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

Indie Bound: https://www.indiebound.org/search/book?keys=atticus+everheart+fifth+grade+tutor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62309386-atticus-everheart-fifth-grade-tutor-and-monster-hunter

Bookbub:  https://www.bookbub.com/books/atticus-everheart-fifth-grade-tutor-and-monster-hunter-by-c-l-colyer

 

  

 

Monster in the Dark - Who will be the next victim?

 To my delight readers often tell me that the paranormal events in my stories sometimes creep them out because the events seem so real; and I’m asked how I accomplish the realism. The answer is neither easy nor difficult. You see, my grandmother was a seer. Yeah, I know, it’s weird. However, she always said that her abilities were a curse and not a gift, and she never wanted any of her children or grandchildren to inherit this empathic ability. So, none of her grandchildren were allowed to have Ouija boards, tarot cards, or a Magic 8 Ball; and we were always cautioned to not ever visit fortune tellers.

Honestly, I never intended to write paranormal or scary stories; it seems to come naturally. Perhaps, a large part of this type story telling stems from my childhood.

As a child, I was considered a “little different,” so books became my best friend. My most favorite stories were fairytales with villains and villainess such as in Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Hansel and Gretel, to name a few. 

“Monster in the Dark” book #4 in my Doc Holliday Mystery Series was inspired by such fairy tale monsters. Please enjoy this excerpt from Monster in the Dark.

As one reviewer said, "A dark mystery that grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let go."

Available in Print and Ebook

At first, I thought it was a mannequin. You know, like the ones used in store windows. There was no blood. She was sitting in a chair with her back toward us. The room reminded me of a scene from a horror movie.

Dad said, “Mrs. Gardner?”

I thought about the time I’d been on the movie set of Lights…Camera…Murder where the stunt man was killed, but in this act, there were no supporting actors. In the distance, a dog barked, and there was no movie director to call “Cut!”

I swallowed the bile rising in my throat. The beats of my heart echoed inside my ears. I eased around the table. Oh, God! She was real. She was once…like flesh and blood and bone…just…oh, God! The woman I had thought was a mannequin was a corpse.

It was only the extreme brutality of her death that made her appear as if she were not, as if she was some creation of the most brilliant and lurid mind working in a Hollywood special effects studio.

A heavyset woman, clad in an old-fashioned granny dress, her wrists and ankles wrapped with silver duct tape, securely bound to the chair’s arms and legs, and with a double strip of tape that sealed her mouth shut, stared vacant-eyed at an empty soup bowl.

Dad gasped against the offensive smell. “Which fairy tale character is she supposed to be, Tullah, and how long do you think she’s been dead?”

Monster in the Dark is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, Kobo, Apple

https://www.amazon.com/Monster-Dark-Doc-Holliday-Mystery/dp/1509250476

 I always enjoy comments from readers. If, for some reason, you are unable to leave a comment, please feel free to comment on Pen Dames FaceBook page. I look forward to hearing from you.

HAPPY READING!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

What Creeps You Out? Happy Halloween!

 Everybody's creeped out by something, right? The Pen Dames are no exception. Some things just plain terrify us. 

Let's take Loretta Rogers. She is a fearless and prolific author who skillfully gives her readers chills with her paranormal romance and detective stories. Here's what she has to say:

Rattlesnakes

"I am deathly afraid of snakes. It doesn’t matter what kind, harmless or not, what color, alive or fakey rubber, it’s still a snake, and to me, all good snakes are dead ones. Why? Because I was bitten by a rattlesnake, spent thirteen days in the hospital, and nearly had to have my leg amputated.

A long time ago, a friend of my hubby, knowing my fear, thought he’d play a practical joke and threw a (live) baby corn snake at me. Before I fainted, I think the entire neighborhood heard me scream. Hubby cold-cocked the guy who sported a swollen nose and a black eye for several days.

Because of this experience, many of my books include snakes. I guess it’s my way of trying to conquer my fear—not!"

                                            Loretta C. Rogers, author of The Witching Moon

Yikes, Loretta! I think your fear of snakes is more than justified! And three cheers for hubby being your champion. That guy had it coming.

Next up, we have the mysterious and talented Flossie Benton Rogers. She writes spine-tingling fantasy, and her book of poetry based on mythological creatures is brilliant. 

THINGS THAT SCARE MY SOCKS OFF

Flossie Benton Rogers:

"Octopus holes / suction cups. Other similar hole clusters are also repulsive but octopi even more so because they move and curl and uncurl and look gruesome. I suppose this is a mild case of trypophobia, which means I try not to see it.

Long incongruous tails and things that resemble tails, such as the arms of OCTOPI. When my grandsons, the Snickerdoodles, were younger, they played a video game at my house called Little Big Planet. The game allowed a high degree of customization. The Snickerdoodles chortled in delight at my horrified reactions to their pinning long scary tails on everything in sight.

Rictus smile or sardonic grin. At a young age I saw the 1961 movie, Mister Sardonicus, in which a man’s face froze into a rictus smile as he was robbing his father’s grave. Creeped me out. Oddly enough, the smiling chauffeur in Dan Curtis’ 1976 Burnt Offerings (Karen Black, Oliver Reed, Bette Davis) didn’t scare me, but the rictus smile on one of the main characters near the end of the movie did. No, I’ll not be viewing 2022’s Smile movie.

 Other shuddery turnoffs:

The sensation of falling through the air.

Being confined in a closed space such as a train or MRI.

Snakes (let’s face it, they’re long slithering TAILS)."

                                                                     

Here are more book offerings from our fellow Pen Dames.
 

 Who doesn't like witches at this time of year? Another one of our Pen Dames, gifted Katherine Eddinger Smits, delights her readers with stories about mermaids and sexy mermen. And she has just the thing for Witch Story Enthusiasts. 

                                                                              

Our southern charmer, Linda Tillis, writes amazing historical romances filled with love and adventure. Who doesn't like to indulge in a little time travel at Halloween?

                                                           

  

That leaves me, Jennifer Taylor. What creeps me out? Those innocent, adorable squirrels. Eek! It's their tails that give me the willies, always quivering and shaking. They hold a grudge against me for some reason. On my daily walk down the driveway, I get pelted with pine cones and acorns. They must sense my scorn. 

I have a fear of those drive-through car washes. Don't ask me why, but I cannot drive through them. I do feel a bit of success, because I recently conquered my fear of pneumatic tubes. 

Here's for something really scary: Like most of us, I imagine, I have a fear of being buried alive. In my first historical romance, Mercy of the Moon, someone is buried alive but survives--and that's just in the first chapter. You can only imagine the ramifications of that----wait! You can read the book.               

All three books in my Rhythm of the Moon series are on sale for 99 cents until Thursday night. Just in time for Halloween.

 Some authors write about what they're most afraid of. Maybe it's a way of dealing with it, or maybe we're all just a little bit creepy.

                                              

                                                                

Let's hear from you. What creeps you out?

John Clare and Penny Dreadful: A Perfect Union of Poetry and Television

 

I love Halloween. Supernatural and horror shows have always been a favorite of mine. I’m a huge fan of the Penny Dreadful series. It’s a unique take on the old horror stories: Dorian Gray, Frankenstein, vampires, and so on. Mind you, it’s not for the faint-hearted. But it’s extremely well-written, and the acting and casting is amazing. Vanessa Ives, the main character, played by the talented Eva Green, has been fighting a battle with demonic forces since she was a young girl. She is devout, kind, tough, and struggles to keep the forces of evil at bay.

An odd thing happened today. Poetry has been calling to me lately, and while searching in my old college literature book for William Butler Yeats’ “The Second Coming,” I happened upon another poem, called “Written in Northampton Asylum,” by John Clare.  The name sounded familiar, then…I got the chills.

Penny Dreadful came to mind immediately. There is a touching scene in the series where Vanessa is serving food in a dank, dark place to the sick and poor in London. Frankenstein’s monster, played with heartbreaking perfection by Rory Kinnear, was abandoned by Frankenstein and left to survive however he could. He is huddled in a corner. Vanessa brings him soup, sits down beside him, and treats him like the human being he never feels he is. The monster introduces himself as John Clare. This scene involves them reciting together, in mutual misery and heavy hearts, John Clare’s Poem, “Written in Northampton Asylum.” It is both heartrending and poignant.

Here’s the poem:

“I am! Yet what I am who cares, or knows?

My friends forsake me like a memory lost.

I am the self-consumer of my woes;

They rise and vanish, an oblivious host,

Shadows of life, whose very soul is lost.

And yet I am—I live—though I am toss’d

 

Into the nothingness of scorn and noise,

Into the living sea of waking dream,

Where there is neither sense of life, nor joys,

But the huge shipwreck of my own esteem

And all that’s dear. Even those I loved the best

Are strange--nay, they are stranger than me.

 

I long for scenes where man has never trod—

For scenes where woman never smiled or wept—

There to abide with my Creator, God,

And sleep as I in childhood sweetly slept,

Full of high thoughts, unborn. So let me lie,--

The grass below; above the vaulted sky.”

-----John Clare (1793-1864)

This poem reflects the despair and loneliness that Frankenstein’s monster feels, and also Vanessa Ives’ struggle to cast out the evil forces, end her torment, and be at one with her Creator.

 I am drawn to the human capacity to survive and find hope and joy even through horrific circumstances. The writing and acting of Penny Dreadful inspired me to create complex characters who fight to survive and search to find human warmth, love, and compassion.

I hope you enjoyed reading this poem.

My second book, Heartbeat of the Moon, is both a love story and a unique twist on a well-loved horror myth. It is out on audiobook now as well. Thanks for visiting.

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