Ask the Author: Cherie Colyer
Answered Questions (10)
Cherie Colyer
Hi! My novels are YA, so the target audience is 12 and up. I'm hoping to one day find a home for my middle-grade novels, which would be 12 and under.
Thanks for the friend's request, already accepted it. :)
Thanks for the friend's request, already accepted it. :)
Cherie Colyer
It would be my pleasure. It's nice to meet you, Danial.
Cherie Colyer
Hi, Jane! There should be a dropdown arrow next to the Follow button under my pic that has different options. I just added you as a friend. You should see the request. Thanks for reaching out. I look forward to our friendship.
Take care. Cherie
Take care. Cherie
Cherie Colyer
Inspiration comes from many places. Some of my favorite are talking to readers, my husband, critique partners, reading a great book, or watching reruns of my favorite TV shows or movies.
Cherie Colyer
OMG, Hogwarts! And I'd enroll in classes so that I can learn everything there is to know about charms, transfiguration, defense against the dark art... Really, I'd want to learn everything there is to know about magic. :-)
Cherie Colyer
Damon and Elena from the TV series would get my vote for favorite fictional couple. They constantly challenge each other in positive ways. Damon challenges Elena to step outside her comfort zone and really think about her choices. Elena challenges Damon to make good choices and to be a better person. She sees the good in him and pushes him to let others see it too. They make each other better people and that’s what two people should do for each other.
Runner-ups (because it’s hard to pick just one):
In YA: Ron and Hermione. They are a great example of friends who grew to be more. They didn’t pretend to be something they weren’t. And, over the course of seven years, their friendship bloomed into a romance. Plus, I think they compliment each other: cautious, brains of the operation girl who saves her friends more than once throughout the series and funny, sometimes immature boy who is fiercely brave and an incredibly loyal friend.
In adult genre two came to mind: Bones and Cat from the Huntress series and Riley and Mac from the Three Sisters Island trilogy. Both are examples of strong female characters that hook up with equally strong male characters. The characters respect each other’s choices, yet they still challenge each other to step outside of his or her comfort zone. By doing so, their characters grow as people.
Runner-ups (because it’s hard to pick just one):
In YA: Ron and Hermione. They are a great example of friends who grew to be more. They didn’t pretend to be something they weren’t. And, over the course of seven years, their friendship bloomed into a romance. Plus, I think they compliment each other: cautious, brains of the operation girl who saves her friends more than once throughout the series and funny, sometimes immature boy who is fiercely brave and an incredibly loyal friend.
In adult genre two came to mind: Bones and Cat from the Huntress series and Riley and Mac from the Three Sisters Island trilogy. Both are examples of strong female characters that hook up with equally strong male characters. The characters respect each other’s choices, yet they still challenge each other to step outside of his or her comfort zone. By doing so, their characters grow as people.
Cherie Colyer
I step away from my laptop. The further the better. When that isn't enough to get my writer juices flowing, I discuss the book with my husband or critique partners. Often times, talking about the characters and the plot helps me see what should happen next in the book.
Cherie Colyer
Meeting readers. There's really nothing more rewarding than hearing from readers who have read my books.
Cherie Colyer
Read, read, read. You can learn a lot about writing from others. Reading allows you to understand what works and what doesn't. You get a sense of pacing, character development, voice, etc. And don't just read the genre you love. Read a little of everything. Note what you like and dislike about the books. Then see if you're doing those things in your WIP.
Cherie Colyer
The idea for Challenging Destiny came to me several years ago. My husband and I were driving on a two lane road in what felt like the middle of nowhere. There was nothing but narrow road and fields for as far as the eye could see, until we approached a crossroad. Then a white two-story building with very few windows, no landscaping, and a tiny porch leading up to double doors loomed in front of us. As we drove closer I was able to read the sign that said it was a church and I remember thinking it doesn't look welcoming.
A few weeks later, we drove by it again. Only this time I imagined an old vintage car parked behind the sign. Inside the car was a teenage boy. I later learned his name, Logan Ragsdale. Of course, I wanted to know why he was hiding, but then I realized that whoever was in that building wasn’t his friends. He watched the door with hate running through his veins. There was someone inside that he cared about. A girlfriend crossed my mind, but then I thought it would have to be someone he’d risk his life for. His sister.
That’s about the time I heard a girl say, “You’re going to lose her forever if we don’t move soon.”
Logan’s reply was laced with contempt, “Why should I trust you?”
Kira Rose’s character quickly formed and the pieces to the story fell in place. Logan and Ariana Ragsdale’s relationship formed. Who they are, what they’ve been through, and why their decision had led them to that church.
A few weeks later, we drove by it again. Only this time I imagined an old vintage car parked behind the sign. Inside the car was a teenage boy. I later learned his name, Logan Ragsdale. Of course, I wanted to know why he was hiding, but then I realized that whoever was in that building wasn’t his friends. He watched the door with hate running through his veins. There was someone inside that he cared about. A girlfriend crossed my mind, but then I thought it would have to be someone he’d risk his life for. His sister.
That’s about the time I heard a girl say, “You’re going to lose her forever if we don’t move soon.”
Logan’s reply was laced with contempt, “Why should I trust you?”
Kira Rose’s character quickly formed and the pieces to the story fell in place. Logan and Ariana Ragsdale’s relationship formed. Who they are, what they’ve been through, and why their decision had led them to that church.
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