Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live in Western Canada with my hubby and 2 of my 3 kids. (Oldest is now living on his own.) I never thought I’d be an author as I spent most of my life working with horses/racehorses and selling my animal artwork. I love Riding, Drawing, painting, photography, and of course reading. I read a book that really frustrated me and decided to write my own book back in 2008. I have now written 6 books and one Novella.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I have 2 actually. Dracones Rogue, it is the 5th in my Dracones Series and is about the big bad wolf, Soroyan, or as my daughter calls him, grump wolf. He’s devilishly handsome, sexy and as much of a lone wolf as he can be and still watch over his pack.
My other releases in the Scorched Boxset and is called Saberthorn, it is a spin off series of the Dracones.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to have a few books going at a time.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Sherrilyn Kenyon and JR Ward are my biggest influences. I love their large cast of characters and multiple POV’s, and have done my books in that same way. I try to make my characters as loveable as Sherrilyn’s and JR’s. Others that have influenced me are Seanan McGuire, her October Day series. She made me realize that anything can go, even stones can talk, just very slowly! Author Donya Lynne has also been a great influence and huge help in my writing career.
What are you working on now?
The 6th book in my Dracones series, along with the 2nd book in my Dragonkind ~ 52 Realms series, plus about 3 other books I have started, though I am focus my concentration on the first one I mentioned.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Newsletter swaps seem to really help, along with a Bookbub feature when I can get one.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t listen to anyone who says you can’t do it. Just do it.
Even if you hate plotting or don’t do much, I highly recommend Debra Dixon’s GMC, (Goal, Motivation, Conflict) to make your characters & structure stronger. It is easy to make up a simple chart and use it. Also, KM Weiland’s Structuring your novel. I don’t do much plotting myself, just a GMC chart & a very basic arc, along with a timeline, but KM Weiland’s book has a ton of extra little tips, (hooking your reader, etc)
Make sure you have a hook in your first sentence, paragraph, and all the way through the first chapter to keep your readers reading, wanting to know more.
I spent months in a group called agentqueryconnect.com, and the learning experience was invaluable. So often, I see blurbs that give away too much of the story so that you don’t need to read it, or it just doesn’t hook you. Learn to do your blurb right, there are many resources out there on how.
Make sure you have a handful of decent beta readers. I give mine a questionnaire as well. You don’t know how to find any? Join some author/writing groups on FB, ask other authors whose books are in the same genre as yours to help. A friend and a favorite indie author of mine, Donya Lynne helped me get my first bunch of Beta’s from her own beta’s/readers.
Build a street team, they are invaluable! Get reviews. There are tons of places on FB to find people to review, but make sure it is in your genre.
Hire a good Editor! Be careful, try & get a referral to a few good editors, as some have just slapped the title to their name and sound like they know what they are doing. Get a SAMPLE edit to make sure you can work together. I now have a question I ask any editor I am considering. I ask them to explain Passive/Active writing, and some understand the basic, but not what passive/active writing really is and that there are times that passive voice is fine.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Mainly, write, write, write and join FB groups/get involved in the reading/writing/book promo community. You have to promote yourself, no one is going to do it for you, unless you can afford to hire a PR company. Find reviewers, give them ARC’s of your book and then follow up, don’t be afraid to ask if they liked it and would they mind leaving a review. Then ask them to join your street team, and build that up.
Don’t take bad reviews to heart. I generally use them to make my books better.
What are you reading now?
nothing at the moment but will be starting Sherrilyn Kenyon’s latest book. Deadmen Walking.
What’s next for you as a writer?
My Dracones Series is ongoing, along with my spin off series. I have done my first 2 books in the Dracones in Clean versions as well for my daughter and other teens/young readers. I have a Y/A series I want to write along with a Fantasy/Dystopian book. I’ve started a book about the Ferryman, not sure if it will be a single book, or series. I am working on getting my books produced in Audio.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Acheron and Born of Silence, Born of Legend and Styxx by Sherrilyn Kenyon,
Author Websites and Profiles
Sheri-Lynn Marean Website
Sheri-Lynn Marean Amazon Profile
Sheri-Lynn Marean’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
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