WNBA-SF Chapter quarterly newsletter: Featured Member Sherry Joyce

http://wnba-sfchapter.org/

Click the Featured Member Interview – Sherry Joyce
By Simona Carini
Interview by Catharine Bramkamp

Many of us fantasize about living in a castle; many of us wonder what would happen if we just had a book delivered to us like a bolt from the blue, to name two clichés. WNBA member, Sherry Joyce has experienced both.
Her first book, The Dordogne Deception, is based in the Dordogne, Perigord region of Southwestern France, and it was inspired by both a stay in a French castle and a lightning strike.
“The bolt of lightning that struck the castle we were renting for family and friends actually happened during the afternoon with mild cloudy skies—no rain or anything dramatic. It scared me to death and I got a real buzz from the electricity, then I calmed down until going to bed that night. A storm came up the Dordogne River with wild wind, blowing the shutters on the castle, and lightning was intermittent with thunderclaps. Terrified, I could not sleep, thinking the lightning rod above the turret would get hit again. I started shaking and said ‘this setting is like a murder/mystery’ and I began writing the novel in my head during the storm.
“Once we returned home, the characters I had created during the storm would not stop chatting and the plot began to weave itself together. Until I actually sat down to write the novel, I had no idea if I could write everything that was in my head, but once I started typing, I could not stop. It took me about 2-1/2 weeks to type out the first 65,000 words. When we moved from Redwood City to El Dorado Hills, the novel sat in a box until I discovered it again, added another 30,000 words and began working with an editor to refine the manuscript.
“I was still running an interior design business when I started writing the novel. In retrospect, I had no idea how much work went into editing and the entire publishing process. Sometimes moving ahead fearlessly is the only way to accomplish something. Without having an intention to be a serious author, I now find myself thoroughly enjoying writing my second novel, and have at least four more in my head! I had no idea how much I loved crafting a story until I wrote a novel.
“Probably every author would say a lot of luck was involved in his or her success. I found a great editor to collaborate with who also handled all of my marketing which had everything to do with the publicity for my book launch, subsequent radio interview with Beth Ruyak’s Insight program in Sacramento, and many other writing, library or philanthropic presentations. I offered to help another author at Left Coast Crime’s convention in Monterey a few years ago and ended up on a panel discussion.
One thing leads to another if you are open and willing to say: ‘Yes…let me try that.’ I also found that joining several writing organizations was the best way to publicize my work and also myself. One of the best things about becoming an author and being part of writing organizations is that other authors help and support you. Writing for a local magazine as a feature contributor has meant that many people in my community know who I am and continue to buy my book. I highly recommend investing in a quality website. 
“Everything that has happened to you in life (the good, the bad, the difficult, the impossible) all can be used in story telling. It helps to look at your strengths and what you did well in past careers and build on those attributes. Think about whether or not you can handle criticism, are well-organized and can meet deadlines, don’t mind re-writing, are adept at working with people, can handle pressure — all of the traits that made one successful in a job can be applied to crafting and finishing a novel. Probably the most important advice I can give anyone starting out is to be open to listening and learning from both failure and success and to retain a sense of humor. Believe that your writing voice is unique!”
Sherry Joyce’s website