BARBARA SHERIDAN

Carol: What genres do you write?

Barbara:  Paranormal, historical and contemporary romance and I'm working on a
paranormal mystery with a friend.

Carol: What genres would you like to write?

Barbara:  I already write the ones that interest me most.

Carol: Where do you get your ideas?

Barbara: Ideas are everywhere. Usually I'll read something (nonfiction, magazine etc) or watch a documentary and some aspect of it will make me wonder "what if?"

Carol: Do you pattern your characters after any real people?

Barbara: Not really though I might use bits and pieces from people I know, such as a character's sense of humor or if I envision a certain actor as hero or heroine I'll base mannerisms and expressions on them.

Carol: What authors do you admire?

Barbara: Reading Taylor Caldwell, John Jakes, Victoria Holt, Barbara Michaels and Anne Rice made me want to "do that when I grew up".

Carol:  What authors do you read?

Barbara: Most of my reading these days is non fiction but I love Christine Feehan and Sandra Hill.

Carol: What other genres do you see yourself writing?

Barbara: I pretty much write in my favorite genres now.

Carol: What do you see yourself doing in 10 years?

Barbara: Does being out of debt and a household name count <g> ?

Carol: Do you see yourself ever not writing?

Barbara: <sigh> I see that too often.  My "real job" has rotten hours and is generally  exhausting, but hope springs eternal and anything more than 2 pages in a day is cause for major celebration.

Carol: What books do you have planned in the near future?

Barbara: I'd like to do a sequel to my last paranormal Silver Rain and I'm puttering with a story for Galen and/or Jake Hillhouse from Timeless Wish. And of course the paranormal mystery which is half way done.

Carol: How did you get started writing?

Barbara: I always made up stories in my head but I dislike the ending to Interview With the Vampire so much that I re-did it "my way". <lol>

Carol: What age were you when you started to write?

Barbara: In my teens.

Carol: When is your next book due?

Barbara: It just came out and I'm so excited!!! This is one of those "books of the heart".  I love the plot and the characters more than I can say.  It's called Bittersweet Surrender and is actually the story that inspired Timeless Wish.  It's the story of Star McNamara and Jason Hillhouse and takes place in the Choctaw Nation during one of the most heated tribal elections in history during the summer of 1892. It's based on fact and I feel that it's very different from the "usual" Native American romances we see.

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

Barbara: Sandra Hill was very helpful in clueing me into RWA and answering some of my "stupid" questions.  She's a super lady and an awesome writer.

Carol: What do you feel makes your books unique or stand out from others in your genre?

Barbara: I've been told that I don't quite look at the world the way most people do so I guess that's it.

Carol: What made you choose the genres you write?

Barbara:  I've been a lover of westerns and paranormal and all things historical since childhood.

Carol: Do you have a favorite place you like to write?

Barbara:  In my "office" which is in a corner of the diningroom.

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

Barbara: Pretty much from beginning to end though if a scene suddenly comes alive in my mind I'll write that and insert it where it best fits.

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

Barbara: I do because electronic/small press publishers are motivated by the love of a great story not by the dreaded "numbers" and marketing surveys.

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

Barbar: Not really. They say that there's no market for paranormals but just look at the size of the audiences for Harry Potter and movies like the Mummy and tv shows like Buffy and Angel. It's the same with the cowboy/baby thing in contemporaries. They sold because there were so many of them that a lot of readers have no but to buy those themes if they want to read in that
genre.

Carol: How do you feel about review rating systems?

Barbara: It's so subjective that you really have to find which reviewers share your taste in stories.  My zero stars could very well be your 5 star favorite.

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

Barbara: The people.

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

Barbara: It would be nice if it could be "fair" with publicity departments giving "no names" some much needed advertising dollars once in a while.  I won't hold my breath on that though. <g

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

Barbara: I think they might be if they can get some wide distribution going so that they're product is available where the readers are shopping.
 
 



Recent Or Upcoming Barbara Sheridan titles:

Bittersweet Surrender, Avid Press Silver Rain, 2000 (Jove Magical Love) Timeless Wish, 1999 (Penguin) All or Nothing, 1999 (Books on Disc.com)

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