Today I'd like to introduce you to an author that I met last year via a FaceBook group: Sharon Connell. I haven't read any of her books yet, but being a Louisiana girl by birth and relocated to Mississippi, her novels about hurricanes intrigue me. I had the privilege of interviewing her. If you scroll down to the end, you can find out information on her books and how to connect with her.
Me: How did you get started in writing?
Sharon: I had been corresponding with another author for years before I started writing. Whenever I would tell him what was happening in my life, he would tell me, "You need to write a book." In 2004, I was living in Pensacola, Florida when Hurricane Ivan hit. Having lived most of my life in the north, I went through a night of terror. Afterward, I told my friend what I experienced. Again, he said, "You need to write a book." This time I felt he was right. So I started writing about the hurricane. However, when I finished my story, it wasn't about the hurricane at all. There was only a slight mention of the damage from the hurricane in the town.
Me: What was your first story idea--and is it published?
Sharon: Paths of Righteousness was that first story idea spawned by the hurricane, but it turned into a romantic story about a girl who worked in a doctor's office and her traumatic life. It was published in 2014, but I'm now rewriting the story into the deep point of view style to make it a better read.
Me: What are your goals in writing? Who do you hope to reach? What do you hope to accomplish?
Sharon: My goal is to write as many books as I can in the time given here on earth. I plan to reach as many people as I can with my stories of hope, God's mercy, His love, and the gospel message.
Me: Tell us a little bit about your newest release!
Sharon: My last release, out November of 2017, is A Very Present Help. It was written after Paths of Righteousness, but was the first book I had published, and actually started out as a short story. When it grew into a full novel, I decided to attempt publishing it first because I had stolen one of the characters from Paths of Righteousness. A Very Present Help is about a young teacher who is engaged to her childhood sweetheart. She finds that life doesn't always turn out the way you think it will. As problems arise, she struggles with her own faith in God because of the things He allows to happen in her life. She fears that He has forgotten all about her. There is a lot of suspense as well as romance in this story.
Me: Would you mind sharing your salvation testimony with us?
Sharon: Are you kidding. I love to share it.
I was a preteen going to a girl's club called Pioneer Girls at a Bible Church in Chicago when the Teen Club from that church invited all the preteens to attend their yearly retreat. It was in February of 1958, in a camp called Camp Wonderland on Lake Michigan. And yes, it was frozen over. LOL I was twelve years old.
After a day of fun in the snow, and then dinner, we gathered together to hear one of the teen club counselors deliver a message. All I remember was fidgeting. I knew I was a sinner. He didn't have to tell me that. But I resisted the invitation for salvation at the end of the message.
After some snacks, our little group of girls from the girl's club went back to the room they had given us. We all got ready for bed, but before light's out, our own counselor, Jan Wynn (I'll never forget her name), decided to add her own words to the message from that night. When she asked where we thought we'd be if we died that night, it pierced my heart. She explained what Jesus had experienced on the cross, and why. When she said He did it all for me, my heart broke. Along with a couple of my friends, I bowed my head there in the bottom bunk and asked Jesus to come into my heart and save me. I told him I knew I'd never get to heaven on my own, and I needed His Blood to cover my sins. When I opened my eyes, I remember taking a deep cleansing breath of relief. I wasn't going to wind up in hell.
Me: I'd like my readers to get to know you a little better! What are three of your favorite things to do?
Sharon: 1. Write, 2. Read, 3. Garden
Me: Who is your favorite author?
Sharon: My #1 favorite author is J.R.R. Tolkien, with Jane Austen coming in a very close second.
Me: What is one thing you'd tell aspiring writers?
Sharon: Don't...no matter what you hear or read...don't let anyone discourage you if you know you should be writing. Get the story down. Don't worry about the grammar, the structure, the mistakes you'll make. Get the story down. Then go back and make it the best story you can write.
Connect with Sharon
Website: http://sharonkconnell
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/au
Author’s book page on Facebook: https://www.facebook
Group Forum on Facebook: https://www.facebook
Twitter: https://twitter.com/S
Goodreads: https://www.goodrea
American Christian Fiction Writers: https://www.acfw.com/
Blogging on WordPress: https://sharonkconn
Blogging on Niume: https://niume.com/pages
Book links:
His Perfect Love http://amzn.to/2iCMALI
A Very Present Help http://amzn.to/2yuF4eE Kindle http://amzn.to/2AjdYU3
Book trailers:
His Perfect Love by Sharon K. Connell https://youtu.be/e3tRr6mLzZk
A Very Present Help by SharonKConnell https://youtu.b
Thank you for a wonderful interview, Amanda. I appreciate the time you took for me.
ReplyDeleteJust to set the record straight, I don't write about hurricanes, per se. A couple of my stories mention hurricane damage and a very strong storm in the south that causes a lot of trouble for the hero and heroine. Having lived through many hurricanes after moving from the north to the south over thirty years ago, I write from first hand experience.
My stories generally travel from the north to the south and maybe back again.
Again, thank you for a great interview with a lovely young lady.
Enjoyed the interview with Sharon. I really enjoy her books and am blessed to have her as a friend.
ReplyDelete@ Sharon - you're welcome! Sorry about that. I keep seeing your books linked to hurricanes, and having not read them yet, made an assumption. :P
ReplyDelete@ Ann - wonderful!