Pen Dames: October 2024

AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH CHERIE COLYER

Greetings, Pen Dame Readers! Halloween is the perfect time of year to visit with Cherie Colyer, multi-talented and prolific author of middle-grade fantasies and adult novels.

Today we're featuring this middle-grade (8-12) fantasy:

I had the privilege of reading this fun book. This is delightful for kids and adults alike. Atticus is a likable, kind, character, who finds himself in a bit of a bind. This is a perfect choice if you're looking for a scary, but not too frightening, fantasy for a child or grandchild. Now on to Cherie:

What can you tell us about YOU that will allow us to get to know you better—where you live, your background, jobs, interests, etc.?

A few fun facts about me:

1. I can’t start my day without a good cup of coffee. My mind just doesn’t wake up until I have caffeine in me.

2. I work full-time in a technical job. A magic wand would come in handy most days.

3. Every sorting hat test I’ve taken placed me in Gryffindor.

4. I have a sixth sense that allows me to feel others’ emotions. It’s great when people are in a good mood. Not so much when they’re sad, but then I know when someone can use a little cheering up so it works out.

5. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen faeries in my backyard. They’re welcome to visit anytime they’d like.

6. I hate to sew, but I have a sewing machine.

7. My guilty pleasure is curling up on the couch and binge-watching my favorite TV series. Some of my favorite shows include Friends, Charmed, Vampire Dairies, and Downton Abbey.

8. I’m just as happy at home as I am with friends.

How and when did your writing journey begin?

I always enjoyed writing. When I was in grade school, I enjoyed writing essays. In high school, I wrote poems. But it wasn’t until I was an adult that I considered writing a book, and I have my husband to thank for the push. I used to tell him about ideas I had of fantasy creatures living in our world. One day, he asked me why I didn’t write a book. So, I decided to write down one of my ideas. I loved plotting and being the director of my characters’ lives so much that he got me my first laptop, went with me to hear other authors speak, and encouraged me to pursue publication. He’s a great guy.

What genre is your featured book? What do you like about writing in that genre?

Atticus Everheart, Fifth Grade Tutor and Monster Hunter? is a middle-grade, fantasy/mystery. It's Hotel Transylvania meets Sherlock Holmes, equal parts friendship, humor, and mystery.

As a reader, my go-to genre is middle-grade fantasy. Whenever I’m in a reading slump or want an escape from reality, I know I’ll find my escape between the pages of a middle-grade novel. The magic is bold, the dreams are big, and the adventures vivid, wild, and exciting. I love visiting the different worlds and seeing the wonders, the magic, and the friendships. Especially the friendships. So, for me, it wasn’t a surprise that the first book I penned was a middle-grade fantasy. That wasn’t Atticus’s story. His came many years later.

Describe your main character—life, personality, motivation—whatever you think will make us want to get to know the person.

That would be Atticus Everheart. There isn’t anything remarkable about Atticus. In fact, he’s about as ordinary as ordinary can get. He’s child number three out of five Everheart children, small for his age, and non-athletic. But being ordinary has never bothered him. He has his books (and sometimes his brothers’ special stash of books, but let’s keep that between us because his brothers hate when he touches their things) to entertain him. Atticus is happy as long as there is no mention of monsters. He would rather brave endless tea parties with his little sister, Evie. Or listen to his other sister, Abigail, go on and on about the things for sale in the newspaper (a guilty pleasure of hers for as long as Atticus can remember) before facing anything that might go bump in the night. His fear of monsters is his brothers’ fault. They’ve threatened to feed him to the beastly creatures on more than one occasion. Imagine his surprise when he goes to work for monsters!

If you could spend an afternoon with any of your secondary characters, who would it be and why?

This is a tough question, but if I can choose only one secondary character from Atticus book, I choose his younger sister Abigail. She’s smart, interesting, and has such a positive outlook. Plus, she’s also always with her little sister, Evie, who attacks situations in fun and imaginative ways.

What is your best advice for aspiring writers?

Read a lot and read wide. You’ll learn about flow, character development, plot, etc.

A huge thanks to the ladies at Pen Dames for having me here today!

We’re so happy to have you, Cherie!

1. Book Blurb for Atticus

Nothing frightens Atticus Everheart more than monsters, thanks to his older brothers, who often threaten to feed him to the beastly creatures.

Fearing that’s what they will do if he doesn’t replace the book he accidentally ruined, he takes a job tutoring a boy in his neighborhood.

Although nervous about the job, Atticus soon discovers there’s a lot more in store for him than teaching. Never in a trillion years would he have imagined he’d be hiding from monsters, working with ghosts, or searching for werewolves and witches. He’s not brave, and he has no plans to change.

Until he’s forced to.

S Short Excerpt:

“Great day, isn’t it?” said Atticus as he trailed behind Frank.

“If you enjoy excessive sunshine,” grumbled the butler.

“Doesn’t everyone? You haven’t had enough caffeine yet, have you?” Frank shuffled down the hall, so Atticus rattled on. “My mom can’t handle conversation before her first cup. Dad usually needs two. Three if he has a busy day ahead of him.”

Frank stopped, turned, and glowered at Atticus.

“It’s a three-cup morning for you, isn’t it?” said Atticus. “No more chatter from me. No, sir. Starting now.” Atticus mimicked turning a key in front of his mouth.

Frank grunted and lumbered forward.

“This place is amazing.” Atticus stared openmouthed at the iron chandelier above them. “Are those real candles? Oops, sorry!” He relocked his lips with a second imaginary key.

In the absence of conversation, the creak of someone moving around upstairs and the slap of Atticus’ shoes hitting stone tile echoed off the walls. He made more noise than Frank, whose shoes were bigger than his, Abigail’s, and Evie’s combined. In an attempt to be just as quiet as Frank, Atticus trod lightly, making a conscious effort to place each foot down without making a sound.

To keep his mind off his collywobbles, he took in the collection of pictures nailed to the wall along the grand staircase. There were several of Ms. Zaleska and the boy with slick black hair. Mixed in with the color photographs were black-and-white pictures of Frank with a man in a lab coat and faded photos of a woman with kind eyes like Ms. Zaleska’s. Atticus stared at the photos, which seemed to stare back.

“No way,” he muttered, so distracted that he walked right into the suit of armor. The armor’s arm shifted, sending the long medieval poleaxe sailing straight for Atticus’s head.

Atticus screamed and ducked. When the sharp blade didn’t scalp him, he glanced up. Frank’s chubby fingers gripped the handle of the ax.

1. Website /blog and social media links-

Website - https://cheriecolyer.com/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/cherie_colyer/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21748654.C_L_Colyer

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/C-L-Colyer/e/B09C6JPT3X/

Bookbub author page: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/cherie-colyer

1. Buy links for Atticus Everheart:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Atticus-Everheart-Fifth-Monster-Hunter/dp/1509246118/

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/atticus-everheart-fifth-grade-tutor-and-monster-hunter-c-l-colyer/1142093808

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/atticus-everheart-fifth-grade-tutor-and-monster-hunter/id6443330146

Universal link: https://books2read.com/u/bzVLPE