Thursday, February 23, 2012

1st Blogoversary: Interview with Cheryl St. John & Giveaway!

Cheryl, welcome to Hardcover Feedback! Thank you SO much for being a part of my 1st Blogoversary Celebration! What or who made the biggest influence on you wanting to become a writer?
 Reading books as a child nourished my desire to become a  writer. During summer vacations I mourned the loss of the school library. I wrote my own stories, drew the covers and stapled them into little books. 



What was the first book you ever wrote about and was it ever published?
The first book I ever wrote was titled The Rebel and it was undeserving of publication. I was 14 and I wrote about a teenage gang. How embarrassing, but I guess I put a dot on the learning curve.



Do you have any writing habits that people might find unusual?
I don't turn around three times before sitting in my chair or don my writing cap or anything. Sitting in the chair is the biggest hurdle. Fingers to keyboard next. If I do that, words come. I do clean my office and my desk between each project, but I wouldn't call that unusual.



Do you have a favorite character or one that is especially close to your heart?
I really love Joshua McBride in Saint or Sinner. He was a man redeemed of his past and focused on the future. I also have a special fondness for Tye Hatcher in Joe's Wife. An underdog with a heat of gold. 



What is the best gift you have ever received and who gave it to you?
Best gifts ever are my ten grandchildren, and my four children gave them to me. I never knew how wonderful it would be to have that special bond. They possess my heart. 



What is something that you have always wanted to do, but just haven't gotten around to it yet?
I always have a craft in the planning, so I have boxes and totes of materials for windchimes and jewelry and all sort of different things. I just never get around to actually doing the projects!  



What is your all-time favorite book?
All time favorite book is a tough decision, but after some thought I have to go with Twice Loved by LaVryle Spencer. Rye Dalton is my favorite hero of all time. Now that is romance at its finest. 



Other than yourself, who is your favorite author?
A favorite author is just as difficult. I love everything LaVyrle Spencer ever wrote, so I have to go with her. 



If a TV show was based on your life, what would the theme song be and why?
You ask difficult questions. I'm going to go with can't Buy Me Love. I've had little and I've had a lot, and none of it means a thing without the people you love. When our kids were little we didn't go out to eat, but we cashed in aluminum cans to go to the movies on Friday night. My favorite times with my grandkids are usually spent hiking through the woods or going for a walk. 



What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love movies, so whenever I can sneak in an hour or two I watch a movie. An old one, a new one, I don't care. I have favorites I watch over and over, and they inspire me. 



Are you an early bird or a night owl?
I am definitely a night owl. I have to force myself to go to bed, and I've always been this way. My husband is the early bird. I'm often just going to bed when he's getting up to head out for work. It's always been my philosophy that sleep is a waste of time and I'll get a lot of it after I die, but I'm trying to correct that thinking so I can stay healthier. 



What is your favorite TV show and/or movie?
My favorite TV show was ER for many years, and some some odd reason it's now Gray's Anatomy. I don't think it's the medical stuff; it's the character interaction and the fast pace. I also enjoy Bones and I never miss American Idol - and yes I vote.  



If you had the opportunity to go anywhere you wanted, at anytime in history, where would you go and why?
If I had the opportunity to go somewhere in history, I think I'd be in the crowd when Jesus preached the sermon on the mount. I think hearing Him would be pretty cool.



You are given an unlimited budget to plan your ultimate party. Please describe it (i.e. Where would it take place? Who would be on the guest list? What would be on the menu? Would there be a theme? etc.).
My ultimate party would be a beautiful tea party, with eclectic cups and saucers and beautiful dishes. I would invite all my friends and we'd spend an entire summer afternoon under the shade of tall old trees, drinking tea and eating scones and cakes. 



What are you currently working on?

I have several projects in the works right now. I am having rights reverted to four of my very first books, so those are in the process of becoming digital releases, but it's a lot of work. I'm excited that the stories will have a second life with new readers. I've also been working on a non-fiction project that has been challenging, but for which I have big plans. I have a proposal in for a historical and a couple more nearly ready. 


Where can people connect with you online?
Readers can find me online at a variety of places: 


Thank you so much Cheryl for being on Hardcover Feedback!


GIVEAWAY:


Cheryl has graciously offered to give away a copy of her new book The Wedding Journey! If the winner is in the US they may choose a printed book or an e-book. If the winner is NOT in the US, then they would receive an e-book. 

To enter, all you have to do is follow this blog in at least one way, complete the mandatory entry and then complete whichever extra entries you want in the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway is open internationally!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

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19 comments:

  1. What's interesting about this interview? The interview itself! The fact that you have interviewed Cherly St. John! Like WOW! Lucky you... The author's ultimate party idea is great; I would like to do something like that as well. Wouldn't it be interesting to ask the author for her favorite movies? :-)

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  2. I too stay up extremely late and often hear my dad head off to work!

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  3. I love the way Cheryl considers her grandchildren gifts given to her by her children!

    wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
    wrensthoughts.blogspot.com

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  4. That is so funny that Cheryl wrote about a teenage gang! Hey, it could minister to teens who have been exposed to gangs. :-) I'm excited for the opportunity to win "The Wedding Journey"! :-)

    gwen[dot]gage[at]gmail[dot]com

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  5. Nancy, I'd love to share. You'll probably laugh - but here goes:

    My Favorite Movies
    * Hope Floats
    * Lonesome Dove
    * Sommersby
    * Return To me
    * The Con
    * Bounce
    * Quigley Down Under
    * The Love Letter
    * Winter People
    * Far & Away
    * Phenomenon
    * Mrs. Wintersbourne
    * Paradise
    * High Road To China
    * At First Sight
    * Pay it Forward
    * Notting Hill
    * The Fulfillment of Mary Gray
    * A Star is Born
    * While You were Sleeping
    * The Substitute Wife
    * Open Range
    * Australia
    * Avatar

    You might think this is strange, but Face Off is another of my favorite movies. It's character driven, and John Travolta's character is a wounded hero. I love it.
    Another is The Bone Collector. I watch it all the time.

    And when asked my favorite Christmas movie, I reply, "Die Hard." lol

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    1. Cheryl did you forget Johnny Depp and his movies? Sue

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  6. Abbi, we must meet some late night for tea. :-)

    wfnren, yes, my grandchildren are truly a joy.

    Dwen, that book will never make it out of the box - in fact I must eventually destroy it before I die!

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  7. DIE HARD IS YOUR FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIE!!!!????????

    THAT IS MY FAMILIES FAVORITE TOO (THOUGH MY PERSONAL FAVORITE ID 'While You Were Sleeping'.
    Did you realize the original Lethal Weapon was a Christmas Movie, too?

    My daughter spend Christmas with her boyfriend's parents for the first time this year. She said, "Let's watch a Christmas Movie. I brought Die Hard."

    (yes, I began hiding under my desk at this point in her story)
    Well, the whole family was watching it, but talking too, and teasing her that is wasn't a Christmas Movie For Heaven's Sake. And the moment came when Bruce Willis killed his first terrorist and sent teh body down in the elevator tied to a chair and put a santa hat on the dead guy and wrote on his sweat shirt in bright red marker, "Now I've Got a Machine Gun Ho-Ho-Ho"
    and her in-laws said, "Wow, you're right, this is a Christmas movie."

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  8. I am with you on being a night owl, Cheryl. For some reason that's when I am the most inspired and get the most done. I can't wait to read The Wedding Journey!

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  9. Cheryl is my favorite author. I will also have to check out LaVyrle Spencer's books. Your favorite's favorite must be really good right ;)

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  10. I love movies too! They transport you to another place for an hour or two

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  11. I said 'in-laws' I shouldn't have done that. It's her BOYFREIND not her husband

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  12. I agree with the author since sitting down to the chair means that you have to start work xD

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  13. I have cant buy me love stuck in my head now. I would love to be enter but not sure I can. We cant get LI books on Kindle here for 2 years.

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  14. Interesting that she never gets around to her craft projects. I'm the same way. Lots and lots of stuff that sits around and I never get around to.

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  15. I wonder how many of us made little books ourselves when we were kids? I know I did and so have my own kids. It's amazing how much she is writing and all the work she is doing. I've never thought about how much work it is to publish a book digitally. I wouldn't even have an idea how many hours or days that would take.

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  16. I've watched a few BONES episodes, and don't really like it--not my type, I guess. My favorite tv episodes are Castle. Always love watching one of them! :-)

    The Wedding Journey has a BEAUTIFUL cover!

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