Tuesday 19 March 2013

Guest Blog Spot- Sherry Gloag

Today I'm delighted to welcome multi-published author Sherry Gloag (and fellow Astraea Press author) to my blog to tell us about her writing process plus her latest book ...

The Author

Sherry is a transplanted Scot now living in the beautiful coastal countryside of Norfolk, England.  She considers the surrounding countryside as extension of her own garden, to which she escapes when she needs "thinking time" and solitude to work out the plots for her next novel.  While out walking she enjoys talking to her characters, as long as there are no other walkers close by.Apart from writing, Sherry enjoys gardening, walking, reading and cheerfully admits her books tend to take over most of the shelf and floor space in her workroom-cum-office. She also finds crystal craft work therapeutic.

Author Interview -

Tell us a bit about your writing – How long have you been writing? How many books have you written and in what genres?On and off I’ve been writing for years. There was a time in the mid ‘90s when I made a serious but mostly unsuccessful attempt at sending my stuff away, so it wasn’t until about 2006 that I started writing seriously again.  I have written about twelve books seven of which have been published, the others eventually died during one of my many PC crashes in the early ‘90s. Although I do read many different genres, I prefer contemporary romance, so I write ‘sweet’ romance with a bit of suspense, and Regency romances that also have suspense running through them.
When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
There was no definitive moment when I sat down and said ‘I want to write,’ but on and off over the years I have been drawn to making an attempt at it.
Where is your favourite spot in which to write? Garden? Study? Kitchen table? In bed?
I’d love to write in the garden but can’t see the screen in bright light, so have a desk in the 2nd bedroom which is my writing space.
How long does it take you to write the first rough draft of one of your books?
Too long!  I’m a pantser, so I don’t draft as such, but I do, now, make notes as I go along.
Do you prefer to write with pen and paper or straight to the computer?
On the computer, but I do jot ideas in a notebooks if I’m out.
Do you plan a plot out in great detail before writing or start with the basics and let the book evolve that way?
I’m a ‘panster’ so start writing when a scene, sentences, even a single word, or my character comes into my mind.
Do you ever get part way through writing a book and find the characters are leading the story off in a different direction to how you had envisaged?
Believe me,
J my characters are always in control, and that can lead to some arguments between us.
Who is your favourite character from all the books you have written and why?
I’m sorry, there’s no straight answer to this question, because while I am writing those are my favourite characters.

The Book
Vidal’s Honor
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Which will Honor lose first? Her head or her heart?

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When plunged into a world of spies, agents and espionage during the Peninsula wars, Honor, Lady Beaumont, flees for her life when the French capture her husband at Salamanca, and relies on his batman to arrange her safe passage back to England.
Viscount Charles Vidal is ordered by Robert Dumas, the First Lord of the Admiralty, to travel to Spain and escort the only woman he’s ever loved, Lord Devlin Beaumont’s widow back home before the French discover her whereabouts.
Their journey is fraught by danger, least of all knowing whether they are surrounded by friends or foe. Will they survive long enough to explore the possibility of a future together or will whispers of treason be enough to see Honor dispatched to Tyburn first?



Excerpt:
While Vidal joked with his cousin, the viscount scanned the room. The smell of fine wine, whiskey and cigar smoke blended into a rich aroma that was as much a part of Whites as the card games, the background chatter, and outbreaks of lewd laughter from the younger members of the club.
One member in particular interested Vidal tonight, and he watched Robert Dundas, second Viscount Melville, and First Lord of the Admiralty, take leave of his friends and head in his direction.
He wondered why the man spent the best part of the night watching his every move, and paused in the act of fobbing his snuff box while he waited for the viscount to join him.
“Take a walk with me?” Although couched as a question, Vidal noted the quiet steel of command in the other man’s voice. Dundas laid a hand on his arm; a companionable gesture for anyone interested enough to observe the two men leaving the club together. “I believe I live not far beyond your own house. I’d appreciate your company, and this is not the place for such a discussion. ”
With an indolent twist of the wrist Vidal returned the modish lacquered box, unopened, to his pocket and nodded agreement. A man’s club was no setting for private conversation, and it was plain the man wanted to talk about something away from flapping ears.
Together they strolled across the room stopping to take leave of several mutual friends.

Buy The Book-

Amazon.com   


Duty Calls

3 comments:

  1. Great interview Sherry! I tweeted for you and shared on facebook!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lisa :-) Thank you for coming by and for sharing on FB

    ReplyDelete
  3. Zanna, thank you for inviting me to visit with you today. :-0

    ReplyDelete

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