Patricia
asked
Sherri A. Wingler:
I just found your first book so interesting because the characters were so well defined and the storyline kept me guessing (at times I had to stop reading cause I was afraid of what will happen); how did this story come to you and did you mirror any of the characters after people you know?
Sherri A. Wingler
First, thank you, Patricia for reading my book. I absolutely love hearing from happy readers. My answer is actually two parts. This may get lengthy, so I'm sorry ahead of time!
Keep in mind, I've wanted to write, practically, since I learned to read. Life has a way of getting in the way, sometimes, but when I hit the milestone birthday of 40, I decided to just do it. The worst thing that could happen was that nobody would read it. So I sat down and thought about the books I like to read (paranormal, young adult, romance) and it was a natural fit that I should write in that genre. I didn't want to do a vampire book because, as much as I love them, the market is flooded.
So I needed someone a bit different. Angel fiction is gaining popularity and I love reading it. Asher popped into my head. I saw him as very old, and very proper. He's Death. He doesn't judge, he just does his job and moves on.
Of course, I also needed a girl. I bounced ideas off of my best friend constantly while writing this book, and everything since. We came up with Izzy. She needed a bestie, so Gwen came along. Izzy and Gwen have our personalities and traits. They're very loyal to one another and I love that about them.
To one degree or another, all of the characters have some of my traits. Even Fate, as crazy and vindictive as she can be:) I had a lot of fun writing her.
The surprise character was Grim. He absolutely wasn't planned. He just showed up one day while I was typing and honestly, throughout the entire book, I didn't know which way he would go until the end. I didn't know if he was a hero or a villain. As it turns out, he's a bit of both, but mostly he's a trickster.
The element of Greek mythology just sort of leaked in because that was my fun-time reading in junior high and it just stuck with me. (I know, I was a wild child.)
Now for the 2nd part of my explanation, and this is the core of the truth. I got a review from someone who dropped her rating from a 4* to a 3*, which is fine. It's not what any author dreams of, but everyone is entitled to their opinion. What struck me and stayed with me was, she said something along the lines of "if someone would dare intervene in my life... we'd have some serious talk." I'm paraphrasing, of course.
That got me to thinking about Death interfering in someone's life. In the life of a young, over-achieving high school kid. Which is when I realized that Death had intervened in my own life at 17. I lost my mother, and everything kind of derailed for a bit. (20 years, give or take.) Death can and will change everything. So without meaning to, I took one of the biggest tragedies of my life and twisted it into something kind of beautiful. At least I hope so.
I hope this answers your question, Patricia. If not, find me on Facebook under Author-Sherri Wingler. I'd love to hear more from you.
Thanks again!
Keep in mind, I've wanted to write, practically, since I learned to read. Life has a way of getting in the way, sometimes, but when I hit the milestone birthday of 40, I decided to just do it. The worst thing that could happen was that nobody would read it. So I sat down and thought about the books I like to read (paranormal, young adult, romance) and it was a natural fit that I should write in that genre. I didn't want to do a vampire book because, as much as I love them, the market is flooded.
So I needed someone a bit different. Angel fiction is gaining popularity and I love reading it. Asher popped into my head. I saw him as very old, and very proper. He's Death. He doesn't judge, he just does his job and moves on.
Of course, I also needed a girl. I bounced ideas off of my best friend constantly while writing this book, and everything since. We came up with Izzy. She needed a bestie, so Gwen came along. Izzy and Gwen have our personalities and traits. They're very loyal to one another and I love that about them.
To one degree or another, all of the characters have some of my traits. Even Fate, as crazy and vindictive as she can be:) I had a lot of fun writing her.
The surprise character was Grim. He absolutely wasn't planned. He just showed up one day while I was typing and honestly, throughout the entire book, I didn't know which way he would go until the end. I didn't know if he was a hero or a villain. As it turns out, he's a bit of both, but mostly he's a trickster.
The element of Greek mythology just sort of leaked in because that was my fun-time reading in junior high and it just stuck with me. (I know, I was a wild child.)
Now for the 2nd part of my explanation, and this is the core of the truth. I got a review from someone who dropped her rating from a 4* to a 3*, which is fine. It's not what any author dreams of, but everyone is entitled to their opinion. What struck me and stayed with me was, she said something along the lines of "if someone would dare intervene in my life... we'd have some serious talk." I'm paraphrasing, of course.
That got me to thinking about Death interfering in someone's life. In the life of a young, over-achieving high school kid. Which is when I realized that Death had intervened in my own life at 17. I lost my mother, and everything kind of derailed for a bit. (20 years, give or take.) Death can and will change everything. So without meaning to, I took one of the biggest tragedies of my life and twisted it into something kind of beautiful. At least I hope so.
I hope this answers your question, Patricia. If not, find me on Facebook under Author-Sherri Wingler. I'd love to hear more from you.
Thanks again!
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Apr 05, 2015 03:23PM · flag
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