The second Hawaiian word of the day is
alanui
Ala is path.
Nui is big.
Together they are road.
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| The alanui to Hana leads to waterfalls .... |
Back on December 15, I wrote an editorial piece, Everyone's Writing about Self Publishing (at this link). I referred to a Time Magazine article which interviewed romance authors Bella Andre and Sheryl Hoyt.
Sheryl Hoyt, writing as SaraLynn Hoyt, shares her experience along the alanui to self publishing ....
Kim: Your Facebook page indicates you are from Washington State. What is your favorite sight, sound, and smell?
Sheryl: I actually live in the Cascade foothills and commute everyday to downtown Seattle from the mountains. My favorite sights on my drive are Mt. Rainier in the distance and my most cherished thing in the world, trees (yeah my website is all about the trees). I love the sound of the river rushing through the valley, it soothes me when I'm stressed out. And my favorite smell would be freshly ground and brewed coffee. I know you're thinking those Seattle folks, but its really true!
Kim: The Time article featured your experience at RT. Other than the business side of publishing, what did you enjoy about RT?
Sheryl: LOL, I love this question. I never started going to RT for business, it was always about the parties and the costumes. Where else can a grown woman dress up, wear a tiara, dance by herself and its totally normal? The people are fantastic as well, its a culture really. The first thing we do when we arrive is find Kathryn Falk and give her a big hug. And of course, its all about the books and finding new favorites.
Kim: You Facebook page also indicates you studied history - why inspired you to study history? What is your favorite historical time period? What did you plan to do with history, other than write romances?
Sheryl: I think I fell in love with history when I was a little girl and my mom read Little House on the Prairie to me. Then it was Little Women and finally Gone With The Wind. I was hooked on the big dresses and the romance of it all. My favorite time periods are the Georgian and the Edwardian periods. I've always wanted to write, but travel is always uppermost in my mind as well. I'd love to visit all the old castles and ancient sites in the world. One of the reasons I love the Edwardian period is because it was when all the Egyptian archaeology was going strong - which is like a two-fer for me as my first career choice was archaeologist.
Kim: Tell us about your books - what sets them apart from other historical romances?
Kim: Tell us about your books - what sets them apart from other historical romances?
Sheryl: Best question ever! My critique partner tells me I write 'hard' topics. For instance, my hero in Dangerous Heart is becoming an alcoholic. I don't want to spoil it, but he has to stop drinking in order to find out if Penelope is really the one. The Scoundrel and the Saint is about a woman whose husband was abusive and she has to learn to trust a man again. And Heaven Made is a woman giving up a life of ease to protect her daughter. Plus, I like to write in not the usual time periods and/or locations. Philadelphia 1838, near Deadwood 1877, and 1905 London. Which is probably why NY never wanted to try and figure out how to market my books.
Kim: What's next for SaraLynn Hoyt?
Sheryl: A contemporary. I wrote a short story about a palm reader and had a blast with the contemporary voice. I want to expand it into a novella. Also, I had a dream a month or so ago and it was a totally hot Beauty and the Beast story that I'm dying to write. So more books and of course more historicals. I'll be at RT in Kansas City, MO in May; have costumes, will travel.
Mahalo, Sheryl, for joining us at SOS Aloha! I look forward to reading about RT on your blog! And give Kathryn a big hug for me! I am giving away a Kindle copy of SaraLynn's books - winner's choice - to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway,
1. Leave a comment about what you'd wear to RT - ball gown? fairy costume? steampunk getup? Or, like me, Aloha shirts?
2. This giveaway is open to all readers.
3. Comments are open through Saturday, January 12, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Saturday, January 13.
Mahalo,
Kim in Hawaii
To learn more about Sheryl, SaraLynn, and her books, check out her website at sherylhoyt.com. Her website includes a link to the Time Magazine article.
I would love to wear a ball gown. How often do you get a chance to where something like that and no one says anything other than oh my gosh love it.
ReplyDeleteI would love to wear a ball gown if I didn't look like a blimp in it.
ReplyDeleteI would totally go steampunk. I love that style.
ReplyDeleteMel
bournmelissa at hotmail dot com
I'll have to wear a ball gown. It's not every day that I can get away with wearing one! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for a fun post! Ummm... I'm a jean and t-shirt gal through and through :)
ReplyDeleteI love Steampunk, but I'm too old for that. So, I would have to wear a ball gown.
ReplyDeleteI'd go for the ballgown but nothing to elaborate lol.
ReplyDeleteI wear casual clothes almost all the time, so I think it would be fun to wear a fancy gown.
ReplyDeleteI would wear a ball gown since I wear casual clothes all the time.
ReplyDeleteGiven that I would be totally out of my element to begin with and a reserved individual, I would wear my same old boring clothes - comfort factor.
ReplyDeleteKim, if you're brave enough to wear Hawaiian garb, I'll go decked in my purple velvet cape, tiarra and Mardi Gras beads!
ReplyDeleteSomething comfortable and casual
ReplyDeleteFairy Costume for me!
ReplyDeleteSue
I would wear a fairy costume but a steampunk getup sounds fantastic as well.
ReplyDeleteIf only I could attend RT, I would wear a ball gown!
ReplyDeleteCC
Something that is appropriate with the event but I should be comfortable in it. :D
ReplyDeleteI think I would go for comfort first & then flights of fancy.
ReplyDeleteI would probably end up with Steampunk for the fun nature of it.
ReplyDeleteI would go for the ball gown, how many places can you wear something like that?
ReplyDeleteI think I'd go for the Aloha shirt and jeans. I want to be comfortable.
ReplyDeleteI would wear a ball gown since it would be fun to be all dressed up.
ReplyDeleteI, too, would want to be comfortable. The Aloha shirt and jeans sounds good.
ReplyDeleteOooooooo I would so love to wear the ball gown & a set of wings. ( I have always loved that scene in Ever After)
ReplyDeletethen again Just going to a RT convention would be a huge treat.
Have a good one Ann/alba.
How about a steam punk ball gown?
ReplyDelete