It is my great pleasure today to host author Sheryl Marcoux. Sheryl recently released Cowboy in the Moonlight through Pelican Book Group. It's a wonderful story, complete with great historical detail, romance, and a touch of humor. Full disclosure: Sheryl was a member of my writing group for several years, and we had the pleasure of midwifing Cowboy.Make sure you leave a comment. One lucky reader will win an e-copy of Cowboy in the Moonlight!
Thank you, Nikki, for inviting me
to be a guest on your blog. I’m excited about the release of my debut novel, an
historical inspirational romance.
Tell us a little about Cowboy in the Moonlight.
An 1880s attempt
at scientific matchmaking goes awry, and a woman who wants to be loved for more
than her beauty is challenged to look beyond a cowboy's scarred face and into
his Godly heart.
How did the story come about? Did you base it on any
life experiences? Do any research?
I always loved the “Beauty and
the Beast” plot. In Cowboy in the
Moonlight, the common interest between hero and heroine is music, and that idea
came about from listening to Josh Groban while I exercised on the treadmill. I
have no clue what led me to write a western, because at the time I was living
in New Hampshire Arizona
Talk about your writing process: Are you a pantser or
a plotter? Do you work on a novel every day? How do you revise? How long did it
take to write your book? Do you have any rituals, such as selecting music, when
you write?
I treat novel-writing as an art
as well as a science. I’m a plotter to the extent I’ve spent years studying
story structure. Since my plots are character-driven, my first step is to
understand my main characters. What are their special abilities, flaws, and
needs? Once I determine how my characters are going to grow, I outline their
character arcs. This is their inner journey. Then I follow a template I’ve
designed to plot an outer journey that will logically stimulate these changes.
Now that I know what’s going to
happen at the milestones of the story, I draft it. I color code point of views
and highlight where certain objectives are met. By now I also have a strong sense
of character voice—and a very colorful manuscript. Then I rewrite for story
balance, and fine-tune details of place and sensory information. Then it’s time to submit chapters for
critique. After I’ve integrated feedback, I find a fresh reader to see how the
story flows.
My preferred ritual is to write
every day, first thing in the morning, when it’s still dark. I love the
serenity of writing in the quiet of the day and by the soft glow of a lamp.
Who are your favorite authors, and why? How do they
influence your work?
I don’t have a favorite author
or genre. I’m a fussy reader.
Do you have a day job? Tell us about it.
I have a military background as
a behavioral science specialist and then I worked as an executive secretary for
twenty-some odd years. This adds up to a winning combination of an insight into
human behavior and speed typing.
Finding a publisher can be difficult. How did you find yours?
I found my publisher by entering
Cowboy in the Moonlight in the 2013 Lone Star Writing Competition. It won third place in the Inspirational Romance
category. The publisher was one of the final judges.
What inspires you? How do you keep the writing fresh?
First, I accept reality.
Storytelling has been going on for thousands of years. There are only so many
plots that exist. For instance, Taming
the Shrew, My Fair Lady, and 10 Things I Hate Most about You are all
the same plot. I’m not going to invent a new plot, and so I begin by
identifying and understanding the plot I want to use. Once that’s established,
I integrate new characters and places to refresh the old story. I really
believe we love to read the old plots over and over again, but we need that
“something new.” Not only does this technique keep an old plot fresh, but I
find it also makes a story fun to write.
If you could
set a novel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I would advise any new writer to
begin by writing about what you know best—your own backyard. Research can be
tedious. Worse, we can also get our facts wrong. So why do we always think the
grass is greener in another place and time? Yeah, I’m guilty.
Where can readers find your book ?
Cowboy in the Moonlight is
available in paperback at Amazon.com:
and in paperback and eBook formats at my publisher’s website: http://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&zenid=1a07e0a03a129673504f5855a3db0913&keyword=sheryl+marcoux
Sheryl, it's been a pleasure having you. Best of luck with your book! If you're ever back in New Hampshire, be sure to stop in for a Talespinners' meeting. We miss your insight and gentle humor.
Nikki, I enjoyed being your
guest. I want you to know that your editing expertise and the heart you’ve put
into helping me improve my story have been tremendous assets. You’ve been my
mentor on this quest toward publication.
