Ask the Author: Sherry Rentschler
Answered Questions (11)
Sherry Rentschler
Great question! Fictional world? Hm. My ideal place would be Mount Olympus or Pern. I love dragons and would want to be a dragonrider and I love anything pre-industrial. For Mt Olympus I would be a god, of course, and probably be Calliope's forgotten sister and become the 10th Muse of Inspiration and Shadow.
Sherry Rentschler
The monster, who they said was never under the bed, ate my soul last night. I was reborn tonight and I ate him.
Sherry Rentschler
I'm excited about some upcoming books by authors like Cassandra Clare, Kevin Herne, Nalini Singh, and Deborah Harkness. And maybe if we're lucky, the new Jim Butcher book will finally be out!
Sherry Rentschler
When I was about 14 or 15, I was at my grandmother's house in the mountains of West Virginia. This was back in 1968/69. There were some very old houses that were empty, some of them vacant for a long time but not in disrepair. My summer gal pal and I snuck into one of those houses. It was elegant with rich wood flooring, wood paneling and old time light fixtures as if it still had gas lighting. We wandered around the house and were about to climb these gorgeous stairs when we heard a noise. When we turned around we saw something that could only be a ghost. Naturally we ran back the way we came in, down the back porch and out to the street. We so wanted to go back in but couldn't bring ourselves to do it. My friend's mom told her later that the house was empty because the last owner was found dead inside and no one knew why. It wasn't suicide. To this day I would like to know more about that house and who or what it was that we saw. My friend died when she was 16 and I was 17. I thought maybe we were cursed but I'm 63 now and still here.
Sherry Rentschler
Because my favorite book is Gone With The Wind, I'll have to say that Rhett and Scarlett are my favorite couple. They are legendary, they are incredibly flawed, each is dynamic, and together their passion set the screen on fire. I also like the honesty of their failed relationship and the hope that remained. These two characters are beautiful and raw. They are compelling and disgusting in equal measure. As a writer, they are my role models for every emotion. They are REAL. That's perfection.
Sherry Rentschler
Vampires are always with me. I've been their fan girl since I was about 10. I'm addicted, so I have to write about them. But my idea for my murder mystery over 16 generations, the main character came to me in a dream. She spoke to me. I think that was my subconscious speaking to me, but for me, it was my character. It got me going -- nearly 10 years ago.
Sherry Rentschler
Music, movies, other books, wild weather, changing seasons, hormones, holidays...all these things inspire me. I like my DVD fireplace, my music, a candle, a good cup of tea, coffee or wine, stimulating conversation with other writers. And sometimes, silence.
Sherry Rentschler
I have several projects working. Vampire novels/series, a fairy tale that is a four parter, and a murder mystery that takes place over 16 generations. I do not like to work on more than one thing at a time, so some things wait while others get my attention.
Sherry Rentschler
Study and practice. I see many writers who read a few magazines or read a few online blogs and suddenly they are spouting off what they have heard and read, becoming an expert in their field. A writer is never done learning and studying. A writer needs to know the rules of the craft and reading only tells you how. Actually doing it teaches you how to implement what you've read. And you keep doing it over and over until you do it reasonably well enough to start sending your work out. Learn the rules so you can break them with intelligence. Write. Write every day. Write in abundance. Write and study.
Sherry Rentschler
The best thing about being a writer is that I can work anywhere at anytime. And I get to be anyone I want. That's freedom. For people who have vivid imaginations, writing is the ultimate job.
Sherry Rentschler
I'm not sure I believe in writer's block. What stops me from writing is me. Sometimes I get insecure in my project and that fear can cause hesitation, or when it gets too severe, can paralyze a work in progress. I have learned that I have to trust myself and allow myself to just write. First get the words out. Then worry about polish and the fine points. To get the writing done, you must plop down in the chair and do it. No getting diverted. You give yourself permission and time to do the writing. For me, it is a must do thing, like breathing. So, there can be no block for me.
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