WELCOME SHERRY FOLEY!

Today I’m welcoming Sherry Foley, debut author of SWITCHED IN DEATH, which is published by Winter Goose Publishing. Thanks for spending some time with us, Sherry! SWITCHED IN DEATH features a spectacular serial killer – quite horrific, in fact. Can you tell us what your inspiration was for this killer?

Thanks for hosting me, Laurie.  I believe everyone can relate to being made fun of at some point in their childhood.  We all bear scars. There are a few though that never rise above it. Resentment and bitterness can twist inside of them and when it festers their targets often get hurt.  Such is the case with the serial killer in Switched in Death. 

How much police procedural research did you do?

This is actually my seventh manuscript, but the first I’d shopped out so I had previous knowledge for this book. It’s the medical aspects that I had to spend time researching on this one. 

How long did it take you to write SWITCHED IN DEATH, from start to finish?

Four months. I sent it off to my valuable CP’s and they gave me their feedback, which took another month. Then I always read the final out loud because I catch things the most that way. I don’t use a story board. I’m a total panster. I like to think of a storyline and create characters to play the roles to carry it out.

What draws you to write in this genre?

I’ve always loved reading and watching mysteries.

Do you have a writing ritual?

I try to write 2,500 words a day at least. 

Do you like to edit what you wrote the day before or write the entire draft and then edit it?

I write/edit/write/edit...it’s a vicious circle until it’s done. But, by the time I write those glorious last words “THE END” it really is the final. 

This is your debut novel. Can you share what getting “The Call” was like from Winter Goose Publishing?

Very exciting indeed. I hadn’t told very many outside my family that I’d been writing so that was a special kind of fun too. Everyone was very excited for me. Winter Goose Publishing contacted me by email and I was thrilled. I have loved everyone I’ve worked with at WGP. They’ve all been so helpful and such cheerleaders. 

You mention in your dedication that your hero is named after your son. Would you want Seth to go in to law enforcement?

No, too dangerous, although he does want to be a policeman.

Tell us five things about yourself that the reading public doesn’t know yet.

I used to work in a morgue. I’m working on a detective series. I’m going to  shadow a couple of policemen for firsthand insight. I’m going to sign up for shooting practice. My next release also has two more books that fill out the series.  A CAPTIVE HEART has three men in it and they each get a book of their own. The other two are titled A HEART ON HOLD and A HEART FOR ALL SEASONS.

Can you give us a sneak peek as to what it’s about?

It’s more of a romantic suspense. Ian is working undercover and realizes his boss is the mole in the department and has set him up. To get out of it alive he’s going to have to stay more than a step ahead and in alliance with just the right woman. 

 Thank you so much for sharing your debut story, Sherry. Good luck with the rest of your book launch!

You can find Sherry at her website: http://www.sherryfoley.com
                                                Twitter:  @Sherry_Foley
               Winter Goose Publishing:   http://www.wintergoosepublishing.com

THE FOLLY OF ROMANTIC LOVE

There are two more days to Valentine's Day, and counting! All over the 'net there are cake and candy recipes, tips for making that "perfect" proposal, and ads for 5-Star restaurants. It's a bright, shiny day in the middle of winter. It's also my mother's birthday, but that's not what this post is about.

I write romantic suspense because I love spicing up a crime story with love and, lets face it, some sexy encounters. In reality though, "true love" doesn't blossom under dangerous, life-threatening circumstances. And although what I write falls under the broad genre of "romance", I don't believe in "romantic love".

There, I've said it. Start throwing those tomatoes! And here's why I don't believe in "romantic love" - that belief that there's One True Love out there for everyone, that even when you've been married five, ten, twenty years you'll still be "in love" with the same person.

Feelings like the heart-pounding, "I can't wait for the phone to ring" flutterings of the early days of romantic bliss don't last. No feelings last forever, or even for years. The forever part of love is the ability to hang in there when you most certainly DON'T feel "in love" anymore.

Your "romantic partner" is going to disappoint you. S/he's going to hurt you, intentionally maybe, unintentionally certainly. S/he's not going to look/smell/act their best the way they did when you first fell in love. S/he's going to snore, burp, embarrass you in front of your friends, drink too much at your Christmas party. Or maybe, you're going to discover that his love of spending "quiet evenings at home" turns in to being a coach potato who adores reality shows and Monday night football.

And you're not going to live up to whatever you were advertising when he first met you either. You're going to get sick, wear sweatpants to bed, forget to load up the beer fridge, or just stop wearing make-up for awhile. And lets not even talk about the week leading up to your period! There isn't enough Midol in the world to hide hormonal swings when you live in the same house.,

The real Heros are the guys who work steadily, day in and day out, to support their families, even when the job isn't fulfilling, exciting, or glamourous anymore. The real hero quietly puts aside that personal desire for another "toy" and pays for gymnastic lessons for one of the kids instead. He takes his kids to events he has no interest in, because he knows they'll learn something from a new hobby or venue. He goes camping even though he hates eating outdoors. He sacrifices his love of golf so his daughter can go to the university of her choice.

His hormones may still rage for you (let's hope so!), but even when things hit a lull between you, he's a straight shooter and would never fool around on you. He still listens to your fears, hopes, dreams, and remembers your birthday and anniversary.

This isn't "romantic" love. It's the kind of love that comes from sticking around, accepting your partner's weaknesses, and remembering that your partner's worthy of respect - otherwise, what are you doing with them?

Roses, chocolates, fancy dinners, all of these help keep the spark going. I don't deny it. But give me the day to day bliss of someone who kisses you hello and goodbye even when your hair's askew and there's baby barf on your shirt. The guy who thinks about what you'd like, what you need (neck rub? parking money?), and what you want out of life. Don't settle for less!