Welcome to Readers Write to Know! I asked you, my readers, what questions they would ask their favorite authors if given the chance, and the authors visiting my blog answered them! This week, I have historical romance author Sherrinda Ketchersid as my guest. I have to say – I LOVE medieval romances – especially Scottish medieval romances. As soon as I saw the cover, I was immediately attracted to his book – and the description even more makes me want to read it! I enjoyed getting to know Sherrinda more and finding a kindred spirit in a Han Solo fan. I hope you enjoy the interview as much as I did! Read on to see how you can enter to win a copy of her latest release.
Tell us about your current release. When Ian McGowan attempts to claim Whitfield Castle as his rightful inheritance, he finds himself barred by a tempestuous lass who is entailed to be the bride of the castle’s new owner.
Claire Beaumont, the orphaned ward of Whitfield, has good reason to hate Scots, and she is not about to let a Scot enter her beloved home. But when the handsome knight steals into the castle and proves his claim on the land, she must face her ultimate nightmare—marriage to her sworn enemy—in order to save those she cares about most.
Restoring the failing Whitfield Castle while wooing his defiant intended proves more challenging than Ian anticipated. His struggles reach a crisis when his nemesis arrives at the castle, and he must overcome his past demons to prove his worth. He must fight for what is his to keep—and it could well cost him his heart.
How do you push past the fear of your writing being average and be bold enough to sell it to a publisher(or agent or audience if you self publish)? I have always been a people pleaser, so this is a struggle for me. I’ve learned over the years to have a tougher skin—you must if you are going to stay in this business. I think what helps is the hope that I can produce a story that readers will enjoy. Reading has been such a joy to me, and I strive to create something that readers can get lost in.
Who was your first Screen/Musical Crush? Oh my goodness. This will tell my age, but Han Solo in Star Wars. I was 12 when the first Star Wars came out on the screen, and while everyone else fell in love with Luke, I fell in love with Han. The tough guy with a tender heart. A hero who has a soft underbelly. And he is hilarious. I love a guy with a great sense of humor.
What inspired you to start writing, or did you always want to write? I loved reading, even as a young child. My aunt got me hooked on romances in high school and that is when the dream to write began. I even started a novel in high school. But life got in the way, and I put my dream aside until I turned 40 years old. I decided then that I would cross that off my bucket list before I died! I’ve been writing ever since.
Do you have your plotline and character development already laid out before you begin writing a book, or do they develop as you write? Yes, I like to do character development with the enneagram and figure out their goals, motivation, and conflict. I do like to have the basic plot points laid out but have some leeway in getting to those points. I think it helps to know the character and how they would respond in certain situations before you start writing. Of course, as I write, they will surprise me and act completely opposite, but I figure that is the fun part of writing.
What advice do you have for aspiring writers? I would say to read books on how to write and attend seminars and conferences. But most of all, you need to enjoy the journey and don’t fret over getting published. Keep writing. Keep loving it. Keep telling stories. There are so many paths to take on this journey, but you should have fun on whatever path you take.
Who were some of your favorite authors as a child? (Book series, maybe?) I loved C.S. Lewis’s books, The Chronicles of Narnia. I also loved George MacDonald’s fairytales. Of course, Anne of Green Gables, and The Girl of the Limberlost (my grandmother’s favorite book).
Which of your characters most reflects your personality? I would have to say Fiona, Ian McGowan’s sister, in His to Keep. She is a peacemaker and that is me … I love harmony. She tries to calm down Ian’s nemesis in the story, as well as point Ian to God’s peace. She is the heroine in my next book, which I am now plotting.
Here is where you can find Sherrinda online:
Website: www.sherrinda.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SherrindaKetchersidAuthor/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/sherrinda
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sherrinda
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sherrinda/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19022507.Sherrinda_Ketchersid
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sherrinda-ketchersid
Newsletter Signup: https://www.subscribepage.com/z2m6x3
Sherrinda is giving away an ebook or print copy of His to Keep to a reader! (Print to US only) See below how to enter to win:
I’m so grateful for your visit, today.
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always loved Regency and read that era voraciously, but then I stumbled upon a clean medieval romance writer and fell in love with that time period even more. Medieval is not popular in Christian publishing, except as YA—Jody Hedlund and Melanie Dickerson are fabulous medieval writers in that genre. I was fortunate to find a small press that would publish my medieval, but that is not the norm. I’m still going to write medieval romance, but may try my hand at Regency at some point. It is still an era I love and would enjoy writing about balls, dinner parties, and walks in the park. I don’t want to write just for market. I want to love the world in which I’m creating. That is more important to me at this point.