TERRY SHEILS

Toronto-born Terry had to wait until he retired from teaching High School Drama and English before he could turn to his first love, writing. Now, he says, he writes constantly…on a computer when he is near one, in his head when he isn’t. The result is nine published works and many manuscripts waiting in line.

Born in 1935, Terry is a graduate of Lawrence Park C.I. and Victoria College, U. of T. where he won the Moss Scholarship and Men’s Senior Stick in 1957. He worked at Avro Aircraft for two years where he met Elwy Yost, a friendship that resulted in their working together at META (Metropolitan Educational Television Association) for several years. Returning to Vic, he gained an M.A. in Philosophy and then entered into a career of teaching High School English and Theatre Arts which reached an apogee when he became Assistant Coordinator of English and Theatre Arts under Roberta Charlesworth for the North York Board. While in this job, he also wrote many notes on the teaching of Drama which were used across North York and as far afield as Queen’s University in Kingston. As a member of many Curriculum Committees for Middle School, his fine hand can also be seen in page after page of lesson ideas. He met his wife, Dee, who also writes (under the name Dee Lloyd) while writing and performing in the Bob Revue at Victoria College and they were married in 1956. They have two grown daughters, Laura and Sharon. Laura is the L in LTDBooks, Terry’s prime publisher, where he also acts as editor for her as publisher. Sharon is a partner in a Music School in Aurora, Ontario. Terry and Dee are long-time Scarborough residents, having lived in the same house since 1961…that is when they are not living at their island cottage near Huntsville. And writing, writing, writing…

 

Below is an interview I had with Terry Sheils via E-mail quite some time ago.

In the following interview you will be able to read about Terry Sheils and get to know a little about the author.

At the bottom of the page is a book cover of one of his books and a list of Terry's books published and soon to be published.

Unfortunately due to the expansion of our site amongst other reasons this interview as well as other ones have been delayed for much longer than expected.

THE INTERVIEW

 

What genres do you write?

Several, including Horror, Mystery, Paranormal, Romance, Historical, Fantasy(Modern and Classical), Humor and Mainstream.

What genres would you like to write?

Are there any others? Sci-fi, I suppose but I'm no scientist.

Where do you get your ideas?

Everywhere. But travel has always been a great source for my horror, fantasy and mystery novels. Ideas fascinate me too.for instance. Is time controllable by man's mind?

Do you pattern your characters after any real people?

I guess most are composites of people I know. Nobody specific though.

What authors do you admire?

In prose, John Collier(Fancies and Goodnights), Frederic Brown (Nightmares and Geezenstacks) and Ray Bradbury (Something Wicked This Way Comes) leap to mind. In poetry, T.S.Eliot and W. H. Auden leap to mind.

What authors do you read?

Right now I'm too busy acting as an editor for LTDBooks to read for pleasure.

What genres do you read?

Whatever comes across my desk. Mostly the publisher sends me horror, mystery and action stories.

What other genres do you see yourself writing?

I'd like to try my hand at another Historical. Maybe the Riel Rebellion in Canada, making Louis a dupe.

What do you see yourself doing in 10 years?

Writing.

Do you see yourself ever not writing?

Not as long as my mind stays with me. Perhaps even after I lose it.as some think I already have.

What books do you have planned in the near future?

Twenty more are in the works, beginning with a new Historical (Smoke Around the Moon, a tale of the Spanish Conquest of Peru) and a new Hunter Knox Mystery (Fifty Ways to Kill Your Lover.)

How did you get started writing?

My father encouraged me to commit my crazy ideas to print.

What age were you when you started to write?

About six, I think. I wrote my first novel(still unpublished at 11. It was called Underground
Passion, though it had nothing to do with a subway.)

When is your next book due?

This Summer or Fall.

Was there any author or authors that helped you get your in start writing, or helped you break into the field?

My wife, who is also a writer (as Dee Lloyd) gives me great advice and criticism.

What made you choose the genres you write?

They choose me.

Do you have a special subgenre?

No.

In what order do you write? For example starting beginning to end,
combining parts, in random order or in development cycle?

I write from start to finish and then go back and revise.

Do you feel that the e-books afford authors a bit more freedom of
expression in their books?

Absolutely. Their publishers are not constrained by the economics of the print industry.particularly the "Big Boys" in New York. That is why I am so delighted that an Independent E-Book beat out the Big Publishers. I consider my EPPY for BUTTERFLY HOUSE to be an e-industry award as much as a personal one.

What do you feel is, or isn't being done to promote authors?

Print publishers may do more initially to promote their authors books, but they are looking at a short shelf life. In the e-book industry, the author must do more self-promotion (as I am doing now.) But my books will be around potentially forever. There are no Used E-Book stores.

Do you feel that the marketing departments have their finger on the pulse of readers?

They have to. They find out about it fast enough if they misjudge.

How do you feel about review rating systems?

No complaints. Of course, I've had some real raves. That tends to prejudice me.

Through what venues do you feel most of your books are being sold?

Mostly LtdBooks website (www.ltdbooks.com), Barnes and Noble, Peanut Press and my own site. (www.terrysheils.com)

What do you feel is the best part of the publishing industry?

The freedom, noted above, that the rising e-book industry provides.

What do you feel needs to be changed about the industry?

The stultifying dominance of the large print houses has to be mollified.

Do you think small press and e-books will be the wave of the future?

Definitely.

Recent Or Upcoming Terry Sheils titles:

 

THE CRAVING as T.K. Sheils NOBODY TOLD THE WIND as T.S. Kingsley BUTTERFLY HOUSE as T.K. Sheils KNIGHT'S TIGER as T.K. Sheils MODEM OPERANDI as Terry Sheils GIFT OF THE SEAS as Terry Sheils BEELZEBUB, MY LOVER as T.K. Sheils DAUGHTERS OF THE FORGE as T.K. Sheils DREAMS FOR THE WIND as T.S. Kingsley SMOKE AROUND THE MOON as T.S. Kingsley PAR FOR THE CORPSE as Terry Sheils POE THE MUSICAL as Terry Sheils GHOST WRITER as Terry Sheils

 

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