Welcome to Cheryl’s place! I’m thrilled to have you
here.
Please
tell us a little about yourself.
Thanks for
having me as your guest today, Cheryl. Sure, I’d be happy to share.
I’m married
to my own personal hero, and the love of my life. We have three children-one in
college, one in high school, and one in middle school. I’ve worked in the
publishing industry since 1997, and sold my first anthology in 2000. I
collaborated with legendary editor Martin H. Greenberg on five anthologies for
DAW Books, I created the White House Gardener mystery series with author
Dorothy St. James, and I started my own business, Written Dreams, a writing and
editorial service for writers, in 2011. I love making cheesecakes from scratch,
and autumn is my favorite season of the year. The changing of the colors is so beautiful
in Wisconsin.
What is
your favorite pastime, other than writing?
I enjoy
being with my family, watching my children grow to be the young adults they’re
becoming, helping them when they need it, and staying on the sidelines when
they’re ready to be on their own. I love being a mom. My children are my life.
As a family, we enjoy watching movies or sports, traveling and visiting
different aquariums.
When did
you first get the writing bug?
I think
writers are wired a little bit differently than everyone else. I first started
creating stories around age five, when I couldn’t decide what I wanted to be
when I grew up—a lawyer, a dancer, or a writer. Ultimately I decided to get
into publishing because I love the written word. There’s so much you can do
with it. Taking away the ability to write would be detrimental to a writer’s
health.
Any advice
for new writers just starting out?
Don’t give up! Ever! If this is something you truly want to
pursue, surround yourself with people who will support you and never stop
writing. It can be frustrating at times, believe me, I know. I’ve spoken with a
lot of writers at different points in their careers, and the one thing everyone
agrees on is this is a lonely business. Self-motivation is key to being
successful. Every day of the week on my blog I try to find ways to inspire
writers—either by using a writing exercise, a guest speaking about their own
experiences, or something else. Find a way to keep yourself motivated, and
you’ll be successful.
Tell us
what excites you about writing and getting published.
I’ve had
the opportunity to experience publishing from a unique viewpoint from idea to
finished book on hundreds of books through my own experiences of working with
Marty Greenberg. Marty was an amazing man and believed so much in the underdog
in publishing, the writer. Keeping with his philosophy, my goal is to help as
many writers as I can fulfill their dreams.
I’ve made
a lot of friends in the publishing industry and they are a caring group of
people. I remember the first time I saw my name in print on an anthology I
edited, Single White Vampire Seeks Same.
Someone at the office had laid out all 40 copies we had received from the
publisher on my desk. When I came in and saw the books, I cried. It was such a
thrill! But what really excites me is reading a good book. The journey of
learning about someone or something you didn’t know about before. Books change
lives, and there’s been plenty that have changed mine.
What’s
your current WIP?
What are
some of your services?
And
finally, where can we stalk you?
Visit Brittiany's blog at: http://writtendreams.com/editingessentials/
Nice interview Cheryl and Brittiany.
ReplyDeleteBrittiany, it sounds like you have a lot on your plate. Good luck with your contest anthology.
Thanks, Val! It's fun, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I enjoy it. Thanks for stopping by. :)
ReplyDelete