Sunday, September 5, 2010

Interview and Giveaway, Sherry Ficklin, author of Foresight

I'd like to take this time to welcome, Sherry Ficklin, author of Foresight to Debbie's Book Bag. Sherry has been gracious enough to provide us with a SIGNED copy of Foresight for giveaway to one lucky winner. Giveaway details will be at the end of the post.

DEB: Sherry, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
SHERRY: Well, I'm a full time writer and part time housewife, lol. I grew up a military brat and eventually married the world's best Marine. We moved all over the place before settling here in Colorado to raise our family. I love to travel, read, paint, garden and of course write.

DEB: Tell us a little bit about your series, "The Gods of Fate" and your book, Foresight?
SHERRY: Foresight is the blending of the Greek myth of Pandora's box and my love of fairy tales. It's the saga of Grace Archer, Pandora's daughter, as she's faced with having to not only defend her mother's box, but also her own growing powers. It's really about growing up and making choices and becoming the person you want to be, destiny be damned.

DEB: What was your inspiration for these books? Have you always been interested in Greek mythology?
SHERRY: I have. I was brought up on the classics, Homer, Virgil, Aesop, Ovid. The stories really resonated with me and wanted to bring these kinds of epic stories to a new generation.

DEB: What type of research did you do for your books?
SHERRY: Oh, I have stacks of notebooks full of research and I re-read all my classic Greeks. I loved reading, The Iliad and The Aeneid side by side. It's basically the same story told from two very different perspectives. I love that.

DEB: What is your normal writing day like? Do you have things that have to be in place for you to write comfortably?
SHERRY: Music is one big thing. I try to write something everyday, even if it's not part of my current WIP (work in progress).

DEB: What was it like when you got the word that your first novel would be published?
SHERRY: It was amazing, like gasping for air amazing. Then I had the rug pulled out from under me. See, Foresight was picked up two years ago with a different publisher and they went out of business before the book was released, so there I was with a book and no publisher. Luckily for me, I found the great ladies at Dragonfly Publishing. They took me and my poor manuscript and made my dreams of publishing come true. But getting the magic "yes", if felt really good.

DEB: Do you have any advice for new writers?
SHERRY: Yes, edit, edit, edit. Before you send that manuscript to a single agent be sure you have at least 5 people look over it and help you polish it. I lost out on a HUGE opportunity early on just because my manuscript was too rough. You don't get those opportunities back!

DEB: When your not writing, what kinds of books do you like to read? Do you have a favorite author?
SHERRY: Currently I'm reading Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. My favorites change day to day. This week I'm loving Jennifer Rardin and the Jaz Parks books.

DEB: What are you working on right now?
SHERRY: I'm finishing up Hindsight, Book 3 in the GOF (Gods of Fate) trilogy and tinkering with Palmetto Moon, my first paranormal romance.

DEB: Tell us one thing people may not know about you?
SHERRY: I collect rubber ducks. The weirder the better. My favorite right now is my Zombie Duck.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Sherry has provided one signed copy for giveaway. The rules are simple:

1.) There will be one winner, and I will be sending this one out so the giveaway is International.
2.) You must be Google Friend Connect follower to participate.
3.) You must leave a comment on this post that includes your e-mail so I can contact you if you win.
4.) The deadline for this giveaway is Midnight EST, September 19th.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

+5 for following me on Twitter, @justpeachy36 (Twitter button on the sidebar)
+5 for being an Old follower
+3 for being a New follower
+5 for commenting on my review of Foresight here.
+5 for entering any of the other giveaways on my sidebar (Let me know which ones)
+5 for adding my giveaway to your sidebar
+10 for subscribing to my blog by e-mail (Check the sidebar)
+25 for getting the word out on this giveaway, via Twitter, Facebook, blog post (Please leave your links)

26 comments:

Kathy W said...

Great interview. LOL @ zombie ducks.

Unknown said...

+5 Twitter follower - @ashleybookshelf
+5 for being an Old follower
+5 for commenting on my review of Foresight here.
+5 for adding my giveaway to your sidebar http://ashleybook.blogspot.com
+10 for subscribing to my blog by e-mail - ashleysbookshelf@gmail.com
+25 blog post - http://ashleybook.blogspot.com/2010/09/signed-foresight-giveaway-debbies-book.html

=55 entries (WHOA)

Great interview! LOVE the giveaway!

Mystica said...

+ 5 old follower

+ 5 for commenting on review earlier

thank you for the giveaway.

mystica123athotmaildotcom

Vidisha said...

Old follower

vidishamun@gmail.com

Ashley said...

Love the interview!
+3 New follower.

hewella1 at gmail dot com

buddyt said...

+5 for Old Follower
+5 for comment on the review.

Thanks for the giveaway.

Carol T

buddytho {at} gmail DOT com

Margaret said...

I love the whole Q & A you did with the author, especially the questions that led to the v. unique answer of rubber ducks. I laughed when I read that. Really enjoyed the interview!! :)
My e-mail: legally_write@hotmail.com

+5 for following you on Twitter, as @VamPoet (I saw the cute Twitter button on the sidebar :))
+3 for being a New follower of your blog with the awesome background
+5 for commenting on your review of Foresight.
(sadly the rest of your giveaways are u.s.-bound so i can't participate *sigh*)
+10 for subscribing to my blog by e-mail (my e-mail's above)
+25 for getting the word out on this giveaway, via Twitter (link: http://twitter.com/VamPoet/status/23125781983)
....48!!!!

Sugar and Snark said...

Great interview!!

New follower :)
chidoryx AT hotmail DOT com

EXTRA ENTRIES:

+5 following on Twitter,
+3 for being a New follower

Kulsuma said...

I'd love to win this:)

k_anon[at]hotmail[dot]co[dot]uk

+3 New blog follower
+5 Commenting on review of Foresight.
+25 Spreading the word

http://kayaloves.blogspot.com/2010/09/debbies-book-bag-foresight-giveaway.html

Total is +33

Kathy Habel said...

+5 Twitter @toobusyreading
+3 New Follower
+5 Commented - Inspired Kathy
+10 subcribed via email toobusyreading AT gmail DOT com

23 entries

Teril said...

I liked the advice about writing something everyday. This was a great interview thank you.

terilhack(@)yahoo.com
+5 old follower
+5 other entries :Gerry Tales, Seduced by the Wolf and Hero.
=10

Beverly said...

Great giveaway! Thanks for hosting!

bsharp88@gmail.com

+1 comment and email
+5 old follower
total = +6

Misha said...

Thanks for the contest!
+5 for following me on Twitter, @Misha_1989
+5 for being an Old follower
+5 for commenting on my review of Foresight here.
+10 for subscribing to my blog by e-mail (Check the sidebar)
+25 twitter
http://twitter.com/Misha_1989/status/23191590759
Total 50
Misha
mishamary@gmail.com

Pink Panther said...
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Pink Panther said...
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Pink Panther said...
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Pink Panther said...

Whew, finally got this right... Anyway, lovely giveaway! Count me in! :) I am a GFC follower and you can reach me at luvpinkpanther@gmail.com

+5 old follower
+5 comment on review
+10 email subscriber
=20 extra entries in total

Atta Girl said...

Wow! Foresight sounds like a keeper! I am a follower. Here's my email address: atta.girl@rocketmail.com
+3 new follower (newbie here *waves*)
+5 Commented on Foresight
+10 subscriber

So... that's 18 entries in total. Huge thanks for making this international!

Aik said...

I'd love to enter!

+5 for following you on Twitter, @aikchien
+5 for being an Old follower
+10 for subscribing to your blog by e-mail
+25 for getting the word out on this giveaway via Twitter
http://twitter.com/aikchien/status/23254451085

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Jasmine1485 said...

+5 for being a Twitter follower (@NTFancy)

+5 for being an old follower (Jasmine1485)

Thank you for this lovely giveaway :)

Kate1485 at hotmail.com

Linda Henderson said...

I would really love to read this book.
I follow on GFC.
+5 Twitter(BookOwner)
+3 New Follower
+5 Commented on review
+10 Email subscribe
+5 Entered Susan Hill giveaway
+25 Tweeted this giveaway
http://twitter.com/BookOwner/status/24773983623

seriousreader at live dot com

Book Loving Mommy said...

Great interview and giveaway! This book sounds so good!

+5 Twitter follower (@booklovingmommy)
+3 New Follower
+5 Commented on review
+5 Entered the Susan Hill Giveaway
+10 Subscribing by email
+25 for blog post (http://booklovingmommy.blogspot.com/2010/09/great-giveaways.html)


manningjessicar(at)yahoo(dot)com

Bleuette said...

Awesome Interview. This book sounds intresting, I've been looking for a new read.

+5 following you on Twitter, @PheonixFire2
+3 New follower
+5 commenting on your review of Foresight here.
+10 for subscribing to your blog
+25 for tweeting
@PheonixFire2

Breanne said...

I've been wanting to read this book! It sounds great.

+5 follow on Twitter @RazzMyBerry
+5 old follower

bmweida at yahoo dot com

Mysteriousrose said...

I really really want to read this book thank you so much for the chance to win it:-)

+5 Twitter follower (@forceofstars)
+3 New Follower
+5 Commented on review (Mysteriousrose)

Total: 13

forceofstars(at)yahoo(dot)dk

Anonymous said...

I am a follower and email subscriber. Please enter me in contest. Would love to read this book. Tore923@aol.com