FEATURED ARTIST FRIDAY: Alex Sheridan
A woman begins treasure hunting to add excitement to her life and finds more than she bargained for. Seraphina Reign is a business woman and mother forced to realize she needs to ‘get a life’. She challenges herself to add fun and excitement in a way that doesn't require finding a man.
She takes up treasure hunting after reading an article about a local diver finding a solid gold avian statue just offshore from the condo she lives in. With the help of her best friend, and the aid of dreams that produce supernatural results, they quickly locate valuable items that have broken off the statue. When Seraphina begins researching the statue’s creator and the purpose behind it, she and her friends soon become the targets of an evil enemy who wants to possess the golden bird's incredible powers at any cost.
From Florida’s Treasure Coast to Incan ruins in Peru and a seaside mansion in Belgium, they must defend themselves against the enemy while they race for answers about the statue, not knowing there is a clock ticking and the answers they seek could forever change the world along with Seraphina’s life.
1. Why did you choose to write in this genre?
Treasure Life is for the women of the world who love action-adventure, thrillers and romantic suspense. My goal was a fresh mix of those elements, with a non-formula feel. I'm hoping readers enjoy the ride as much as I did.
2. Is anyone else in your family musical/artistic/writers? Describe your family members' artistic interests and abilities.
Not a one of us can sing or play an instrument. I'm the only one into the arts, unless you count craft projects like knitting and the occasional holiday decoration. But we have lots of readers!
3. Which authors do you admire? Why?
Lee Child is my #1 favorite, hands down. I'm a devoted Reacher Creature. I help get others addicted, even my mom! I love Lee's writing style and his 'real' personality. I also love that he works to give back to emerging writers by participating in ITW, various conferences, doing anthologies with other authors, giving advice that is helpful during interviews, etc. Love the guy!!
Also on the top 5 Fave Authors List: Nora Roberts, James Rollins, Dean Koontz, Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child. Of course, I've got lots more.4. What advice would you give to beginners who are nervous?
Attempting the first page of the first novel was daunting to me. It felt like staring up at a giant, blank mountain -- it had to be climbed in order to find out if I could do it. But could I do it? (yes!) Would it be worth the effort? (Yes!!) Once I gave myself permission to start by writing the scene I most wanted to write - which happened to be a big scene in the climax - it flew out of my fingers and onto the page. After that, it was like the cork popped out of the champagne. I wrote my first novel in 90 days (400+ pages).
5. Describe your process for writing/completing a novel.
Being a Libra, I've got an intrinsic need for balance, which seems to creep into everything, including my writing. So that naturally makes me a hybrid plotter/pantster. I start with a 'what if' story idea, let that spin in my head awhile, then start writing story points and character ideas in a notebook. The ideas cook, and the list of points builds over a month or so. When I start getting the urge to write the story I know it's time to get cranking. It just flows from there. It's usually half-way into the story when I stop using the notebook.
6. What is the most important thing you have learned about yourself through writing?
I have a natural talent for writing, and tapped into it much later in life than I should have. I blame that partly on stupidity, and also on the fact that no one ever encouraged me to write, or to expose me to the nuts and bolts of the novel writing craft; POV, present/past tense, etc. No one ever said a word about those things in high school! Teachers in my day didn’t focus on the creative side of writing – it was all more along the lines of writing book reports, classroom discussions of the stories, and those lovely useless tests.
7. Who has been the biggest influence on your writing? Why?See list of favorite authors above, because they've lead by example for me, as well as given fantastic advice and perspective on the writing craft and journey. Plus I'll name a couple authors who've written great 'how-to' books that really made me take big leaps on the craft curve: Chris Roerden (Don't Sabotage Your Submission) and Jeff Gerke (The First Fifty Pages).8. Who would you most like to thank for their involvement in your writing career?My mom!9. What is the most fun thing about writing?Blowing stuff up. I can't resist it.10. What is the most boring thing about writing?Editing. The eighth draft is a draaaaaag.11. What is something (book, short story, poem, paragraph, sentence) that you wish YOU had written, and why?A poem, titled The Buried Life, by Matthew Arnold. It’s absolutely brilliant and profound and beautiful. I'm going to use it as the skeleton of a novel one of these days. As soon as I figure out how. Thank you, Alex, for your time!