Please welcome back author and friend, Cheryl Yeko who is talking about her writing experience
Thank you for
having me over to visit today, Sherry. My name is Cheryl Yeko and I write
romantic suspense. I enjoy novels with fast-paced action and steamy romance,
protective alpha men and strong heroines.
My entry into the world of writing was exciting and swift. After my husband gifted me a Kindle for Christmas a couple years ago, I rediscovered my love of all things romance. One day I decided to try to write a romance novel. So, I checked out some books from the library, signed up for some online classes and began my manuscript for, PROTECTING ROSE.
My entry into the world of writing was exciting and swift. After my husband gifted me a Kindle for Christmas a couple years ago, I rediscovered my love of all things romance. One day I decided to try to write a romance novel. So, I checked out some books from the library, signed up for some online classes and began my manuscript for, PROTECTING ROSE.
The first thing
I discovered is that I’m a pantser. I had all these ideas rolling around in my
head and I just sat down one day and began writing. Of course, at the time, I
didn’t know that was pantsing. It wasn’t until after I completed the book and
joined the RWA association that I learned that fun little fact. Writing By The Seat Of Your Pants.
Perfect definition…lol.
It took me a
year to write and edit, PROTECTING ROSE. It was the same with, A MAN TO TRUST.
I tried to plot it out, and it didn't work for me. It just bogged me down and
killed my muse. So, I pantsered it.
My debut novel
was released in December 2011, PROTECTING ROSE, which won the 2012 Gayle Wilson
Award of Excellence in romantic suspense. It was a very thrilling time for me.
Having never written so much as a short story, I wasn't sure I would be able to
write a novel, and was (and still am) on cloud nine to find out that I was able
to complete a story that people enjoyed reading.
I'm currently working
on a novel, tentatively titled, TAKEN. There are a lot of novels out there with
that name, so I need to think of something else. I hope to have it completed by
the end of November. This story actually started out as a novella. I was taking
a class through Savvy Authors on how to write a sensual novella. I wrote a
20,000 word story and sent it off to my publisher. She liked it, and thought it
would be a great story to expand into a full-length novel. So, I did. I'm
sitting at about 59,000 words now, and heading into the final action scene. I
have to say, it was a very challenging task to take a completed story and
expand it. But I did it!! The next and final step is to create a heart-pounding
action scene and happily-ever-after ending. I'm very excited about this and
want it to rock!
The story is
about a woman who is kidnapped by a homegrown terrorist group in the United
States wanting to blackmail her father. And of course, there is an undercover
cop on the inside who needs to keep her safe, while bringing down the bad guys.
So, if anyone has any ideas on a name…I'm open to suggestions! LOL
Recently, I
discovered a cool little tool that helps me sketch out each chapter so I know
what each chapter’s goal is. I find this very useful…so, it's kinda plotting?
Here is the list of questions that help me stay on track: POV; Location;
Weather; Time; Major Action; He Feels; She Feels; His Reaction; Her Reaction;
Point of Scene; Story Change
My second novel,
A MAN TO TRUST, was just released and I’m hoping folks enjoy this story as
well. Whoot Whoot! The story is loosely based on a double murder trial that I
sat on as a juror last year. It was a very high profile trial where I live and
lasted two weeks. I have to say, It’s
just as exciting being published the second time around as it was the first. Here is the
blurb: The battered survivor of an abusive marriage, Angela
doesn’t mourn her husband’s death in a drug deal gone bad. But she’s not sure
she can survive losing her heart to the handsome detective who believes she’s a
criminal, too.
Tasked with Angela’s safety after she’s targeted by an
unknown enemy, Jake discovers the beautiful widow is not what she seems. He
soon realizes that trusting her goes hand-in-hand with desiring her, and
passion and duty collide.
Now it’s up to Jake to keep Angela—and their chance at
happiness—alive.
I have two more
novels in the works. The final in the PROTECTING ROSE series. This one, Rick is
the hero and gets the girl. I’m also working on a paranormal series. I’m really
excited about the world I’m building and hope to have the introduction novella
out early next year. Stay tuned!
No comments:
Post a Comment