Sherry Gammon's Blog, page 4

Thank you for stopping by on the final day of Author March Madness! I hope you enjoyed getting to know your favorite authors a bit more!
Day Fifteen: Sherry Gammon


1.    Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? I’m Joker, I’m a smoke…Wait! Wrong song. While I am a joker, I’m not a smoker! I’m also a mom, a wife, and I pretend to be a writer..shhh, don’t tell anyone!
2.    What do you do when you are not writing? I think about writing! And clean toilets :/
3.    What is your favorite smell? Freshly washed babies…and chocolate chip cookies baking.
4.    When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book? I started writing at age 11 after a tragedy happened that I didn’t know how to deal with. It was a simple poem. I wrote my first book several years later, a Harry Potter book. I was tired of JK Rowling killing everyone off so I wrote my own book/ending! 600+ pages!
5.    If you had 24 hours to live, excluding spending time with your family, what would you do?  Go to the beach…in Hawaii…with my family.
6.    Do you ever experience writer’s block? EVERY day :(
7.    Do you work with an outline, or just write? Outline, but the end product never looks like the outline.
8.    What is your favorite kind of cheese? Rocky Road Ice Cream…That’s not a cheese you say? I beg to differ. Both come from cows. Technically both come from cow’s milk. Therefore they are the same thing.
9.    Is there any particular author or book that influenced you growing up or as an adult?  Les Miserable. Oh, to write a book like that!
10.     Would I find anything growing in your refrigerator right now? Oh yeah. I’m sure there is a colony thriving in there!
11.   How would you describe yourself in three words? Funny (no, not looking…well not all the time), faithful, & forgetful.
12.   Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?  Both. As a writer it helps to draw on real life to bring authenticity to a story. Then I mingle it with imagination.
13.   Who is your favorite author? Victor Hugo.
14.   What was your favorite part of writing and why? Editing. Because getting the story down on paper is the hardest part. Editing is much easier.
15.     Chocolate or Brussels sprouts? Chocolate…duh.
16.     What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? You suck!
17.     What has been the best compliment given to you as an author? Your story changed my life.
18.     What is your least favorite smell? Skunk!
19.     Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers? Write write write and read read read!
20. Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers? I can not thank you enough for you support. You inspire me every day. You make me want to be a better writer!
Author Bio: Sherry and her wonderfully supportive husband, currently call Upstate New York home, which is also the setting for her novels. It is where they are raising their family. Sherry has a degree in Legal Assisting, and served as a medical technician in the Air Force. She and her husband worked in foster care for a number of years, from which they adopted their youngest son. She has worked in the education system for a number of years, and is currently lucky enough to be teaching teenage girls, ages 12-18. She has lived in Michigan, California, Utah, Texas, Pennsylvania, and the beautiful, but over-taxed state of New York where she has spent the last eleven years, and now considers home. It is where she spends her nights writing instead of sleeping :}  

Find me:Web site | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Amazon | iBooks | B & N | Kobo | Scribd



Thanks for stopping by!
Sherry Gammon
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Day 14: Tristi Pinkston
1.        Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m a stay-at-home, work-at-home, homeschooling mom with four kids and one great husband. I run Tristi Pinkston Editing and Trifecta Books, and I have a great time helping writers become authors. I’m pretty much addicted to pebble ice, salted sunflower seeds, chocolate, and Taco Time. Taking naps is one of my favorite things ever.
2.        What do you do when you are not writing?
I spend most of my time editing. When I’m not doing that, I’m napping (see—I told you I like naps) or watching a show on Netflix. I love reality shows like Hotel: Impossibleand Chopped. Also, I’ve now seen every episode of Star Trek: TNG.
3.        What is your favorite smell?
There are two that I just love—freshly baked bread and a baby just out of the bath. If I ever had both in the same place at the same time, that would be total nirvana.
4.        When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book?
I started writing when I was five. I finished my first whole entire book when I was … let me think … in 2000. I had a bunch of bits and pieces before that. Really bad bits and pieces. No, you may not see them.
5.        If you had 24 hours to live, excluding spending time with your family, what would you do?
Um, I honestly don’t know. Spending time with my family is the only thing that seems important in a scenario like that.
6.        Do you ever experience writer’s block?
I sometimes burn out and need to recharge my brain cells, and I sometimes need to move on and come back to a scene or a project later, but I’d have to say that words are always flowing through me. They never really stop.
7.        Do you work with an outline, or just write?
I just write, and as I write, I keep a list of things to back and add. So, for instance, if I’m on page 35 and I realize I need to foreshadow something I just wrote, I make a note and catch it on my next round of edits. When I’m writing historical, I do have a timeline handy so I don’t miss a major battle or something like that, which would be pretty embarrassing.
8.        What is your favorite kind of cheese?
This is a hard one. I do like mild cheddar, but a nice provolone can also make me happy. So can a nice MLT . . . where the mutton is nice and lean . . .
9.        Is there any particular author or book that influenced you growing up or as an adult?
I grew up reading the classics—Little Women, A Girl of the Limberlost, Heidi, Alice in Wonderland, Anne of Green Gables. Those books all contributed to my natural writing style, which is a little more old-fashioned, and I have to watch that sometimes. Ann Rinaldi was hugely influential in guiding me toward historical fiction, while I thank many cozy mystery authors for interesting me in that genre.
10.    Would I find anything growing in your refrigerator right now?
Is this a question I’m totally required to answer? Yes, you most likely would find something in the very back under something else. But if you come over to check that out, I won’t answer the door.
11.  How would you describe yourself in three words?
Visionary, stubborn, perfectionist
12.    Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?
Each and every one of my books has some part of me in it to different extents. If you know me and then you read my books, you’ll see it pretty plainly. Hopefully, that makes my books more realistic. At worst, it helps me work through my neuroses.
13.    Who is your favorite author? Since most of you will probably say me ;) please tell me then, who is your second favorite author?
I have so many favorites, it’s impossible to list them here. Elizabeth Peters, Ann Rinaldi, Madeline L’Engle, Lloyd Alexander, Louisa May Alcott, Robin McKinley, Gene Stratton-Porter, Anne George, L.M. Montgomery, Scott Westerfeld … you can see that my tastes are pretty varied.
14.    What was your favorite part of writing and why?
I love creating things. I love using my imagination and then making something where there was nothing before. And then I get to share that with someone else, and they enjoy it. There’s nothing like that kind of high. (Or the low when they don’t enjoy it … but that’s how the cookie crumbles sometimes.) Oh, and my thirteen-year-old son just walked in carrying a copy of Secret Sisters. He said, “First time I’ve read it all the way through. Wow.” Things like that are definitely on my favorites list.
15.    Chocolate or Brussels sprouts?
This has got to be a trick question. There’s a hidden camera in here, right?
16.    What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author?
The toughest ones are the ones that are either blatantly mean or a little too close to home. I appreciate criticism if it’s something I can take and implement and learn and grow from, but there have been some occasions when it’s given in a mean-spirited way (usually by those lovely anonymous reviewers on Amazon) and that’s not meant to be helpful.
 17.    What has been the best compliment given to you as an author?
My second book, Strength to Endure, was read by a lady who had grown up in Germany during World War II, and she said that I got it exactly right. That was huge to me—I’d done so much research, and to know it had paid off was amazing. I also love it when people tell me they didn’t get any sleep because they were up reading, or I made them snort their drink in public because they were laughing—yeah.
18.    What is your least favorite smell?
Body odor and mildew are the two worst for me. I’m also not crazy about the smell of vomit. Or cigarette smoke. I’m allergic to mildew, so that one’s more than just a bad smell to me.
19.    Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?
I do indeed. Stop being an aspiring writer and get something written. You can dream and build castles in the air all you want, but it’s sitting down, doing the work, and getting it out there that will actually make your dreams reality. Walk the walk. And if no one wants to publish you, self-publish. Take control of your own success.
20.      Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers?
Yes! Thank you for reading my books and for liking them as much as you do. Your appreciation for my craft keeps me going and makes me smile. If you’d like to receive my not-very-regular newsletter and stay updated on whatever crazy thing I’m doing next, please send an e-mail to [email protected].

Author Bio  Tristi Pinkston is the author of over thirty books ranging from historical fiction to cozy mystery to cookbooks and lots of other stuff in between. She’s a popular presenter at writers conferences up and down the Wasatch Front, and is the president of two companies, Tristi Pinkston Editing and Trifecta Books. And after typing that bio, she now needs a nap.
Find Tristi hereWebsite | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon 
Thanks for stopping by!
Sherry Gammon
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Day Thirteen: Lindzee Armstrong

1.        Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?Well I’m a 20-something wife and mom. J I have a fantastically supportive and amazing husband, and adorable 3 ½ year old sons. Obviously I like writing, and am an avid reader. But I also really love history. In fact, I studied history education in college and taught US and world history while student teaching. I also am really, really addicted to chocolate, as anyone who knows me can attest. It can’t be white chocolate though. That stuff is just gross.
2.        What do you do when you are not writing?Well, I have 3 ½ year old twins, so a lot of cleaning up messes, kissing owies, breaking up fights, and saying “don’t do that!” J But when I’m not doing the mom thing or the housekeeper thing, I am a total TV junkie. I love reality television…The Bachelor and Bachelorette, Celebrity Apprentice, Survivor, Big Brother, all that good stuff. I also love really dramatic TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Vampire Diaries, and mockumentaries like The Office and Parks and Rec. And that’s pretty much all there’s time for after I squeeze in writing amongst my daily commitments. Me and my husband also love traveling so we try to do a lot of that when possible. I’ve been to Europe twice and am dying to go back.
3.        What is your favorite smell?I really love sugar cookie scents. I have a sugar cookie scented candle that I absolutely adore. I also like anything vanilla scented.
4.        When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book?I started writing as soon as I learned how to, like kindergarten. By first or second grade I was pretty serious about it, and I know for certain that by third grade I’d decided that’s what I was going to be when I grew up. I finished my first novel when I was about ten. I no longer have a digital copy of that document (it’s probably on a floppy disc somewhere) but I think it was probably somewhere around 30,000 or 40,000 words. I was an only child at the time and really wanted sibling, so it was about a girl who fell in love, got married, and had 14 kids. There were like two sets of twins and a set of triplets in that mix, and the main characters were insanely beautiful and rich. Totally realistic.
5.        If you had 24 hours to live, excluding spending time with your family, what would you do?Oh gosh, that’s hard. My instinct is to say travel, but with 24 hours I couldn’t get very far, and I wouldn’t want to spend the time in a car or plane. I would go out to a really yummy restaurant and order dessert. Go see a fantastic movie at a really posh theater, one of those ones with recliners. Dye my hair something really fun, like pink. Be a little crazy and spontaneous.
6.        Do you ever experience writer’s block?I think every writer does, and I’m no exception. But I don’t really have time for writer’s block anymore, so I never allow it to last long. I have fantastic writer friends that I’ll brainstorm solutions with. Sometimes I’ll throw something wacky and bizarre into the plot to get things going again, and fix or change it in edits so it makes more sense. When all else fails, I’ll set a timer and just force myself to write without stopping. Usually after a half hour or so, the block’s gone and I’m onto something.
7.        Do you work with an outline, or just write?Definitely with an outline. For some books, it’s pretty loose, just key plot points and a general idea of how I’ll get from A to B. But with Wishing on Baby Dust, for example, I knew what would happen in every single scene in the book before I ever started writing. Some of that changed in editing, but the core part of it is all still there. I have to make the time I spend away from my family to write count, and that means I can’t afford to waste time on books I end up having to completely rewrite or plots that aren’t fleshed out enough to become a story.
8.        What is your favorite kind of cheese?Medium cheddar. Because yum.
9.        Is there any particular author or book that influenced you growing up or as an adult?Rachel Nunes and Josi Kipack were a big influence on me as a young author. I love their books, but they were also just awesome ladies who took time out of their busy lives to take this awkward, strange kid under their wings and encourage her to keep writing. I felt so uncomfortable and shy as a very young teenager in a very adult writing community, but they always made me feel welcome. They took time to offer advice, and give critiques. I always felt like they treated me like an adult and an equal, which I really appreciated because so many adults would pat me on the head and say “oh, isn’t that cute” when they found out I was a writer. They made me 110% believe I would one day be published. I will forever be grateful to them for that.
10.    Would I find anything growing in your refrigerator right now?I honestly don’t know…I haven’t looked closely enough in the last few weeks to tell you. J Probably not, because my husband keeps a pretty good eye on things. Me and food have a complicated relationship. I have a disease called polycystic ovarian syndrome, and one of the ways it affects me is that I rarely have an appetite and get nauseated really easily. Because of this, my husband deals with most of the food in our house and just brings me something and forces me to eat. During the day, I open the refrigerator just long enough to grab whatever the kids want to eat, and I don’t bother looking for anything else.
11.  How would you describe yourself in three words?Blunt. Loyal. Ambitious.
12.    Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?Oh my book is almost entirely based on real-life experiences! Almost everything that happens in Wishing on Baby Dust I have personal experience with. The characters and situations are fictitious, but a lot of the events are based on real things that happened to me.
13.    Who is your favorite author? Since most of you will probably say me ;) please tell me then, who is your second favorite author? That is such a loaded question, Sherry! I adore Janette Rallison if I’m looking for a funny, light-hearted romance. JK Rowling amazes me because her plots are brilliant, and her voice is so solid. I love Margaret Mitchell because Gone With the Wind has such a heartbreakingly perfect ending. I could go on for hours. I don’t really have a single favorite, because it depends on what I’m looking for in a book at that moment.  
14.    What was your favorite part of writing and why?I really enjoy editing. First drafts are really hard for me, but editing is where I get to find the gems and make them shine. I love taking the raw book and molding and perfecting it into something I’m proud of.
15.    Chocolate or Brussels sprouts? Chocolate wins over pretty much ANYTHING. Especially a vegetable (although really, Brussel sprouts aren’t bad as far as vegetables go. I don’t know why they get such a bad rap).
16.    What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author?Someone told me once that my story was irredeemable and I should stop working on it. I love constructive criticism, because I love perfecting my work and applying feedback. But that really hurt and I don’t think it was constructive. I put that book away and two years later I’m just barely returning to it. That remains the one and only time in my life I’ve had my feelings hurt by a critique.
17.    What has been the best compliment given to you as an author?I just got a review where someone said “if you like Nicholas Sparks you’ll like this book.” I’ll take it!
18.    What is your least favorite smell?Puke. Yuck! My twins have always been (and still are) pretty big pukers. They still throw up at least once a month. It is the most vile smell. I especially hate it when they throw up in the car and we’re stuck with the smell for an entire vacation.
19.    Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?I think the best advice I can give to any writer is learn how to take constructive criticism graciously, weed through it, and apply what needs to be applied. But there are other things too. Go to conferences. Read books on writing. Listen to what those with more knowledge and experience have to say. Read like crazy in the genre you write, and figure out why those books are popular and selling. But, above all, write. Because you’ll never improve if you don’t keep putting words to paper regularly.
20.      Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers?Thank you so much for your support! It still amazes me that people take time out of their lives to spend time with a story I’ve created. You guys make my dream come true every time you pick up one of my books and start reading, and I can’t say thank you enough for that.
Author Bio:
Lindzee decided in first grade that she’d grow up to be three things—a mom, a teacher, and a writer. She’s lucky enough to have accomplished all three tasks. Lindzee received her bachelor’s in history education from Utah Valley University. Soon after leaving her teaching career behind, she became a mother to adorable twin boys, who guarantee her life is never dull. Lindzee is married to the most supportive man in the world. He regularly takes care of the twins and cooks dinner so she can escape with her laptop to chase her dream of being a writer. When she has time for hobbies, Lindzee is a reality TV junkie, loves to cross-stitch, and sometimes even finds time to play the piano. She eats way too much chocolate and wishes she liked things like running or yoga.Lindzee writes national fiction under her own name, and fiction with an LDS theme under the pen name Lydia Winters. Lindzee's linksWebsite Facebook Twitter Amazon Goodreads  Thanks for stopping by!
Sherry Gammon
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Day Twelve: M.M. Roethig
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? I’ve been married for almost seventeen years to a wonderfully supportive man. We have three children and we have the ‘his-hers-ours’ scenario. Our oldest two are in college in Idaho and we live in Broomfield with our son. I love to bake, I love to take photos, and I secretly want to become a computer hacker like Penelope on Criminal Minds.What do you do when you are not writing? When I’m not writing, I love to watch movies, any genre, any time, any place. Movies are my secret passion. I also enjoy walking, and listening to music. I love to dance, but I don’t get as many opportunities as I’d like to dance anymore. I also enjoy sporting events and walking around the Aquarium and Zoo, What is your favorite smell? A chlorine filled pool. I know, it sounds so crazy, but I spend a lot of time poolside watching my son swim and writing and the smell really lifts my spirits. I also love the smell of peaches. When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book? I have always written poems, short stories, or even songs, but I started my first book in 2009. I finished it, after at least six full re-writes, in 2014. If you had 24 hours to live, excluding spending time with your -family, what would you do? That’s a tough one. In an ideal world, I would book a flight to one of my bucket lists places, Germany, Ireland, England, Paris. However, I’d probably die on the plane ride over seeing as it takes that long to book the flight and make the trip. So, I’d settle for a rousing day at Harry Potter World in Florida. Much closer and I’m ‘dying’ to go there. Do you ever experience writer’s block? Yes! Dang it! Sometimes my brain refuses to work regardless of how many different things I try to clear my thoughts. In those moments, I usually watch one of my many movies and let my mind go numb. Do you work with an outline, or just write? I’ve tried both and found that if I have an outline to keep me on track, I can just let the words flow with confidence. The outline method really works for me. Plus, if anything ever happened to me, someone, somewhere could finish my work because they would see where I was going. Yes, my brain works like that. What is your favorite kind of cheese? American. Is there any particular author or book that influenced you growing up or as an adult? I’ve read many books in my lifetime and aside from the classics, Jane Austen and Emilee Bronte being my favorites, I have to say Stephanie Meyer influenced me to write. After reading her books and seeing how her vision came to life from a dream, I wondered why I wasn’t brave enough to do the same thing with all the stories in my head. Would I find anything growing in your refrigerator right now? Sadly, yes. With only three of us at home, two most weeknights, we end up with many leftovers and not enough days to eat them. How would you describe yourself in three words? Creative, Loyal, Tenacious.Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination? My book is all imagination, minus the name of my Elemental Princess. She’s named after my niece. Who is your favorite author? Since most of you will probably say me ;) please tell me then, who is your second favorite author? What was your favorite part of writing and why? Escape. When I’m writing, the world tends to fall away and I’m left with a world that comes out of my head. I love having the opportunity to live in that moment.Chocolate or Brussels sprouts? What kind of question is this??!!  Chocolate, of course! What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? This is a hard question to answer. Criticism is hard to take, no matter who gives it and what frame of mind you’re in. Most want to help you become a better writer and with that in mind, the pill is easier to swallow. When criticism comes as a personal attack, those are harder to work through. I once had someone tell me they couldn’t put it down fast enough. That was rough.  What has been the best compliment given to you as an author? I’ve had a few people tell me they laughed, cried, swooned, and imagined my book playing out like a movie in their head as they read. That’s a real stroke to my author ego.  What is your least favorite smell? Chaps cologne. Yuck!!Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers? Keep writing. There will be times when you want to give up, times when you’ll cry and feel like a failure, but never give up. Keep writing. You have a story in your head that needs to be given to the world. Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers? Thank you, thank you, thank you. Without your support and encouragement, I wouldn’t be where I am now. YOU keep me going!
Author Bio:Author M.M. Roethig is a ‘happily-ever-after’ author whose guilty pleasure is a swoon worthy romance. Growing up, she spent her youth on various Air Force bases in many different states, which encouraged her imagination and love of make believe stories with each new city, scenery, and situation.
Finally settling in Idaho, M.M. Roethig finished her schooling years and eventually met and married her very own Prince Charming. A recent move took her to Northern Colorado, a place she has instantly fallen in love with and embraced as her home.
When she is not swooning over romance stories or writing, M.M. Roethig enjoys spending time with her husband and son who also call Colorado home. With two grown daughters and one son-in-law living in Idaho, she finds every excuse to travel back as much as possible.
Other hobbies M.M. Roethig enjoys is running, photography, baking, watching her son swim, and cheering on the Denver Broncos.
Find M.M. RoethigWebsite link http://mmroethig.weebly.com or http://mmroethig.blogspot.com FacebookTwitter https://twitter.com/MMRoethig 
Amazon Central http://www.amazon.com/M.M.-Roethig/e/B00901QB44B & N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/m.m.-roethigiTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/m.m.-roethig/id786893957?mt=11

Thanks for stopping by!
Sherry Gammon
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My True love is Magical Collection is on sale!! Only $.99 for the individual books and $1.99 for the entire collection!

True Love is Magical Collection  is a compilation of three of my fantasy romances!  Purchase links Amazon | B & N | Kobo | iTunes |

Available individually also for $.99 each

Pete & Tink: Book one of the True love is Magical Collection
Purchase links Amazon | B & N | Kobo | iTunes
 Pete Pancerella loves two things in life: Video games and Spongy Cremes. He’s happy, content, and he’s also a geek. All that is about to change when his mother wishes upon a star and Tink answers the call. But will it take more than a five-and-a-half inch faery to whip this manga-loving goofball into shape?

Loving Marigold: Book two of the True Love is Magical Collection


Purchase links Amazon | B & N | Kobo | iTunes

Young Marigold Yarrow has a secret. She’s also in love with Jack Mahoney. In the middle of her ninth grade year, Jack's family up and moves to Port Fare, New York, leaving the small town of Sugar Maple, West Virginia - and Marigold - far behind. 
Nine years later Jack and Marigold meet again. They join forces to weed out the shady Abbott boys. The unscrupulous brothers are illegally selling moonshine near her home on Sugar Maple Ridge. And they'll do anything to get Marigold to leave the ridge. Anything. 
But this time it could be magic that tears Jack and Marigold apart. 


Angel in a Black Fedora: Book three of the True Love is Magical Collection. 
Purchase links Amazon | B & N | Kobo | iTunes
Ciel Björk died a tragic death...but she got over it.Now she works as an undercover angel, answering people’s prayers. Chloe is obsessed with achieving perfection to please her unpleaseable father. Chloe’s BFF Austin Powers will do anything to support her in achieving her goal, including helping her win the heart of Bridger Reed. 
Ciel is sent to the sleepy little town of Port Fare, New York to help turn Chloe’s dreams into reality. Ciel soon learns that things are not as simple as they seem as secrets are revealed. 



Also on sale: Of love and Magic collection, only $.99!!

Available on AmazoniTunesKoboBarnes and NobleGoodreads

Day Eleven: Shannon Guymon/Katie Lee O'Guinn
1.        Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? I live in Utah with five of my six children. I enjoy being active and eating healthy. I also like dancing and hanging out in book stores. I hate small talk and you can usually find me hanging out in a dark corner if I’m forced to attend anything social.
2.        What do you do when you are not writing? I’m the mom of 6 kids so I stay pretty busy with exciting things like cooking, laundry and running kids to soccer, basketball and gymnastics.
3.        What is your favorite smell? Freshly mowed grass
4.        When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book? I was 26 and I finished my first book when I was 27.
5.        If you had 24 hours to live, excluding spending time with your family, what would you do? Eat anything I wanted while reading JK Rowling’s brand new Harry Potter series based on his children at Hogwarts (wishful thinking) while I lay on a private beach.
6.        Do you ever experience writer’s block? Yes! It’s tragic and a super big pain when that happens.
7.        Do you work with an outline, or just write? I just write. I find it more exciting that way when I don’t know what’s going to happen.
8.        What is your favorite kind of cheese? Gouda
9.        Is there any particular author or book that influenced you growing up or as an adult?  Jane Austen (obviously)and I adored The Witch of Blackbird Pond.
10.    Would I find anything growing in your refrigerator right now? Nah – we eat way too fast to let mold grow.
11.  How would you describe yourself in three words? Courageous, positive and protective.
12.    Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination? I always put a little of what I’m going through into whatever book I’m writing at the moment. What that is though … I’ll let the reader guess.
13.    Who is your favorite author? Since most of you will probably say me ;) please tell me then, who is your second favorite author?  Haha – thanks for clarifying J  Sorry, but JK Rowling is the queen. No one can touch her on character development, dialogue, description and plot. She’s a freak of a genius
14.    What was your favorite part of writing and why? Escaping into the story.
15.    Chocolate or Brussels sprouts?  Seriously? Chocolate of course.
16.    What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? When people say it’s an easy read.  It’s a lot of work to make it that way.
17.    What has been the best compliment given to you as an author? This last year a women told me that my books had helped her through a very tough experience. It made me feel good to know that what I do could bring comfort and peace to people.
18.    What is your least favorite smell? Vomit.
19.    Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers? Just do it (Nike slogan) but really. Just sit down and put your words on the paper. And keep doing it every day
20.      Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers? That I love them! I truly do. They bring me a lot of joy.

Author Bio  I live in Utah with my six children and I'm the author of thirty-three books so far. I write YA Paranormal Romance under my pen name, Katie Lee O'Guinn. I enjoy the outdoors, reading and being with my children. I'm also a supporter of the Operation Underground Railroad. They're an amazing organization that rescues children from slavery. To read more about them, go to: https://www.ourrescue.org/As you've probably already guessed, I'm a huge believer in happy endings. Scarlett really should have been happy with Rhett and it's a darn shame Leo and Kate didn't float safely into New York on the Titanic. Don't even get me started on Romeo and Juliet. To find out the latest on my books, check out my blog at www.shannonguymon.blogspot.com or www.katieleeoguinn.blogspot.com. 
 You can purchase my book here: Amazon 
My Links
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Thanks for stopping by!
Sherry Gammon
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Sherry Gammon
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      Amazon * Barnes & Noble Goodreads 

  Newbie            The housing market is crashing, and Sophie’s life is crashing with it. At twenty-four, her successful real estate career evaporates. She’s broke, can’t find a job, or pay her bills, leaving Sophie wondering how her successful lifestyle became so fragile. At the urging of her roommate, Sophie accepts a job in her fallback career—teaching six-year-olds. She hopes it’s temporary. After all, how long can a tanking economy last anyway? The best part of the new job is Liam, another employee at Rio Grande Elementary. The worst part of the new job is, well, teaching. Sophie has a surprise real estate closing from a contract she wrote months ago, leading her to a niche in the real estate market and to a new partner, Kevin. Sophie must choose between Liam or Kevin and between a lucrative career or recess duty.
My Thoughts:Loved this story. I thought it was crisp and funny. Sophie has a great character arch as she goes from the Real Estate world to a classroom of 1st graders. Love Liam. He is a nice breath of fresh air. He and Sophie's interactions kept me laughing and wanting more. I HIGHLY recommend this novel!
Jo Noelle: Author Jo Noelle Jo Noelle grew up in Colorado and Utah but also spent time in Idaho and California. She has two adult children and three small kids. She teaches teachers and students about reading and writing, grows freakishly large tomatoes, enjoys cooking especially for desserts, builds furniture, sews beautiful dresses, and likes to go hiking in the nearby mountains. Oh, and by the way, she’s two people—  Canda Mortensen and Deanna Henderson, a mother/daughter writing team. They began writing separately several years ago but found the process much more fun when they started collaborating. They are debut authors, with Lexi’s Pathetic Fictional Love Life as their first completed work. Other titles include Newbie and Damnation. Deanna attended college before marrying and starting her family. Canda received a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, a Reading Specialist endorsement, and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership. Her day job focuses on teaching teachers and children about literacy.
Amazon * Barnes & Noble
             
  Praise for NewbieLoved this story. I thought it was crisp and funny. Sophie has a great character arch as she goes from the Real Estate world to a classroom of 1st graders. Love Liam. He is a nice breath of fresh air. He and Sophie's interactions kept me laughing and wanting more. I HIGHLY recommend this novel! ~ Author Sherry Gammon In recent years I've become addicted to Sophie Kinsella's books. This book reminded me of hers, only cleaner, which I appreciated! It was sweet and witty. Definitely had me laughing out loud. Loved the ending :) ~Goodreads Review I loved this book! I especially have a tender spot for books with children in them and this story about Sophie being "forced" to teach when the real estate market does so poorly captured my heart. The characters were warm and lovable, the story was fun and I enjoyed every minute of the book. ~Phyllis I loved NEWBIE. Sophie's inner thoughts are a delight. She just makes me smile. Her journey as a newbie teacher is real and touching. ~Donna Weaver  
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  Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 4/6/15 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


  a Rafflecopter giveawayThanks for stopping by!
Sherry Gammon
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Numbers Game by Rebecca Rode Treena is nervous for Rating Day. A single number will brand her forever—a valuable citizen, or a pathetic waste of space. Her top-Rated boyfriend is confident their scores will coincide so they can attend the academy together. But when the big day arrives, her true number shocks everyone. To get her life—and boyfriend—back, she must go undercover and expose a military spy. Doesn’t sound too hard, except that someone wants her dead. And then there’s Vance, the mysterious soldier with a haunted past and beautiful brown eyes. Together, they discover a dark numbers conspiracy, one that shatters the nation’s future. Treena must join up with Vance if she is to survive the dangerous game of numbers—and the terrible war that rages within her heart.

Amazon Excerpt “Your Rating is wrong,” Vance said. “Their precious Rating system says absolutely nothing about you and what you’re capable of.”
I shook my head. “So far, everything I’ve done has proven my number absolutely correct.”
“Treena.” His tone softened. “I don’t know why you that happened to you. But I do know one thing.” He stopped on the step below me, and I whirled to face him. We were the same height now, and his expression was fierce. “You are the most loyal, the most determined, and the most fascinating girl I’ve ever met. No number could ever describe you.”
The deadness inside cracked, and the pain came flooding back. I felt like a five-year-old again. Falling, grasping for a handhold, for something to save me. “It doesn’t matter now. Tali's dead.”
He gave me a long look. Then he sat down, right on the steps, easing me down next to him. I lay my head on his shoulder and let him pull me close. The warmth of his embrace felt completely and utterly right. For a long moment, I allowed myself to forget about the past few days. There was no empress, no punishment mode, and no mission. There was just us. The world was cool and dark, and his touch sent my heart pumping as if it had just awakened from hibernation.
“Dying isn't the worst thing to happen to someone,” he continued thoughtfully. “Anyone coward can die. The hardest thing is being left behind, trying to make sense of a world without them.”
I tilted my head back and allowed myself to look up into Vance’s eyes. They were dark, pulling, as if absorbing all the light that entered, saving it for some future purpose. His eyebrows were choppy, untrimmed, and his lips chapped. But somehow, it worked. It was simply . . . him. No surgeries, no tallies of volunteer hours and checklists. Vance just took life one day at a time, keeping his family safe, trying to put the pieces of himself back together. I could see it, the pain in his heart. It was something we shared now.
A warm feeling spread through my chest until I thought it would burst. This was who he really was. The tumultuous battle within him seemed to have trickled away, leaving one gallant, vulnerable boy. A boy who was looking at me as if I were something precious—who looked at me, instead of at my Rating. His eyes flitted between mine, his confidence replaced with uncertainty.
“It feels good to finally choose sides, doesn’t it?”
“Whose side are you on, then?”
His chin was just above mine, and he lowered it until our eyes were level. Then his hand tilted my chin upward toward his. His fingers brushed the side of my face, cradling it gently in his firm hand. I felt his breath on my face, felt the battle within him as well as I felt it in myself. But something pulled me toward him.
“Yours,” he said. He closed the distance between us, slowly, then paused.
And our lips met.
  Praise for the Book "Gripping, from beginning to end . . . a tale as action-packed as Divergent yet as introspective as The Giver. . . . Sure to be an instant classic in the genre." –R.J. Craddock, author of The Children of Cain series “Fluent and engaging . . . brimming with fabulous characters and intrigue that will keep you flipping pages. Can't wait to read the next book in this series!” –Adrienne Monson, author of the Blood Inheritance trilogy “Had me hooked from the first page to the last . . . Thoroughly enjoyable. I highly recommend!” -Randy Roberts, BoredShorts TV (Kid History/Kid Snippets)   Author Rebecca Rode REBECCA RODE is an award-winning author and journalist. She is the author of the inspirational book, How to Have Peace When You’re Falling to Pieces, and writes for Deseret News, KSL.com, FamilyShare, and Provo Daily Herald. However, her true love is writing for teenagers. She enjoys playing with her four children, traveling, reading, and martial arts, and she has a ridiculous addiction to her husband's chocolate-banana shakes.
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Blog    
  $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 4/9/15 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway 
Thanks for stopping by!Sherry Gammon
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Day Ten:  Norma T Rudolph
1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Mother of 3 girls, married to a sculptor, born and raised in Wyoming, soon to be the worlds most famous and wealthy author (I can dream can’t I?), blah blah blah, need I say more?  
    2. What do you do when you are not writing? When I am not writing, or doing household chores, I like to read, watch movies, crochet or knit (often while watching movies), go for long walks, garden, and eat.

3. What is your favorite smell? Fresh rain.

4. When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book? It’s hard to pin down exactly. I wrote poetry in high school, so I guess that’s when I started. I started writing novels about the time the Harry Potter craze was going strong. One day I was wishing I could write and make money like that and the thought popped into my head, “How do you know you can’t if you never try?” I finished my first novel a few months later and have been writing ever since.

5. If you had 24 hours to live, excluding spending time with your family, what would you do? Travel somewhere warm and soak up some sun maybe? Never really gave it much thought.

6. Do you ever experience writer’s block? Not really.

7. Do you work with an outline, or just write? I usually have a little bit of an outline, sort of a point A to point B and on to how it ends, but I mostly let the story unfold as I write.

8. What is your favorite kind of cheese? Oh dear, It’s really hard to choose. I like almost all cheeses. Think Wallace of Wallace and Grommet. My fingers are curled and my teeth are showing. “CHEESE!” I guess I’ll be boring and say cheddar, the sharper the better.

9. Is there any particular author or book that influenced you growing up or as an adult? Wow, that’s a hard question. There are so many I can’t choose. A few would be, Mary Stewart, Jane Austen, Louisa May Alcott, Barbara Michaels, Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, the list goes on and on.

10. Would I find anything growing in your refrigerator right now? Ha ha ha. At the moment it’s dirty, but I think the hairy things are pretty much under control. I do have some carrots from my garden that are starting to sprout.

11. How would you describe yourself in three words? Creative Introverted Fun

12. Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination? The girl, Summer, is artistic. I was very into art growing up.

13. Who is your favorite author? Since most of you will probably say me ;) please tell me then, who is your second favorite author? Again, hard to choose but probably Mary Stewart. I like both her gothic romances and her Merlin trilogy.

14. What was your favorite part of writing and why? I like letting the day dreams out of my head and seeing them come to life.

15. Chocolate or Brussels sprouts? Duh, chocolate. Does anyone really like Brussels sprouts? Well, actually they can be pretty good if they are super fresh, cooked just so, and dripping with butter but that’s hard to find.

16. What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? I really stink at punctuation, but I’m working on that.

17. What has been the best compliment given to you as an author? That a book I wrote stays with them and things from it come back later to make them think.

18. What is your least favorite smell? Vomit.

19. Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers? Write a good book. The rest is easy.

20. Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers? I hope they enjoy reading them as much I love writing them.

Norma T. Rudolph was born and raised in the wilds of Wyoming where she spent far too much time alone as a child making up silly day dreams in her head. 

She served a mission for her church, got a degree from Brigham Young University in fine arts, married a sculptor and then realized that two artists of that variety in one family were too many, so she turned her art into words. Finally, she learned that the cure for living in her head was to put those crazy things onto paper.
She still lives in the prettiest part of Wyoming, has three beautiful daughters, and the amazing sculptor husband, who works hard and lets her stay home to tell her stories.

Find her here:Website Facebook Twitter  Amazon Library Thing

Thanks for stopping by!
Sherry Gammon
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Day Nine: Author Jamie Canosa

1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?I am a stay-at-home mom with three kids under the age of 10, two cats, a rabbit, and a bird. (It’s a little like living in the eye of a tornado.) Books are my passion. If I’m not writing them, I’m reading them. To myself, to my kids, to anyone who will listen. Even my six-year-olds know better than to leave me unattended in a bookstore.
2. What do you do when you are not writing?Besides reading? Hmm, well there’s that pesky thing called ‘real life’ that tends to take up more time than it should. Things like homework, and cooking, and cleaning. Blah. But when all that is said and done, I love to curl up on the couch with the hubs, the cats, and a cozy blanket to binge watch Netflix. Hi, my name it Jamie, and I have a problem.
3. What is your favorite smell?Ahh. . . rain. The smell of the air right after it rains. Fresh and clean. I love it.
4. When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book?I first started writing after my son was born. Daycare is outrageously expensive and it made more sense financially for me to stay home, rather than work and have to pay for it. Financially. Mentally it drove me flipping crazy. I’m not big on sitting around. My son was an awesome baby. He napped a lot and played quietly. Outside of feeding time, I was pretty much bored out of my mind. We lived in a small apartment and with only the two of us there most of the day, there wasn’t a whole lot of cleaning to do, so I got bored. Really, really bored. I always enjoyed writing in high school. I’d challenge myself by imagining a scene or an emotion and trying to write it without specifically saying what it was.One day, I sat down at my computer while my son was napping and decided I was going to turn a scene into a story. Little did I know that two years later that story would be my first published book.
5. If you had 24 hours to live, excluding spending time with your family, what would you do?            Tough one. I’d probably travel. There are so many places I want to see and sadly I haven’t had the chance to go much of anywhere, yet.
6. Do you ever experience writer’s block?            Ha! All. The. Time! Drives me nuts. But it’s also why I write on average 2-3 books simultaneously. Each one entirely different than the others. Right now I have a dark/gritty contemporary, a more lighthearted NA, and an urban fantasy all in the works. When I hit a block on one, I simply switch gears and work on something else. It works for me. Or I go in search of pita chips… that works, too.
7. Do you work with an outline, or just write?            Both. I have written stories in the past from start to finish without ever knowing what’s going to happen next until it happens. I’ve also outlined entire series before ever writing word one. Generally, I start writing and as ideas strike, or things become more complicated I make outlines to help keep my thoughts straight.
8. What is your favorite kind of cheese?            I know this is going to sound completely alien and possibly offend a few of you, but I’m not a big fan of any cheese. I know! It’s inhuman. The only way I really like cheese is fresh mozzarella with tomato and basil. Now that I can get behind!
9. Is there any particular author or book that influenced you growing up or as an adult?            This is going to sound like sucking up, since the author of this book is the one hosting this interview, but the book that had hands-down the greatest influence on me was Unlovable by Sherry Gammon. Her main character reminded me so much of myself and the storyline struck very close to home. It was actually hard to read at points, but by the end it changed the way I looked at a lot of things, myself included. I truly wish I’d been able to read it as a teenager. To this day, it’s my go-to book when I’m feeling crummy.
10. Would I find anything growing in your refrigerator right now?            Ummm… no comment.
11. How would you describe yourself in three words?Socially-disinclined (I hyphenated to make it one word), realistic, stubborn.
12. Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?            Some of my books are pure imagination, while others draw from experience. I’ve found the greater the emotional strain to write a book, the greater the emotional response from the readers.
13.         Who is your favorite author? Since most of you will probably say me ;) please tell me then, who is your second favorite author?             Sherry, of course it’s you!!! <3 But there are a few other authors that I can’t wait to get my hands on absolutely anything they write, including Jessica Sorensen, Cindy Bennett, Micalea Smeltzer, and Jennifer Armentrout. You can’t make me choose just one (or two). You can’t!
14. What was your favorite part of writing and why?            Escape. My favorite part of writing is the escape. As you can imagine (and possibly relate) my real life is not exactly the stuff novels are made of. Writing, like reading, allows me to imagine romance and adventure and bravery the likes of which simply does not present itself in the day-to-day. I get excited with my characters, feel the rush, the fear, the heart-ache. I cry with them, laugh with them, and cheer with them. Writing can be a breathtaking experience.
15. Chocolate or Brussels sprouts?             Hmmm… maybe not Brussels sprouts, but I’d take a pepper and some ranch dressing over a chocolate bar any day.
16. What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author?Probably the toughest to hear was that a sequel didn't live up to the original. It sucks to think you did something right and then managed to mess it up, but the truth is, there's no way to please everyone. Your story is just that,yours. Tell it how you want. 
17. What has been the best compliment given to you as an author?            Someone once told me that one of my books inspired them to write their own. That pretty much did me in :)
18. What is your least favorite smell?            Dangerous question, Sherry. Things could get gross around here . . . Just kidding. Alcohol. I can’t stand the smell of beer.
19. Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?            Don’t give up. Even if you look back over what you’ve written and hate it. Just keep writing. The more you write, the better you get. You can do it. I promise. It just takes commitment and patience.
20.  Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers?            Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I really can’t say it enough. From the reviews, to the messages, emails, comments, and feedback . ,. . hearing from you is one of the best parts of doing what I do. After all, I do it for you. My books have consistently made Amazon best seller’s lists and I know that’s all because of you. So, thank you! I love you all! <3

    Jamie Canosa is a full time author of YA literature, which she absolutely loves. When she’s not writing or spending time with her family, she can usually be found with her nose in a book. She currently resides in Ravena, NY with her wonderful husband and three crazy kids . . . plus the cats, the bird and the rabbit.




Find Jamie Here: Website|Facebook|Twitter|Amazon

Thanks for stopping by!
Sherry Gammon
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