A day in the life of: Author Sharon Struth

Continuing in the series of chats with authors about how, and where, they spend their writing day, I have great pleasure in chatting with Sharon Struth.

Sharon is a multi-award winning author, writer of non-fiction, and fiction. ‘The Hourglass’ is Sharon’s latest release, published by Etopia Press. She is currently working on another novel, ‘Share the Moon’, and I'm very much looking forward to discussing her books here today.

Hi Sharon. Thanks so much for coming to chat with me today. It's an honour to have a writer with so many credits – and experience – under her belt. With you in Connecticut, USA, and me in Australia, I’m curious to see if there are any things we do differently in our writing world. First of all, I'd love to ask you about a typical writing day. I'm interested in the 'where' and 'how' of your writing routine.

Sharon: Hi Noelle! Thanks for hosting me today.

Noelle: Even though you are currently a full-time writer, do the constraints of everyday life force you to write to a set routine in order to meet your writing goals? Special times or days?

Sharon: I treat my writing like I would any other job and work on a set schedule from about 7:30 in the morning until 5 or 6 o’clock at night. Of course, the one big difference is that after my shower, I toss on sweatpants, flip-flops and forgo any makeup. While an at-home job requires great discipline, the wardrobe perks are worth it!

Noelle: That is certainly a benefit. :-) Where do you like to write? Do you have a space where you can immerse yourself without outside distractions? Or do you feel best writing at the kitchen bench?

Sharon: I turned a spare bedroom into an office. I still keep a bed in the room, however, and one of my dogs (a miniature schnauzer) sleeps there all day and watches me work. Best officemate a person could ask for!

Noelle: Both my little dogs sit at my feet as I write, but unfortunately they often ask for attention, which is quite distracting. Is there anything in your environment that you find particularly motivating or inspiring for your writing?

Sharon: Not inside the office, but whenever I get stuck while writing, I usually go for a walk or a drive in the car. I do some of my best “writing” when I step away from the computer.

Noelle: Do you like music playing in the background as you write?

Sharon: No. I couldn’t concentrate. I was even like that years ago when in college, where I’d have go into quiet “study” rooms to get my work done.

Noelle: Your latest book, The Hourglass, was released recently. It seems that we have something in common – we both have heroines who are forging new lives, digging deep, and finding inner strength. The Hourglass deals with crushing loss, angst, guilt. These are themes that must resonate with many readers. Were there times when you had to dig deep yourself, to be able to write the book?

Sharon: Yes. I understand loss and the guilt associated with losing someone close to you. Mine was due to losing my dad at the age of fourteen. He was an alcoholic who committed suicide. A part of me always felt guilty that I couldn’t help him have a different outlook on life. It took many years for me to see that only those who want to be fixed can be fixed. But in this story the characters experience some of the same emotions I did.

Noelle: Is the character CJ Morrison what you would call the ‘typical hero’ in a book?

Sharon: Not at all. CJ is a troubled man. He made a single mistake that changed his life ten years before the book opens and cannot forgive himself. Because of this, he may seem a bit edgy on the surface at first, but the reader soon learns that deep down he’s a loyal, caring man. He simply needs to find a way to let the past go.

Noelle: Do you work on just one project at a time?

Sharon: For the most part, but lately I seem to have edits of completed books ongoing while I try to write new material.

Noelle: How long did you take to write The Hourglass?

Sharon: About a year. Then I edited it off and on for a full year while writing another book.

Noelle: During the writing process, what writing support groups do you surround yourself with?

Sharon: I just work with one other person…my first writing teacher, who has turned out to be a friend, mentor and wonderful editor of my material.

Noelle: Would you say your new book, Share the Moon, has a similar theme to The Hourglass?

Sharon: No. Share the Moon is about knowing where you belong, realizing that everything in your life points you in the direction for a reason. A reason we sometimes don’t understand until it stares us in the face.

Noelle: Sounds great! So, finally Sharon, where can readers connect with you?

Sharon: For a book trailer, excerpt and book group questions on The Hourglass, readers can go to… www.thehourglassnovel.com

Sharon’s Website: www.sharonstruth.com

Buy links:
Amazon:
Barnes and Noble:
Kobo:
All Romance E-books:

Sharon: Again, Noelle, thanks for hosting me on your lovely blog! I look forward to hearing from some of your readers.

Noelle: The pleasure is all mine, Sharon, and I hope that many Australian readers will drop by and say hello. Thanks for giving us a glimpse into your world of writing, and good luck with Share the Moon.

Watch the book trailer for The Hourglass here:

A day in the life of: Author Louise Forster

This is first in a series of author showcases. I'm interested in seeing the 'writing workspace' of other authors, of seeing how their environment can influence their writing, or inspire them.

Today, we chat to Louise Forster, Australian author of ‘Finding Elizabeth’ (out now with Harlequin Escape). Louise takes us through her writing day, showing us the environment where she is so inspired. Louise lives in an idyllic place – the north coast of New South Wales (Australia). She has rainforests, mountains, and pristine beaches surrounding her.

Louise Forster

Hi Noelle, thank you for inviting me to your very first “A Day in the Life” author interview.

You're welcome, Louise. Are you a full time writer?
Yes, but in saying that I wouldn’t be able to support myself writing novels. I’m in awe of authors who hold down a job and write.

Do you to write to a set routine?
I have a loose routine. We live on a dual occupancy with other members of our family and my own space to where the door has never been closed. Kids walk in to say hello, or to have a chat after school. My sister in-law pops over for coffee. Our daughters and sons in-law do the same. I’m not an early starter, although we’re up early taking the dogs for a walk, after that we have breakfast, then I’ll answer my e-mails, then I’ll make coffee and read while sipping my one and only caffeine hit. After that I get to work on my latest story, unless my mailbox is winking, I can’t help myself I have to have a look, which is such a bad habit. But if I’m on a roll or there’s a deadline, I can work till quite late.

The view from Louise's verandah

What percentage of your writing time is allocated to promotion and marketing, for example, on social media such as Facebook and Twitter?
I have no idea, but far too much time, I’m sure. I keep trying to stick to about and hour each morning, but sometimes the social media networks is screaming to be attended to NOW, which I mentioned earlier I find hard to ignore. Perhaps someone has a remedy, or a way to detox :-)

Are you a ‘plotter’ or a ‘pantster’? Or do you just start typing and go from there?

Inspirational views from Louise's property

I’m half and half … Hmm, hang on a minute … I’m more a pantser. I’m writing a short fantasy at the moment and have pantsed my way so far, but I’ve come to a sticky end, or rather middle. And a real plotter probably doesn’t come across that very often, if ever. But while waking very early this morning I plotted out of the sticky middle.

How much research do you do on the setting for your books?
I do a lot of research. My next book, Finding Butterflies is set in the Whitsunday Islands. For non Australians, it’s part of the Great Barrier Reef. I have been there, so that wasn’t a problem. I have sailed and that wasn’t a problem either. But I had to research how a yacht behaved under certain conditions like a wild storm. Luckily, I was in touch with a yachtsman who lived at Airlee Beach and he was a lot of help. Anything I feel unsure about I’ll research it immediately.

Many authors like to keep a blog - do you have one? How often do you post in it?
I don’t have a blog and I’m not sure that I’ll ever start one ;-)

Now, when you are writing, where do you like to write? The kitchen bench? In front of the TV? In your own office?
I have my own space, which I don’t have a name for yet, office sounds too much like I should be answering the phones in a tall building with lots of people doing stuff. Den sounds like I should be a fox or bear. Computer room nah. There are lots of books up there, maybe I’ll call it the library, but that sounds really posh :-) and not me at all … so it’s my room. :-)

Why do you write?
I enjoy putting a story together, manipulating the characters, getting them to do things out of their comfort zone and see how they react. For example: In Finding Elizabeth, Jack is dealing with finding love in freezing Canada. Katherine is giving up her ballet career. In Finding Butterflies, Kabe discovers he can deal with the news media, by being smart and not lose his cool. Belle can spend time alone with a hot bloke she had a crush on all through high school without jumping him. I love it, it’s so much fun.

Nearby pristine beaches

I’m very interested in locations for stories. Why did you choose chilly Canada for the setting of Finding Elizabeth?
I love Christmas. Being a romantic, Christmas with snow and cold and log fires and pretty lights twinkling on a cold night just felt right for the story, especially since I was bringing an Aussie in from the heat of Sydney’s summer to the bitter cold of Canada. It deepened Jack’s character, brought out his Aussie humour. Helped him stoically carry on even though some of his favourite body parts were feeling it; it didn’t deter him from going after someone who had made him feel warm, or rather…hot.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Louise's garden

Other than going places, I like to be creative, making things. I’m not a great gardener. I’ve tried it and I don’t have it in me. I absolutely appreciate a beautiful garden because I know the amount of work that has gone into making it look fantastic. But I’ll stick to sewing, knitting, while plotting the next book…in my head. I wonder if we ever stop writing. Even when I’m out, I’m people watching and questioning, what if those two meeting up were….




Where can readers get a copy of your books?
The links for Finding Elizabeth are all on the Escape Publishing website below, just click on the link, Amazon, iBookstore, Nook, E-books.com, Google Play, Kobo, All About Romance.
Then click on 'buy' and the online sellers will come up: http://www.escapepublishing.com.au/product/9780857990235

Contact Louise:

Web site: http://www.louiseforster.com/

Escape Publishing

Buy FINDING ELIZABETH

 

Louise, thanks so much for joining me here, and for sharing with us all, the beautiful place you call home. - Noelle.

Resonating with Readers

I recently read an article by another author, TerryTyler, in which she wrote about the ideas and motivation for the stories she writes. It got me thinking. What is it in my life - past or present - that enables me to come up with story ideas, conflict, situations, and characters, that resonate with readers?

Although not every story ever written can be absolutely based on someone's real life experiences, it is fair to say that everything we do has an impact on who we are, what we think, what we do.

If in real life, an author experiences heartache, divorce, death, and separation from loved ones, then it
makes it much easier to write about the emotions that a character feels, who is going through one of those life changing events.

Similarly, joy, happiness, and love, can lift us higher than we've ever risen, especially if that love and exquisite happiness is new - or has been scarce in our lives.

So, as an author who writes contemporary romance with a good dash of adventure thrown in, my characters have a tiny piece of my life's experiences in them. The stories aren't about me, nor are the characters based on me, but minute aspects are based on what I know.

There comes a time in one's life when a great epiphany occurs. A major change. A time when we stand at the
crossroads, and ask "which way now?" It happens to all of us. For some people, making any decision is impossible, let alone making the 'right' decision.

So, my characters - both my heroines and my heroes - aren't perfect. Sometimes they prevaricate, not knowing what to do. Sometimes they are afraid of the consequences. Sometimes they fail. But above all, they learn to trust themselves. To have confidence in their own abilities.

I'd like to think that, if my characters have a tiny piece of me inside them, then it's the bit where I learned to trust myself, and to have confidence in myself.

New book on the way

I'm very excited about my new novel.

 

Coming hot on the heels of the story of Abbie and Craig in Let Angels Fly, I now have to get to know my new heroine and hero. So far, I have plotted the story out, and am currently working on chapter outlines and character development.

The two new characters in this book are quite different in personality, needs, fears, and strengths, to the others. It's nice getting to know them. A bit like making new friends, and sitting down over a coffee and chatting, finding out about their past, their desires, goals - and about their past hurts and heartaches.

Like the previous two books, this one will be set in an exotic, but sometimes harsh, environment. A place I know well from my two visits there. But the location and plot are top secret! No one gets to know any details until I'm finished. :-)

Until next time, kind regards
Noelle

Writing Retreat - Mt Tamborine

Imagine a blissfully quiet and peaceful location, perched on the very edge of a deep, deep valley. Imagine being surrounded by rainforest, birds and clear, crisp mountain air and only one hour from hot and humid Brisbane in the middle of summer.

Well, imagine no more. The reality is that Woodleigh Retreat is a comfortable and therapeutic getaway for anyone wanting to get stuck into their writing.
Fellow Brisbane author, Matt T. Dillon, and I spent three days at Woodleigh Retreat atop beautiful Mount Tamborine. The views from Woodleigh Retreat are magnificent and very inspirational. They call this area in the Gold Coast hinterland the ‘green behind the gold'. Looking east, we could see directly down to Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, then south to Mt Warning and the border ranges, then west up the valley to Springbrook. The views were breathtaking.

We catered for ourselves, although a bacon, eggs and toast breakfast is provided (cook yourself in the well-equipped kitchenette). If you get sick of writing, go for a short drive and visit the many wineries, antique stores, art galleries, artisan shops, plant nurseries, chocolatier, and coffee farm. For the active writers out there, go for some of the many rainforest walks to get your head around the plots and characters of your book.

Locals will know that it can get quite cold up in the mountains in winter, and Woodleigh has a log fire in each cabin, plus a spa bath big enough for two. In the summer months, there is a lovely swimming pool, barbecue area and acres of lovely lush green lawn and gorgeous gums to relax under.
Matt and I each achieved the writing goals we set ourselves, plus got to look around at the many interesting shops and galleries.

I can recommend this type of therapy for any writers who are short of time and unable to find the tranquillity and inspiration at home. Check it out at http://www.woodleigh.com/ or see what kind of a good deal you can get at Wotif.com.

Day 28 - NaNoWriMo

"The act of putting pen to paper encourages pause for thought, this in turn makes us think more deeply about life, which helps us regain our equilibrium."  ~  Norbet Platt

Day 28 of Wrimo. When I first signed up for this challenge, I thought that I would be in total panic mode at this stage of it, unable to see the end, unable to find a way to get 50,000 words written. Instead, here I am, way ahead of my goal, and well on my way to finishing the story that I have wanted to write all my life.


I have to say that the act of writing has been very therapeutic for me. I am living in a bit of domestic torment at present, and had I not signed up for Nanowrimo, and if I did not retreat into my private world of writing every day, I would go mad. I don’t think that going mad is actually what Norbet Platt meant by ‘equilibrium’, but it’s the best I can do at the moment.

I wrote another 4600 words today, giving me a total of 55883.

Day 24 - NaNoWriMo

Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass. ~ Anton Chekhov

Author, Matt T. Dillon, keeps saying to me, "Don't tell me, show me!".  I have heard that a hundred times.  I know it already.  It is ingrained in me.  But, I found myself in a really boring patch of my NaNoWriMo book, it seemed flat, colourless, and I was seriously losing my way.

When I went back to it the next day, I decided to have a little read of it those troublesome paragraphs, because it was worrying me, keeping me awake.  For some reason, a light bulb moment occurred and it just became so clear to me what I had neglected to do.  I was TELLING the story in an intricate and complicated narrative that was confusing even me! 

After a half hour or so, I had transformed that long and colourless piece of narrative, that was, I should add, vital to the story line, into an exciting action piece, with dialogue, colour, smells, explosions going off in a shower of white sparks.  It came alive!  I realised that I was now SHOWING my reader.  I was showing them like a movie reel was running in front of their eyes.

I am now nearing the end of my NaNoWriMo challenge, with a total of 46282 words.  I have been a bit lost lately, but during a night of not being able to sleep, I have woken up with a clear pathway, with one last hurrah of a climax that hopefully will allow me to end my book on a bang.

Thanks to all those authors out there who kept telling me to 'show, don't tell", and especially my friend Matt T. Dillon. http://www.matttdillon.com/

Day 19 - NaNoWriMo

"No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader." Robert Frost

My writing for Day 19 marked my most challenging scene yet. The death of my hero. Ever since I thought of writing this story, I was secretly dreading writing this scene. It came the time, though, on Day 19 of NaNoWriMo, and so I did it with as much skill as I could.

It was hard to see through the tears I shed as this wonderful man died. I had already killed off several other people, and one of those was also a very main character. I cried when Annie died too. And the baby. So, for day 20, I must help Oliver's wife pick up the pieces and live a life without her dear husband. I do hope I can help her.

I wrote a personal best of 4620 words on Day 19, that gives me a total of 38973. Not bad for a first timer. It's just a shame that my dear grandfather Oliver's death was the catalyst for such a writing total. But my four main characters, Darl and Oliver, Jack and Annie, are my own personal muses, sitting her on my shoulder, helping me to write their story.

On Writing

“Writing is like prostitution.  First you do it for love, and then for a few close friends, and then for money.”  Moliere 1622 – 1673

I met up with my fellow writing group members yesterday. What an inspirational meeting it was. We each chatted about what we were working on, and then it was heads down for two very productive hours. The time flew like it was just a few minutes. Each of us travel in to the State Library to do this, knowing full well that we could just as easily stay at home and save two hours commuting. But something magical happens when people of like minds gather together, encourage each other, and the synergy of that meeting lets the muse of each respective person merge together to create the most surprising and awesome creativity.



Annette and Jo from our group both had short stories published in the current quarterly edition of Fast Fiction. How wonderful to sit in a room with such talent. We all want to be published and success has touched our group already. Several in the group have publishers looking closely at their novels, several have finished novels, some are editing.


Me? I’m just starting my novel. But the story is one I have wanted to tell all of my life. I am so happy to finally know that it will happen. But for the session with my writerly friends yesterday, I chose to do a quick fast fiction short story. In two hours I wrote an ok story of two thousand words. It is probably not going to be the best story ever written, but I might polish it up and send it away somewhere. Maybe I too can join the ranks of the published!


I feel a buzz inside me from yesterday’s session. Our group only meets once a month, but now we will meet up weekly online, to share and encourage each other. I can’t wait. And the bonus is, it is still six weeks to NaNoWriMo!


Happy writing everyone!

On Writing

"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail" - Benjamin Franklin

After some years of thinking about this project, mulling it over, researching, planning various attack routes, I have finally come up with a chapter outline for my based-on-fact fictional story of several generations of strong women who soar to unimaginable happiness, who overcome serious adversity, who live lives in exotic, wild and turbulent places, coping with all that fate throws at them.

This story has metamorphosed from what was originally going to be a family memoir cum travel story, to a historical fiction novel, and now, in its present guise, will be a family saga full of adventure, romance, excitement, violence, sex, angst, loss, happiness and sadness, all set against an exotic eastern backdrop that still holds, even in this world of fast and cheap transport to anywhere, a lot of mystery and inscrutability.

It will be a roller coaster ride of emotions. It will be uplifting and empowering, with heroines who will inspire other women to take a leap of faith.

Stay tuned as this story evolves.

Below is a picture of the Tivoli Theatre in Brisbane, circa 1918, on the site of the current King George Square, opposite the Brisbane City Hall.  In the background, you can see the Albert Street Uniting Church.  My Nana and Aunty Anne had an employment agency office inside one of the buildings adjacent to theTivoli Theatre building, which began construction in 1914 (the year the girls left for China), and finished in 1918.  It was built on the site of the old Turkish Baths.