Author Spotlights are back!
This month
we have a great showcase of amazingly talented writers for you. I say that each
year. LOL. It’s true! But I'm biased because I respect and admire my fellow
authors with sincere zeal. Putting yourself out there to be judged and critiqued
isn’t easy. These individuals know and understand firsthand what I’m referring
to. Supporting each other is essential in this industry because let’s face it,
there is more than enough to go around.
Enjoy getting to know new artists and
their craft. Hopefully, by month’s end, you will have several names added to
your wish list to heighten your reading pleasure. Tell a friend. Share on
social media. Reading is relevant—Books are beautiful— Literacy leads to
learning something daily. Pass it on.
Author Cheryl Holloway
Today we have Author Cheryl Holloway. I recently became
connected with Cheryl via social media. She reached out to me after reading my
latest release Paying the Price and
wanted to do an interview with me on her
blog. Thank you again, Cheryl, for sharing your platform with me. If am happy
that I can do the same.
KC: So tell us, how long you have been writing?
CH: I’ve been writing for most of my life.
KC: What genre do you write or prefer writing?
CH: I write in all genres and currently write romance
eBooks. I also wrote a Negro League sports book about Al Burrows, a Negro
League player from the Washington, DC area. And I have also written a YA
Historical fiction novel that I am still looking for a publisher. I am in the
process of completing a book on prayer. So, as you can see, I write about
almost anything.
KC: That’s wonderful. I love writing in multiple genres. It
keeps me knowledgeable in the industry, helps
me perfect my writing style, and work on
bettering my craft to produce my best work possible.
CH: I acquired a love for books and writing at an early
age. My mother bought me little Golden Books once a week when I was three years
old. These books were to keep me
occupied while my mother was pre-occupied
with my new brother. Since I could read, I started writing and drawing my own
little books. So, the rest is history. Then at fifteen years old, I won my
first Writing Competition. I wrote the winning essay on Crime Prevention in the
State of Indiana. (I still have the trophy.) After college, I started writing
for the Government as a Technical Writer and later a Writer/Editor. So, I can
proudly say that I have been a writer all of my life.
KC: Awesome… I love it! A girl who knew what she wanted to be
when she grew up and aspired toward accomplishing her goal.
KC: What inspires you to write?
CH: The love of writing. Period. And sometimes a
situation—I wrote The Bane Bath Salts because a lot of teens in our
community were bored and doing drugs. So, I wrote a short story to help prevent
the use of designer drugs by teens.
KC: I’ll have to add that one to my list. My seven old year son will
definitely read that title in the near future.
KC: What message do you want readers to take away from your
work?
CH: I want readers to be entertained by my writing. When I
wrote The Cougar Tales Series, the two short stories and one novella are strictly
for entertainment. Some stories have a specific
and memorable message, such as The Proposal: A Leap of Faith.
KC: How would you describe your writing style?
CH: I would say my writing is narrative because I have a
story to tell, and I want the readers to
delve in and enjoy it from beginning to end. I usually write stories that women
of all ages and all nationalities will find something that they have either
already experienced or will experience in the future or know someone who has
experienced this situation.
KC: I like that, Cheryl. Being versatile as an author is vital
when creating content. No reader wants to read about the same stories and characters over and over. Keep it fun, fresh, and fantastic!
KC: Who are some of your favorite authors?
CH: Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Nikki Giovanni,
Amiri Baraka, James Patterson, Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, Eric Jerome Dickey,
Maya Angelou, and John Steinbeck. Just to name a few. And of course, Cheryl Holloway. LOL.
KC: Wow… Great list. We have a lot of favorite authors in
common.
KC: What are some of your favorite books?
CH: The Color Purple by Alice Walker, the original
book, written with the letters. I met her by accident in San Francisco many
years ago. The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd.
KC: The Color Purple
is a part of my book collection. And yes, the original
publication.
KC: What is your formula when working on a new project? (Do you
listen to music, use an outline, meditate, or simply start typing?)
CH: I listen to music while writing. However, I do not use
an outline, because I just write the story and let my characters have their say
and take over the story.
KC: If you could collaborate
with any of your peers, who would it be and why?
CH: I think, I would like to write a book with Deborah
Fletcher Mello. I interviewed her on my blog,
and we are friends on facebook. She seems like a gentle soul, and I think it would be a pleasant experience.
KC: What advice would you give aspiring authors/writers?
CH: I would advise writers to
write every single day and to learn as much about their craft as possible.
Write for the love of writing and the money will come.
KC: Great advice! I agree wholeheartedly.
KC: What are you reading currently?
CH: The Pecan Man by Cassie Dandridge Selleck. I
read it before, and I’m reading it again.
I want to have the author on my blog.
KC: How can readers find you?
CH: Just Google: Cheryl Holloway, Author
Website: www.CherylHolloway.net
Facebook: facebook.com/Cheryl.Holloway.940
Twitter: @Author_CherylH
Blog: www.CherylHolloway.net/blog
Amazon Author Page:
http://amzn.to/1Rzsvxw
Email: AuthorCherylHolloway@gmail.com
I would love for fans to visit my blog and subscribe, so
they can find good books and learn how I pay-it-forward to other authors.
KC: As an author, do you
think using social media is a great source for
gaining new readers/supporters?
CH: Nowadays, it is imperative to use social media. I am
trying to learn as much as possible to be proficient and to keep in contact
with my fans.
KC: Tell us about your latest work?
CH: I am writing A Sisterhood of Women Living Life Book 2,
a collection of short stories about women of all ages and lifestyles.
KC: What’s next for you?
CH: I am writing a Christian book and two more books in
another genre.
KC: I love to hear authors keeping busy. Makes me smile inside.
KC: Do you believe networking is crucial to being successful in
the writing industry? Why? Why not?
CH: Yes, networking is important. You need to stay in
contact with your local writing community, as well as the national writing
community. Technology changes so quickly and you must stay on top of things.
KC: Where do you see yourself in five years?
CH: I would continue to write as many books as possible.
KC: Where do you want to be with your writing in five years?
CH: I would like to have at least one best seller for my
fans/readers.
KC: Tell us something that you live by daily we can carry
with us that should inspire and motivate us to pursue our purpose?
CH: Two things: 1. Writers write. I am a dedicated writer
and I write every day whether I am sick or whether it’s a holiday—it doesn’t
matter. 2. Pay-it-Forward. Pay-it-Forward to any other author, as I do without
expecting anything in return. “I firmly believe
Pay-It-Forward means that we must serve others in
order to lift up ourselves.”
KC: That just gave me goosebumps,
Cheryl. Powerful words indeed.
KC: I like to incorporate fun and
excitement into my blog interviews during the
author spotlight segment. This gives readers insight as to who you are
as a person. Fun facts are my way of
doing so, plus, I get to learn something about you too.
LETS GO…
Fun facts:
KC: What
is your favorite color?
CH: Purple
KC: What
is your favorite food?
CH: Seafood-Shrimp, Crabs, and Lobster
KC: What
is your favorite pastime?
CH: Writing and Reading in that
order.
KC: Football
or basketball?
CH: Basketball – Little known
fact: I used to play on the Women’s Basketball Team at Indiana University,
Bloomington.
KC: Michael
Jordan or Lebron James?
CH: I’m old school-Michael
Jordan
KC: Thanksgiving
or Christmas?
CH: Thanksgiving- We go around the table,
and everyone says one thing that they are thankful for since the last
Thanksgiving.
KC: Books
or movies?
CH: Books, of course, but I like
movies about books or writers. J
KC: Winter,
spring, summer, or fall?
CH: Spring and summer-I like pleasant weather. I want to move back to
California. Little known Fact: I love
beaches—anywhere in the world. I’ve lived on Guam (and Saipan) and Hawaii.
KC: If
you were allowed only one thing with you during the day, what would be the
thing you pick?
CH: A good book
KC: Breakfast
or Lunch?
CH: Lunch-breakfast
is too early. I’m a midday person.
KC: It has been
a pleasure having you with me today! I pray
continuing growth and success to you, Cheryl. Hope to speak with you soon. God
bless…
Until next time
Be Inspired, Be Encouraged & Be YOU!
Purple Hugs,
KeKe Chanel
