ME: If you had to describe yourself in one sentence, what would you say?
SD: An introvert whose faith is quiet but deeply rooted.
ME: What do you do when you’re not writing? Any interesting hobbies?
SD: For the last several years, I have been trying to learn watercolor painting. I’m not naturally artistically minded, and I know the experts say watercolor is the hardest to learn. I have always loved the dreamy quality you can get with watercolor. Plus, I think it’s good to try things that you are not necessarily good at. As far as my paintings go, right now I am just happy if I paint a tree and other people can tell it’s a tree.
ME: What was your favorite book as a teen or child?
SD: Our little country school library had these Nancy Drew mysteries with pink covers. I was entranced by Nancy and her friends for some time. Really, I just loved to read. My parents were not readers, but they did buy a set of encyclopedias for us that came with what was called Childcraft books geared toward younger readers. I know this makes me a total word nerd, but I read most of those books cover to cover. There was one volume in particular that was about story and myth and maybe poetry that I think planted the seeds for me being a writer.
ME: Tell us three things about yourself that might surprise your readers.
SD: I’ve been a widow for almost eight years now. My husband died when I was 49.
ME: What was your favorite book as a teen or child?
SD: Our little country school library had these Nancy Drew mysteries with pink covers. I was entranced by Nancy and her friends for some time. Really, I just loved to read. My parents were not readers, but they did buy a set of encyclopedias for us that came with what was called Childcraft books geared toward younger readers. I know this makes me a total word nerd, but I read most of those books cover to cover. There was one volume in particular that was about story and myth and maybe poetry that I think planted the seeds for me being a writer.
ME: Tell us three things about yourself that might surprise your readers.
SD: I’ve been a widow for almost eight years now. My husband died when I was 49.
My dog is my best friend.
In the last few years, I have learned that slowing down and being still has as much value as getting through a to-do list.
ME: What genre did you start out writing? Have you changed course? Why or why not?
SD: My first books were The Ruby Taylor mysteries which were humorous amateur sleuth. I loved Ruby Taylor as a character and writing in first person. There was a romance element to them, but the mystery was what drove the story. I do an occasional cozy mystery but most of what I write currently is romantic suspense for Love Inspired. All the genres have their merits. As a writer, I am always trying to balance writing what makes my heart flutter with writing what will pay the bills.
ME: Any other genres you’d like to try? If yes, what and why?
SD: Amateur sleuth and cozy have always been my favorite genre. I like a mystery where it’s a puzzle for the reader to solve, dropping clues and lining up suspects. But also, the books are about relationships between friends and family. I wish there was a Christian or just clean market for short stories as well.
ME: If you could go back in time and do something differently at the start of your career, what would it be?
SD: I don’t know that I would do anything different, but I can tell you what surprised me about writing. I thought once I got my first book published my life would change radically. I had this idea that writing careers look like Jessica Fletcher’s from Murder, She Wrote. I had this delusion that once I was published someone else would be mopping my floor and cleaning my toilets while I figured out how big I wanted my swimming pool to be. Now I write full time (I have published over 30 books) and I am still mopping my floors and cleaning my toilets. And I don’t have a swimming pool. Actually, I think that Jessica was so down to earth she still cleaned her own house in Cabot Cove.
ME: What is the most important piece of advice you’d like to give to unpublished authors?
SD: You must be love not with the idea of being published and getting recognition for your work. Instead, what nourishes you should be sitting alone in a room listening to the keyboard click while you create worlds and characters and make sentences sing.
Here's a little bit about UNDERCOVER MOUNTAIN PURSUIT: An undercover assignment turns into a perilous mountain escape. After witnessing a shooting in a remote mountain location, high-risk photographer Willow Farris races to help—and runs into her old flame, Quentin Decker. Undercover to take down an international smuggler, Quentin has a mission to complete. But with Willow in the crosshairs, shielding her takes priority. If they want to bring the criminals to justice, Quentin and Willow must first get off the mountain alive…
Buy Undercover Mountain Pursuit HERE
Leave Sharon a comment for a chance to win a copy of Undercover Mountain Pursuit. Drawing in one week. Sorry, US readers only. Have a great week of reading! ~ Mary Ellis