What genres do you write in and why?
I write romantic mystery, humorous mystery, and mystery with romantic elements. These are the genres I enjoy reading.
How many books have you written? Do you have a favorite?
I’ve written loads, but I’ve only published 7 with an eighth one coming out this year. Losing David is a vintage mystery with a love story, set in 1962 and taking place on the southeastern coast. I think anyone who enjoyed the film To Catch a Thief will enjoy it. I’ve worked on this one for years and it’s by far my favorite.
What is your favorite part of writing?
Telling the story. It’s therapeutic to get the scenes I see in my head out on paper.
What is your least favorite part of writing?
Marketing. I’m a shy, introverted wallflower who jumps when anyone says “Boo!”
What was the deciding factor in self-publishing your book?
I’d been reading self-published books on my Kindle and realized many of them were as good as the books from well-known publishers. After joining a self-publishing loop where authors were talking frankly about the differences in self-publishing and large publishing companies, I decided to test the waters. I first issued a romantic suspense Harlequin had published and reverted the rights to, and it did okay. Then I put out a new romantic mystery, and it did okay. Now I’m putting out a light mystery, the sequel to a hardcover book that came out a year ago.
What advice can you offer anyone deciding to self-publish?
Make sure your writing is professional. Lots of people write one novel and think they’re through. Usually, that first book is not very good. Usually, it takes two (or ten in my case) to learn the craft. Then, once you’ve learned how to write professionally, you still need to hire a good editor and cover artist.
Do you write under a pen name?
My first book was published under the name Cheryl Emerson. I didn’t particularly want to use a pen name but the publisher, Silhouette, insisted. I’ve since updated and reissued it under my own name.
What’s next for you?
As I said, a vintage mystery will be coming out soon. Right now I’m concentrating on my sequel to my light mystery. Overtaxed and Underappreciated is available from Amazon for Kindle, soon to be available in paper.
Excerpt from Overtaxed and Underappreciated:
(after a bunch of heavy boxes fall over on the heroine and the EMTs are called)
“No! Not the ER.” I tried to sit up.
The EMT kneeling beside me pressed me back. “Look, ma’am, with your history–”
“But I’m all right. What history? I’ve never hit my head on the sidewalk before. This does not call for the ER.”
Sexy Dr. Bennigan who usually manned the emergency room had regrettably seen me under similar conditions too many times, due to circumstances that were not my fault. Okay, maybe one or two episodes were my fault, kind of, but…
I refused to face him again.
“I told you how many fingers you were holding up and everything. I want to go home. I’ve got to go home.” I might have sounded a little hysterical, but I so did not want to meet Dr. Bennigan.
The second EMT was already pulling out a stretcher and rolling it over.
“Hey, I said I’m fine!”
Plaid Shorts, who had been following the proceedings with interest, butted in. “Don’t you remember that actress who got that head injury while she was snow-skiing? She didn’t want to go to the hospital either. You know what happened to her?”
Who the heck was this nosy parker? He looked familiar but I couldn’t place him. My head hurt too much and his loud shorts didn’t help. He was darned meddling, whoever he was.
“That’s right, hon,” Sam chimed in. “I remember reading about her.”
Plaid Shorts ignored Sam and intoned, “She died.”
Died? Oh. Still…
“I don’t think it’s that serious. I feel pretty good except—”
Plaid Shorts pressed his case. “Do you want to die?”
I must have been disoriented or I would never have allowed the paramedics to lift me onto the gurney and strap me to it.
The crowd that had assembled around the ambulance gawked.
A boring day in Medder Rose makes me the star attraction.
Somewhere in the rear I saw a flash. Lightning. Is it about to rain? Another flash came, and a third as they put me inside.
Great. I’d hit my head and now a thunderstorm was coming. All I needed since I didn’t have an umbrella.
The vehicle doors slammed shut.
Not that I needed an umbrella inside here.
Why do these things always happen to me? What have I done to deserve this?
Turned out the worst part of my day hadn’t yet begun.
Overtaxed and Underappreciated is available at:
Other links:
Cherylbdale.blogspot.com
www.cherylbdale.com
cherylbdale@hotmail.com
Bio:
Cheryl B. Dale lives with her guy and two cats, one who reads on her lap and the other who watches TV with the guy. She writes to avoid cooking, cleaning, gardening, and other time-consuming chores.
Hi Cynthia! Thanks so much for having me! Even though I got my questions back to you late because of techie type problems.
Computers. You can’t live with ’em or without ’em. Oh, wait! That’s men! I should have known. Guess I’ll change my computer’s name from Frances to Frank.
Anyway, thanks for allowing me to be here!
Hi Cheryl. I’m happy you could be here to visit with me today.
I’m just happy to make it!
Hi Cheryl,
I think your humor is fantastic. Your book sounds like a great read.
My hubby and I have two cats, too. One chose him and the other chose me. Smile! You know how cats are; they own you. Smile!
They definitely own you! And mine aren’t timid about letting us know it!
It’s wonderful to meet new to me authors and hear about their books and writing processes. Your book sounds exciting. I also have begun self-pubbing some books. I think that it’s a fun thing to do!
I don’t know about fun! I’d rather spend my time writing. But I’ll admit, it’s a learning experience!
One last thank you to Cynthia! Enjoyed your questions!
You are most welcome. Glad to have had you here.
I so agree about marketing being the hardest part of writing. I am not a fan of it, but it is a necessary evil. Your book looks interesting. Good luck with sales.