the comments. I am always looking for new authors to read and your book sounds really good.
I think Venice is a romantic city too.
JWIsley(at)aol(dot)com

joye said...

Enjoyed reading the comments. I am always looking for new authors to read and your book sounds really good.
I think Venice is a romantic city too.
JWIsley(at)aol(dot)com

Emma said...

Winning the Widow's Heart sounds wonderful.Congrats Sherri!How long did it take you to write this book?
Please enter me in this contest. Thank you for the opportunity to win.augustlily06(at)aim(dot)com.

Sherri Shackelford said...

Joye, I'm still growing and learning as an author, and I hope my subsequent books will get better and better!

Emma, the book took me about six months to write. I had the idea in December, started writing in January, and turned it over to the editor at the end of June (2011 :)

Ausjenny said...

hi all thanks for the comments. Australia is around 14 hours ahead of New York. so 6pm next thursday is around 4am Thursday USA time. so plenty of time.

Unknown said...

Jenny, thanks again for highlighting a debut author. Winning one of their novels is about the best way to make sure i try them. There are so many beloved authors out there with awesome novels that i forget to look for new authors whose novels are equally awesome. Thanks for the chance to win Sherri's.

marianne dot wanham at gmail dot com

Sherri Shackelford said...

Marianne, I definitely enjoy reaching new readers! Good luck :)

Sarah Rebekah Richmond said...

I would love to win this book!
Enter me!
God Bless!
Sarah
Blanch,NC.

Sherri Shackelford said...

Thanks for stopping by, Sarah! And thank-you Ausjenny for letting me connect with new readers :)

Laetitia :-) said...

"As a writer, I’m ho-hum, but when it comes to eating, I’m Olympic-level." - this cracked me up; and I know how you feel - take me to a buffet and I'm sunk.

Jenny - please enter me in the contest - do you still need me to give you contact details? :-)

Sherri Shackelford said...

I had to pop back and thank Jenny once again for hosting me!

Laetitia, I picked the hotel for annual writers retreat based on the 'evening cookie buffet.' Cookie and buffet should be used together more ;)

Merry said...

Great interview, Sherri sounds like an awesome lady. I love Regency romances also, LIH has some recent ones out by Mary Moore, Abbey Gaines and Deborah Hale that I really enjoyed. I'd love to be entered for Winning the Widow's Heart.
worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com

Sherri Shackelford said...

Isn't it great, Mary! I feel like LIH is bringing back the Regency :)

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