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Friday, May 22, 2020

An Interview With Sherri Shackleford

by Patricia Bradley

I discovered Sherri Shackleford when I bought a few Love Inspired Suspense books and her Stolen Secrets was one of them. I quickly got caught up in the story.
 I think I read it in one sitting!

I'm so happy to introduce her to our Suspense Sisters' readers! I think all of our readers will enjoy her romantic suspense stories and she also writes historical westerns, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

Me: Sherri, if you had to describe yourself in one sentence, what would you say?

Sherri: Dreadfully empathetic with a masochistic ability to absorb copius amounts of solitude and criticism.

The perfect personality for a writer!

Me: I so agree that's the perfect personality for a writer, Sherri. What do you do when you’re not writing? Any interesting hobbies?

Sherri: When I’m not writing, I’m thinking about writing. Or reading. Other than that, I’m a fairly proficient baker. Over the quarantine, I’ve mastered homemade marshmallows, kolaches, noodles, and sourdough bread. Unlike my other qualities, cooking is a terrible hobby for someone who sits and stares at a screen all day! In my next life, I’m going to enjoy running…

Me: Oh, my goodness. I almost said, come to my house before I realized what that would mean for my waistline. To change the subject, what genre did you start out writing? Have you changed course? Why or why not?

Sherri: I started out writing historical westerns, and now I’m writing romantic suspense. Most of my westerns had an element of mystery, and that was easy to expand upon, but there is definitely a learning curve. The pacing and plotting are FAR different in romantic suspense! After writing 11 historical westerns, I’d developed a certain rhythm to my writing. Writing suspense has meant relearning my process.

Me: I totally learned that when I tried to write a cozy mystery. Any other genres you’d like to try? If yes, what and why?

Sherri: I can see myself gravitating more toward straight mystery in the future. But that will be a distant future!

Me: What is the most valuable piece of advice you’d like to give to unpublished authors?

Sherri: Each book is harder to write than the last. If not, then you’re not doing it right. I was really naïve in the beginning, and I thought the more books I wrote, the better I’d get at writing. Nope! Turns out, the more you know, the more you realize you don’t know.


Me: Sherri, do I ever agree with that. It seems every time I start a new book, I have to ask myself, "Now how did I do this the last time?"

Sherri is giving away, not one but two, copies of Stolen Secrets. (US addresses only) Leave a comment with your email address (like this: pat at ptbradley dot com) and tell us how you would describe yourself in one word. Or how ever you want to comment. :-)
Here's the back cover copy to Stolen Secrets:

From investigating a security breach

to becoming the target of an unseen foe

Someone has been impersonating software engineer Lucy Sutton to steal classified technology secrets, and it’s up to her to figure out who. National Security Agency employee Jordan Harris is the only person she trusts to help her set a trap. But with an unknown enemy watching Lucy’s every move and threatening her life, capturing the culprit becomes an even deadlier task than they expected.


You can purchase Stolen Secrets at:

Christian Books

Sherri Shackelford

A former naval reservist with a top-secret security clearance, Sherri writes rapid-fire suspense featuring captivating characters and heart-pounding romance. She's authored more than a dozen novels for Harlequin publishing, including both historical and contemporary suspense.



Her first suspense book, No Safe Place, was a finalist in both the New England Readers' Choice Award, and the Faith Hope and Love Readers' Choice Award.

54 comments:

  1. Marshmallows!! I'm so jealous. The book sounds really good.
    Thank you,
    Theresa Norris
    weceno at yahoo dot com

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    1. It is really good, Thersea! And I can't imagine making marshmallows. lol

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  2. I've read quite a few of Sherri's books and thoroughly enjoyed them. Looking forward to this one. Sounds great.
    nstotts at sbcglobal dot net

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    1. Nicole, I really enjoyed this book. Thanks for stopping by!

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  3. I'd use "pragmatic" to describe myself. Great interview. Thanks for the chance to win a prize! Boxtopscrazy at gmail dot com.

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    1. 2boyzmommy, I'm not sure what word I'd use to describe myself...I've heard the word stubborn used about me a lot...

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  4. Sherri!! Great interview! Love your books. Ever since being sent home from work, I feel like all I do is eat. And I can't find a working routine. You would love running! It is so much fun, clears the mind, etc. Can't wait to read your book!
    sallyshupe1 at gmail dot com

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    1. Oh, Sally, how I wish i could run again...but my knees simply won't let me. Although I do try it sometimes. I get the same high swimming as I did running, but there are no pools open now. Thanks for stopping by.

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  5. Compassionate
    duellonlysis at aol dot com

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    1. From my observation of you, that's the word I'd come up for you, Beverly. So glad you stopped by.

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  6. Wonderful interview! I enjoy learning more about authors and their books. Today I'd describe myself as lazy or unmotivated. LOL
    whthomas13 at yahoo dot com

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    1. It's so easy to fall into both of those right now, Winnie. I'm trying to talk myself into finishing the proposal I was working on earlier...Thanks for stopping by.

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  7. In one word, I'm "complex." :-) This sounds like a great book! My favorite genre.
    ParchesDanny at Yahoo dot com

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    1. Lora, I love it! And I think you'd love Sherri's book!

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  8. After thinking about this briefly I'd describe myself as compassionate.
    I love books like this and would love to read and review the paperback format of this book. Always looking for new books and authors.
    Email: don dot stewart at zoominternet dot net
    Crystal

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    1. Ah, Crystal, are Tigger & Daisy Mae feline or canine? My daughter had a dachshund named Daisy Mae. :-)

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  9. I enjoyed the interview and the books I have read by Sherri. Have a blessed weekend. leliamae54(At)aol(dot)com

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    1. Thanks for dropping by, Lucy. I have more of Sherri's books on my TBR table. Have a blessed weekend yourself.

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  10. caring
    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

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    1. I can see that from some of the replies to blog posts! Thanks for stopping by.

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  11. Great interview. Would love the book. I'm sure!
    Susan
    se.simpson@yahoo.com

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  12. Outgoing! xercisebug61 at gmail dot com
    Enjoyed the interview!

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    1. Great, Donna. Sherri is an interesting person...homemade marshmallows, indeed. :-)

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  13. Thank you for the interview with Sherri. Love learning more about the person behind the books on my TBR list.

    I, too, am a baker. With there only being the two of us now, I more than understand the problems with baking as something to do that you enjoy versus the battle with the scales. If I baked what I would love to and as often, I'd be wider than I am tall.

    Can't wait for the opportunity to read "Stolen Secrets". Love the cover which drew me in before I even had read what the book was about. Shared and hoping to be one of the fortunate ones selected. I'd love to read and review this fabulous book.
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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    1. Thanks for sharing, Kay! And I understand about baking what I want to--I have a package of yeast tempting me now to make a batch of rolls...

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  14. So good to see you here, Sherri, and this looks like another super good read. loree dot peery at outlook dot com

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    1. It is a super good read, LoRee! Thanks for stopping by.

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  15. Great interview!
    tumcsec(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. I agree, Gail! Sherrie is so interesting. Thanks for stopping by.

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  16. Myself in one word: Tired!! 70 yr old Nana dealing with 4 grandkids. Hard to keep up with them!! �� My son made his own marshmallows. I’m too lazy. Just grab one out of the bag!!
    Anne at Rightler dot com

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    1. Oh, Anne! Four grandkids! I feel for you. Don't get me wrong--I love my grands and great-grands, but when you live by yourself all that energy will get you!

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  17. amy bradsher at gmail dot com

    Tired.
    Also in need of some uninterrupted reading time.
    This has been a crazy few months.

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    1. Amy, it has indeed been a crazy few months. I never believed something like this could happen--shows how wrong I can be. But this too shall pass.

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  18. Interesting. Ask my friends. sonnetta_jones(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. I like that, Sonnetta. If I asked my friends, they'd probably say I was crazy. lol I'm adhd with a LOT of energy and sometimes I bite off more than I can chew.

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  19. Awesome!! I’d describe myself as sensitive
    janeen dot bair at gmail dot com

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    1. I like that Janeen. I need to be more sensitive!

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  20. I'd say about myself that I am a creative person in art and music (I play a Paraguayan harp and sing with it as well), and would hope I'd be known for my compassion for others and deep love for the Lord, and wanting others to know Him, too. This book sounds like an intriguing story, one I'd really enjoy reading! Would love to win a print copy. Thanks for the opportunity to enter this giveaway! God bless! Lual Krautter Email: krautter41120AToutlookDOTcom

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  21. Lual, I hopped over to Youtube and listened to a Paraguayan harp. Awesome! I have a friend who plays the harp and I could listen to it all day.

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  22. my word is calming because I have a calming effect on people. sheliarha64(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. That's great, Shelia! I do like to be around calm people. :-)

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  23. Encourager. My email is livinginjoytogether@gmail.com

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    1. I love your email address, Susan! Thanks for stopping by.

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  24. Calm. I liked the interview. It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.

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  25. Love interviews to get to know people i would also love to win the book

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  26. And the winners of Stolen Secrets are JBair and Gail H! Congrats!

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