IndieView with PJ Sharon, author of Savage Cinderella

When I wrote HEAVEN IS FOR HEROES, I knew I had the book that should be published immediately. But the story is about a seventeen-year-old girl who loses her brother in Iraq. If I waited for an agent to pick me up …

PJ Sharon 05 July 2012

The Back Flap

Eighteen year-old Brinn Hathaway has survived alone in an abandoned cabin in the High Country of North Georgia since she was a child. If her life is lonely and less than complete, at least she is safe from the man who kidnapped her, held her captive, and left her for dead in a shallow grave in the mountains. She believes that her parents are dead, the police are her enemy, and that if she returns to the world, her tormentor will find her. With the help of some unlikely friends, she has what she needs to survive, but is surviving enough?

Life takes a turn when a young nature photographer, Justin Spencer—in pursuit of the fabled Wild Child—captures her on film. While chasing the story of a lifetime, Justin is injured and Brinn comes to his rescue. The two build a tentative friendship, but with his own violent past, an abusive alcoholic father, and a mother he couldn’t protect, he must decide if proving himself is worth betraying the trust of the girl he has vowed to help.

Trust is a commodity that Brinn has been unable to afford. Can the kindness and gentle touch of a stranger break through the wall she has built around her heart? After half a lifetime of living in isolation and fear, Brinn must decide if leaving the safety of her remote cabin is worth the hope—and danger—that may await her.

About the book

What is the book about?

The story is about eighteen-year-old Brinn Hathaway who has survived on her own in the Northwest High Country of Georgia since she was left for dead in a shallow grave by the man who kidnapped her as a child. When a young nature photographer, Justin Spencer, catches the wild girl on film and the two form a tentative friendship, Brinn must decide if coming out of hiding is worth the hope—and  the danger—that may await her.

When did you start writing the book?

 I started the book in 2009

 How long did it take you to write it?

The first draft was completed in three months, although I spent the next year or so after that editing and revising. It then sat in my hard drive for about two years until I decided to indie publish it.

 Where did you get the idea from?

I was hiking with my dog out in the woods and started wondering what it would have been like to grow up in the wild. The question of why a young girl would do that, led me to the kidnapping idea. From there, I could see Brinn running through the woods and I knew her story had to be told.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Absolutely! I struggled with deep point of view and wondered if I should write it in first person, but I wanted the hero’s POV as well as the villain’s, so third person made the most sense. But because of that and the fact that Brinn’s experience was so psychologically devastating, it was hard being in her head. It wasn’t much fun being in the villain’s head either. I had a few sleepless nights after researching serial killers and pedophiles for a few days.

What came easily?

Justin’s character was a delight to write. He is a beta hero with a big heart and he is totally smitten with Brinn. He had his own family issues to overcome, but he was right there for her in all the ways that counted. She needed a guy like that in her life if she was going to overcome her fears, and I was happy to supply her with Mr. Right.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

In this particular story, the characters are completely made up. Mr. Hoffman, the elderly storekeeper who befriends Brinn and helps her throughout the story is loosely based on my grandfather who was curmudgeonly but good hearted down deep.

 We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I would someday love to say that I write like Barbara Kingsolver or Diana Gabaldon. They both have such beautifully lyrical prose and vivid descriptions with just a few perfectly placed words. They also both draw fabulous characters and draw readers so deeply into their stories that you miss them as soon as you close the book.

 Do you have a target reader?

My target readers are older teens. There are no swears or graphic sex, but the subject matter of my books is for mature readers. Surprisingly, most of my readers are adult women who love to read about first loves, sweet romance, and family dramas.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

My process is still evolving. I like to have a clear picture of the goal, motivation, and main conflict my character is facing, but basically, I’m a seat of your pants writer. Since I still work my day job twenty to thirty hours a week, and spend a good portion of my writing time on promoting my books, my actual writing time is whenever I can carve out a few hours to get some words on a page.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just Chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I do a timeline and a linear outline that gives me the basic turning points of the story and then I write toward those turning points.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

Now that I’ve learned some editing and revision strategies, I’m into editing as I go. If I waited until the end, I would feel like there was just too much to fix and I would be overwhelmed.

Did you hire a professional editor?

Yes, I have a few editors. One who works with me on deep edits as I go. Once I’m about half way through the story, she starts tearing apart my earlier chapters which then helps me to revise and be clear about where the story is going, where there are plot holes I missed, and where I have missed an opportunity to develop a character more deeply. Once I’m finished with my first draft and done revisions, I send it to a copy editor, and then it goes for a first print at Create Space. It’s remarkable how many errors you find in print that you don’t see on the computer. I send the proof copies to beta readers, do one more pass through to fix anything they might have mentioned, and then it goes for a second print edition. This one I give to a proof reader, fix any final mistakes, and then I’m ready to upload to Amazon, B&N, and Smashwords.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

Actually, I find music very distracting. It’s funny because I can watch TV while I write, but I can’t listen to music or I catch myself typing the lyrics to a song.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

I did. I had about thirty or so rejections for SAVAGE CINDERELLA, and about twenty for ON THIN ICE. They were mostly nice rejections saying that the stories didn’t quite fit the market.

What made you decide to go Indie? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

When I wrote HEAVEN IS FOR HEROES, I knew I had the book that should be published immediately. But the story is about a seventeen-year-old girl who loses her brother in Iraq. If I waited for an agent to pick me up, and then waited for an editor to offer a contract, it would have been at least two years before that book hit the shelves and it would no longer be relevant. That was when I started thinking seriously about self-publishing.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did it you do it yourself?

My husband does my book covers. He is an engineer and super tech savvy. He also has a terrific eye for art. I’ve been very happy with our covers so far—although he’s not so great about meeting deadlines, LOL. That’s what I get for free labor.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

That is a good question. I don’t have a specific marketing plan, but I’m also not entirely winging it. I try to do one big promotional push per month, per book. I’m also always working to cross-promote with other authors. There is definitely power in numbers.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Do lots of research. Follow blogs like The Writer’s Guide To e-Publishing, Joe Konrath’s blog, Bob Mayer’s blog, The Passive Voice, and Kristen Lamb’s We Are Not Alone blog. Join some Indie-author yahoo loops and just try to study the trends and advice of others who are blazing the trail. Get yourself organized, start building a social networking platform, and make sure your book is READY to be published. If you aren’t part of a writer’s group, find an RWA chapter and join. You won’t regret it.

About You

In my “other” life, I’m a massage therapist, personal trainer, and yoga instructor. I love kayaking, hiking, gardening, singing, and all things chocolate.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Connecticut. I was the youngest of seven children; five girls and two boys. There were some wild times living in a four bedroom cape with one bathroom, let me tell you.

Where do you live now?

I live in Western Massachusetts in the Berkshire Hills with my wonderful husband and our dog, Zak, a handsome husky/lab mix.

What would you like readers to know about you?

Writing has become a passion for me. Not because I need an artistic outlet, but because I think it’s the best way I can reach the most people with a positive message of hope. I want teens, and even adults who are facing difficult life issues, to know that no matter how hard things get, there is always hope.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on a dystopian trilogy and hoping the first book will be ready early this fall. Book one is called WANING MOON. Sixteen-year-old Lily Carmichael and her brother Zephron were part of a genetic experiment meant to make fetuses immune to the viral plague that killed three quarters of the world’s population. But as they grow up, they find that the gifts that came along with their mutated genes put them in the sights of the Industry, a subversive group of scientists who want to exploit them. Hiding out in the North East hills has kept them safe so far, but when Lily is forced to leave the sanctuary of her farm to go into the city searching for a cure for her Uncle’s cancer, she must risk everything to save a boy she barely knows.

End of Interview:

For more, visit PJ Sharon’s website.

Purchase your copy of SAVAGE CINDERELLA from Amazon US as either an ebook or paper, from Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords.