Interview Sherry Derr-Wille

by

Kev Richardson

1) Do you consider your writing style developed automatically, or was it manoeuvred?

My style was definitely developed. After doing this for over 45 years I consider myself self-taught with a lot of help from my critique partners.

2) Which authors most influence you?

James Mitchner, Sandra Hill, Lori Handeland, Cassie Edwards and Fran Priddy. Why? Because theirs is the material I enjoy reading. I decided since they were the ones I considered to be tops in their fields, I wanted to be among them.

3) Being such a prolific writer, what influences guided you into your chosen genres?

ENCORE L’AMOUR--Let’s face it. I’m an older woman and enjoy reading about people my age and there aren’t many stories out there about them. HISTORICAL--I do it for my dad and his love of reading Westerns--INSPRIATIONAL--I have a strong Christian Faith and I like to think it shows in all of my work, but writing Christian was a challenge--CONTEMPORARY--every once in a while I like to write what the masses are reading--INDIANS--I am drawn to a powwow every summer and am fascinated by these wonderful people.

4) Is there a particular story among your many that particularly touches the inner you?

It has to be Hello, Do You Know Me? I had a good friend go to Vietnam and come home in a body bag. Now I knew Dave and somehow I got it in my head that he hadn’t died. It didn’t help that the casket was closed due to the fact that he wasn’t found for three months after he was killed. I guess Matt/Jerry is my Dave. It was a story that I really had to write.

5) Do you bounce texts off friends or family for their feedback, either in part or whole?

My next-door neighbour, Vicki, hears and reads everything before it ever gets to an editor. She tells me what works and what doesn’t and sometimes we have out and out battles over the scenes. There are times when she sends over the pre-edits that we do them together and get laughing so hard we can hardly finish them.

6) Do you plot your tales beginning to end or vice versa?

I always know the beginning as well as the end. It’s the middle part that gives me fits. But yes, I do write from beginning to end.

7) Do you always have a particular finish in mind?

I always have one in mind, but there are times that my characters take over and do their own thing. Of course that changes the ending.

8) How do you ensure keeping every character true to type throughout?

I leave it up to them. It usually works, but Cal Fellows started out in Kate Armstrong: Over-The-Hill Coed as a really great guy, but in Hello, Do You Know Me? He turned into a bit of a jerk. Of course he had a good reason and came around by the end of the book.

9) How much of your own personality do you lend to characters?

A lot. I think every heroine, especially Dee in Her Tenant is fashioned after me.

10) What lines of personal promotion do you create and/or follow, and which have found most responsive targets?

I send out a newsletter, do an average of three signings a month from May to November and one a month from December to April. I sign anywhere and everywhere I can, including: dress shops, custard shops, coffee shops, summer festivals (those are outside and under a tent) and yes even bookstores. I’m considering putting up a sign in the yard that says BOOKS FOR SALE, like the gals who have ones saying AVON FOR SALE. I also tell Everyone about my books. Last night I told the owner of the restaurant where we ate that I mentioned his restaurant in Her Tenant, and he bought the book. It’s all about promotion. If I don’t tell people I’m wonderful, no one else will. As for successful, it depends on the year. This year has been great so far, but last year was terrible. The economy was really down in my area and people just weren’t buying.

11) …and congrats on such a teasing by-line to Hello …! I love it.

Thank you so much. I hope it brings a lot of people to the book. With it coming out between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July the timing is right. I’m really hyping this one more than any before.

Personal note… more than 30 years ago I made my first ever visit to the US, on business--and it was to Wisconsin. I drove to my appointment via Fon du Lac to the little village of Schleswig, returning to my Milwaukee hotel via Sheboygan--delightful countryside indeed.

I’m really pleased that you enjoyed my state. I would love to get down under, but I doubt that will happen. It was my dream when I was a travel agent, but the opportunity never arose. I did a lot of travelling, but never to the South Pacific.