PJ will be awarding an eBook copy of "Thin Ice" to one commenter at each stop and a $25 Amazon or BN GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.
Waning Moon
by PJ Sharon
INTERVIEW:
1. What or who inspired you to start writing?
I’ve kept journals all my life, but I didn’t start writing fiction until about seven years ago after a financial seminar had me thinking of my long term plan in life. Harv Ecker, motivational speaker and financial guru, talked about creating “passive streams of income”. He suggested that writing books was a way to do that. You write a book, put it out there, and then kick back and collect royalties. Um…NOT! I joined RWA, wrote four full length manuscripts, went to all the workshops and conferences, and jumped through all the traditional agent and editor hoops before I wrote a book that was even remotely publish worthy. Passive? I’ve found there is nothing passive about being an author. Unless you’re talking about the dreaded passive voice that editors love to bust on us about.
2. What elements are necessary components for this genre.
I wrote three contemporary young adult novels prior to writing WANING MOON, the first book in a dystopian trilogy. As far as the YA genre, I think the most important component is characters that teens can identify with. Along with relatable characters, a compelling story and an engaging voice are what define YA. My books tend to have a large crossover audience with adult readers. I think this is because I don’t write down to readers. It’s difficult striking a balance between writing authentically and still making your characters sound like teens, but I try to keep that balance in mind during the editing phase. Dystopian novels characteristically have very dark undertones and lots of cool world building which I’ve had a blast with.
3. How did you come up with your idea for your novel?
I live in the Berkshire Hills of Western MA. It’s pretty remote and my husband and I have learned to really depend on our neighbors—the only ones for three quarters of a mile in any direction. We often get together with them and the conversation inevitably turns to speculation about the future and how we would survive a collapse of the world as we know it. It makes for some interesting talk over dinner. My husband, an engineer, always has some amazing input on ways he could make things work if we had to live “off-grid”. The Chronicles of Lily Carmichael was born out of those conversations. Much of my research and the details in the story have come about after our Saturday night card games.
4. What expertise did you bring to your writing?
My main character, Lily, is a healer. Through a genetic alteration she was born with the ability to not only heal herself, but others as well. To hide her supernatural ability, she has also learned to use herbs and natural healing methods to treat injuries and illness. As a massage therapist and holistic health care practitioner, my knowledge of natural medicine came into play throughout the book, including the scene where Lily has to reduce Will’s dislocated shoulder. Ouch!
5. What would you want your readers to know about you that might not be in your bio?
Wow! Scary question. Well, I’m proud to say that I consider myself a lifelong learner. I took figure skating lessons for seven years when I was in my teens, became a physical therapist assistant in my twenties, earned a black belt in my thirties, and learned Italian opera in my forties. I’m so looking forward to another cool adventure when I hit my fifties. World traveler perhaps?
6. As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?
I suspect that writing a trilogy is going to keep me pretty busy in the coming year. Beyond that, I think I’d eventually like to write adult romances. I have two paranormal and two romantic suspense novels collecting dust bunnies in my hard drive. They are poorly written but fabulous stories that may still see a spot on my cyber-shelf after much revision.
7. If you could be one of the characters from this book, who would it be and why?
Hmm…I think I’d like to be Nora McKinley. She’s one of Lily’s mentors and the woman who is in love with Lily’s uncle. She’s strong, smart, and dedicated to finding a cure for the man she loves. I appreciate the simplicity of her life. Of course, I love Lily, but as a teen character, she has to undergo lots of change and drama. Been there, done that. There comes a time in life when simplicity is very appealing.
8. Can you give us a sneak peak into this book?
Absolutely. Here’s a short excerpt:
We both groaned as we lifted the heavy iron cover. I dropped down into the icy churning water, sucking in a breath while Will climbed down the ladder. He paused, grunting as he pulled the heavy cover in place behind him.
Just in time. We heard rushing footsteps overhead, voices loud and angry. Will and I exchanged a look and then turned toward the dark tunnel. Will’s hand slipped into mine as he took the lead. “Stay with me. Don’t let go, okay?”
I let him pull me forward. The water deepened as we dragged ourselves along. The sound of rushing water ahead had me backing up against the current. “This is not a good idea.”
Will tugged me by the hand, wincing in pain. “It’s the only way out. Trust me. It’ll be alright.”
“Trust you? That’s a joke, right?”
“Can we fight about this later?”
Before I could argue, a wave of turbulent water rushed in from a connecting pipe, and swept us off our feet. Will’s hand tightened around mine and we dropped abruptly downward. As the slope steepened, the water picked up speed. Darkness and the stench of sewage overwhelmed my senses. I prayed a quick prayer that the end of the tunnel was near. What I worried for next was how far of a fall it would be to the murky waters of the Hudson below when we reached it.
Another rapid decent shot my stomach to my throat and Will’s hand pulled free. “Noooo!”
But the thunderous roar of the cascading waterfall swallowed the sound of my scream. It launched us into the darkening horizon like a torpedo, and then dumped us thirty feet into the icy roiling waters of the Hudson River.
9. Do you belong to a critique group? If so how does this help or hinder your writing?
I have several critique partners and find them an invaluable part of the process. Depending on the timing, I may have to share my work with one or two at a time since they are all newly published authors as well, and as you know, the writer’s life is quite busy. Having a second or third set of eyes helps me by catching those plot holes, characterization flaws, and misplaced details that I might miss.
10. When did you first decide to submit your work? Please tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step?
I believe it was about a year after I joined the CT chapter of RWA. I had completed my second manuscript and was working with a critique group that loved the story, and encouraged me to pitch at a conference. I got a few requests but nothing came of it. At the time, I was a bit of a first draft addict and knew that the manuscript needed a lot of revision. I wasn’t quite sure how to go about revising so I jumped into another story and then another until I had developed my craft enough to feel confident that my writing was strong enough to get published. It wasn’t until my stories began placing in contests that I decided to submit to agents and editors. After I’d written two more full length manuscripts and gotten many rejections, I realized that my stories weren’t right for the market so I finally began looking into indie publishing.
To explain that statement further, agents and editors have notoriously narrow parameters when it comes to acquiring new authors. My stories fell outside of the norm. My character in Savage Cinderella was too old for YA, ON THIN ICE had too many subplots, and I didn’t even submit Heaven is for Heroes because I knew that the subject matter wouldn’t be relevant by the time I got an agent and the book made it to the shelves. It became clear that indie publishing was the best choice for me and my stories.
11. What is the best and worst advice you ever received? (regarding writing or publishing)
Best advice: Write what you love. Worst advice: Don’t self-publish.
12. Do you outline your books or just start writing?
I’m mostly a pantser, but I’ve learned to get to know my characters, their goals, what motivates them, and what major conflict they have to resolve internally and externally before I sit down to let the words flow. I write a few chapters to get a feel for the story and then I make a time line that shows me the major turning points of the story. Beyond that I don’t plot.
13. How do you maintain your creativity?
Creativity ebbs and flows like life itself. That may sound philosophical, but it’s true. I’ve learned to channel it when it’s in high gear and to be patient and wait for it to come back around when it’s not. Balance is my motto and yet balance is the most challenging part of this job for me. I practice yoga regularly, try to get enough sleep, and sometimes I have to force myself to write, even if the words on the page are not my best. I’m learning to trust the process and just keep pushing through.
14. Who is your favorite character in the book. Can you tell us why?
I loved writing Will Callahan’s character. He’s a bit of a wise guy and a loner, but he’s got a good heart. He’s determined, resourceful, and isn’t about to let anything get in the way of his goal…except for Lily, maybe.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
In the year 2057, in a post-apocalyptic world where a global shift threatens the remainder of the population with extinction, sixteen-year-old genetically enhanced Lily Charmichael has more immediate problems. Her uncle is dying of cancer and her healing abilities are ineffective against the blood ties that bind them. In order to find a cure, Lily must leave the protection of her quiet town and journey into the trading city of Albany, all while avoiding the Industry, an agency that would like nothing better than to study and exploit her abilities.
Seventeen-year-old Will Callahan has been searching for his father since severe storms blasted through the Midwest, killing his mother and sister. When he learns that his father may be in the city, he catches a ride with Lily, a girl who has come to his rescue more than once. As the two embark on a dangerous journey, the attraction between them grows. But the secrets Will’s keeping could put her in far more danger than traveling to the city with him, and if he was any kind of man, he would have told her to run the minute she found him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT:
We both groaned as we lifted the heavy iron cover. I dropped down into the icy churning water, sucking in a breath while Will climbed down the ladder. He paused, grunting as he pulled the heavy cover in place behind him.
Just in time. We heard rushing footsteps overhead, voices loud and angry. Will and I exchanged a look and then turned toward the dark tunnel. I felt Will’s hand slip into mine as he took the lead. “Stay with me. Don’t let go, okay?”
I let him pull me forward. The water deepened as we dragged ourselves along. The sound of rushing water ahead had me backing up against the current. “This is not a good idea.”
Will tugged me by the hand, wincing in pain. “It’s the only way out. Trust me. It’ll be alright.”
“Trust you? That’s a joke, right?”
“Can we fight about this later?”
Before I could argue, a wave of turbulent water rushed in from a connecting pipe, and swept us off our feet. Will’s hand tightened around mine and we dropped abruptly downward. As the slope steepened, the water picked up speed. Darkness and the stench of sewage overwhelmed my senses. I prayed a quick prayer that the end of the tunnel was near. What I worried for next was how far of a fall it would be to the murky waters of the Hudson below when we reached it.
Another rapid decent shot my stomach to my throat and Will’s hand pulled free. “Noooo!”
But the thunderous roar of the cascading waterfall swallowed the sound of my scream. It launched us into the darkening horizon like a torpedo and then dumped us thirty feet into the icy roiling waters of the Hudson River.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
I knew I would be a writer someday when I was a little girl sitting on my grandpa’s knee and telling him stories that he would help me put on paper. By the time I entered kindergarten I could already read and write, and I couldn’t wait to look up new words every morning in the ginormous Webster’s Dictionary that sat in the book case at the bottom of our stairs. I would get on the bus and ask my friends, “Do you know what pulchritudinous means?” Between that and challenging the boys to push-up contests at the bus stop, I mostly sat alone on those bus rides to school. But that just meant I had more time to make up stories.
I went on to many other endeavors in life, including the world of figure skating, and later, earning a black belt in martial arts. Though I was a mom at seventeen, I did manage to finish school and somehow made it through college, earning a degree as a Physical Therapy Assistant. After nineteen years, two sons, a divorce, and some fairly lean years, I found that it’s true what they say about life beginning at forty. It was about that time when I reunited with the love of my life and worked my way to owning my own business as a Massage Therapist, Personal Trainer, and Yoga Instructor—all of my favorite things. To make my bliss complete, I moved out to the Berkshires and found my muse waiting for me there amongst the lilacs and humming birds.
I now write Extraordinary Stories of an Average Teenage Life in order to share hope with others, especially teens, that no matter how tough life gets, there is always a bright spot waiting just around the corner. My published books include the award winning YA Novels, HEAVEN IS FOR HEROES, ON THIN ICE, and SAVAGE CINDERELLA, available through Amazon and B&N Booksellers.
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