Today we’d like to introduce you to Sherri Hollister.
Hi Sherri, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve always been a dreamer. There have been stories in my head since I was a little girl, but it wasn’t until I learned to read that I realized I was creating something unique. As an only child in a rural community, I often found myself alone or around older adults; as I listened to their stories, I would imagine myself a part of them. Their stories inspired me to create my own. I come from a long line of storytellers; my father and his father were excellent at putting you in the moment. Writing became my entertainment and also my way of dealing with life. For years I wrote my stories in spiral notebooks which I hid in the back of my closet until I got brave enough to share them with a friend who happened to be our local librarian. My friend talked me into sending my work to a local writers’ competition. I didn’t win, but we attended the awards dinner, and I met a man who was a member of a writers’ group near our home, the Pamlico Writers’ Group in Washington, North Carolina. Writing classes, attempts at finding a publisher, winning the Ann Peach Scholarship, and attending The Romantic Times Readers and Writers Convention pushed me to join Romance Writers of America and our local group, the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers, which meets at ECPI on Dobie Cope Road here in Raleigh. I juggle my time between my paying job, my writing, being the Pamlico Writers’ Group chairperson, and being the VP of Communications for the Heart of Carolina. I also host a monthly online writing challenge through HCRW called Book in a Week, and I have recently become an ambassador for the Alliance of Independent Authors known as AlLi. My mentor, cozy mystery author M K Graff hosted a Writers’ Read for several years, and she, along with writers in HCRW and PWG, my husband, friends, and family, have been the ones who gave me the courage to pursue my dream of being a writer.
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I am the mother of six sons, and as you can imagine juggling school, church, scouts, ball, and any other activities, as well as trying to work, there was little time to pursue a writing career. I tried for years to have it all. I took classes at the local community college and later online when the internet became available. I sent off queries to publishers and agents. I truly wanted to be traditionally published. After losing our home to a fire, I wasn’t sure I’d ever write again, but I found an agent and worked with her for a couple of years. Though she dropped me due to a difference of opinion, I learned much from the process. When I decided to self-publish with my friends and family’s encouragement, I didn’t know what I was doing. I’d taken classes and courses on self-publishing. I knew the basics, but there is a lot to being your own publisher. I learned the hard way how to format my books. I started with print. Even after twelve books, I am still learning the process, partly because things keep changing, but also, as I learn, I want to improve my books. Now, I do my covers, formatting, and marketing. It’s a lot of hats to wear. Finding time to write, market, help educate other writers, work, have a family, and be a good friend is a daily struggle. I often feel like I’m letting someone down because there’s not enough time.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My contemporary romantic suspense series, The Leeward Files, is set in a fictional small town inspired by my hometown. The characters represent the people I know, from the tough girl who survived a difficult life (Chrome Pink) to the woman everyone depends on to get things done (White Gold). My sons and their wives helped me with several of the books. In Titanium Blue, Afghanistan veteran Tar Roberts is estranged from his family after returning home with only one leg and a lot of guilt. My son, Jason, served two tours in Afghanistan. He and his wife were both in the Army and were a great resource. In Red Steel, my youngest son, Blake, and his wife as members of our local volunteer fire department were a lot of help in writing that story. Blake also gave a presentation to the Pamlico Writers’ Group about his work with fire and rescue. I am lucky to have so many resources at hand.
The spin-off series, The Harrell Family Chronicles, stays in Leeward but deals with one family. The Harrell family own a farm which they’ve turned into a campground. The most recent book in that series combined my love of HGTV and The Voice with my love for my town to create a second-chance romance called Trent’s Melody.
In my latest book, The Americans are Coming. I’ve switched genres to cozy historical mystery, using an old bullwhip that once belonged to my husband’s grandfather, a wild west performer, as inspiration for the story and my oldest granddaughter as the face of the main character. I look forward to writing more historicals and have plans for a new contemporary series. Several of my short stories have been published in anthologies. I have a second chance, rockstar romance called Wild Persimmons coming up in the Rock My World international anthology published by New Romance Cafe, a group of online romance writers from all over the world.
What matters most to you? Why?
Family, friends, and my community sustain me when life is difficult, celebrate with me when I succeed, and inspire me every day. I am so blessed to have a husband and family who support and participate in my dream. They are my team. My husband is my biggest cheerleader and research assistant and is often the push I need to go out and conquer my fears. My family and friends are my Beta readers, critics, inspiration, and support. Whatever any one of us is doing, the rest of us become a part of it. My oldest grandchildren (I have twenty-two grands from 18 years old to six months) have started helping me with ideas. It used to be a threat that if you picked on mom, she’d put you in her book and kill you off on page fifty, but now my teenage grandchildren are telling me how to kill them off. My dream has become a family affair, and for that, I am thankful.
Pricing:
- Chrome Pink eBook is Freehttps://books2read.com/u/4jaeBk
- The Leeward Files 3-book trilogy is $2.99 https://books2read.com/u/meelqr
- Trent’s Melody eBook $2.99 https://books2read.com/u/bz1vK2
- The Americans are Coming eBook $1.99 https://books2read.com/u/b6zzRW
- The Americans are Coming print $14.95 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BBQB4D58
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sherrilhollister.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suspenseshewrites
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sjlhollisterwriter/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherri-hollister-a0132b4a/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/sjlhollister
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@suspenseshewrites?lang=en