      
      
      
An Interview
With
Shari Gerson
ER!-There's no better mind to
explore than that of an author who writes children's
books. What goes on up there? Do they think in rhyme?
Snack on lollipops while they work? Now's the chance to
find out. Shari Gerson, author of Home Is Never Far Away
(available from Athina Publishing) has agreed to brave
the waters of an eBooks Rock! interview so that the world
can finally know, "What goes on up there
anyhow?"
Sheri, hi! I was just over at Athina Publishing, checking
out your page and reading the excerpt of Home Is Never
Far Away. Can you give readers a quick description of
what this story is about?
SG-
Sure! It's about a house cat named Oliver who's
always been dying to get out of the house and see
what's out there in the world. One day he gets his
wish, but when he gets lost in a forest, he realizes
that "there's no place like home!"
ER!-What inspired you to write
for children? And where did the idea of Home Is Never Far
Away come from?
SG-
I've never grown up and always preferred to be with
the kids reading stories, playing games, coloring,
than with the adults chatting about politics or
"adult" stuff. I still re-read my childhood
favorites (Wrinkle in Time, The Lion, the Witch, and
the Wardrobe series, etc.), and it just came natural
to write a children's story first. The story comes
from real life, from watching my cat, Oliver, try to
get out of the house every day for the last 11 years.
I often wondered what the heck he thought was so
great out there, and that if he ever got out, he'd
hate it! No food, water, and treats being brought to
him (he's a slave-driver!).
ER!-What's your favorite part in
Home Is Never Far Away?
SG-
Where the cat jumps on the owner's head in the
morning. He does that to me all the time!
ER!-Do you have more stories
planned for Oliver?
SG-
Definitely. There will be one where Oliver gets a
brother, who he despises at first, but then comes to
love. It came naturally to me to write that, since we
found a kitten, Jack, about a year and a half ago,
and Oliver hated him. In real life, of course, they
have not stopped fighting since the day Jack came
home, and Oliver wants him out!! Alas, why can't the
kids just get along?
ER!-What would you say was the
biggest writing challenge in this book?
SG-
This may sound crazy, but there weren't any! I'm a
published poet, and know kids love rhyming stories,
so that part was easy. And having the characters
playing their roles right in front of me just fed the
fire for the story. It was great!
ER!-Is there a book out there
that you're just dying to write but for some reason
haven't?
SG-
I've been working on and off for about 4 years now on
a suspense thriller. Horror and suspense are my first
passions, and things keep distracting me from going
back and completing it. It's pretty good, but I just
can't find the time, or the inspiration to finish.
Maybe some day.
ER!-Is there a book that you've
written, but we'll never see? Why?
SG- The
only thing I've written that no one would see is my
journal. I write when I'm happy, sad, angry, any
range of emotions, and vent in my journal. I wish I
could arrange for it to explode if anything happened
to me so it wouldn't fall into the wrong hands! What
a scandal!
ER!-Is there anything out there
that you'd like to do, but haven't yet been given the
opportunity?
SG- I
love to travel. We go to other countries to
experience the people, culture, and definitely the
food, but over the last three years we've had so many
changes in our lives, we haven't had the time -- or
money! But I plan to go to Ireland next year and pick
up on my travels.
ER!-Why did you decide to publish
electronically?
SG- It
was just on a whim. I wrote the story and knew I
needed to submit it to a publisher. I had to first
get an agent to send it to hardcover publishers, and
hadn't had the time to scour information to find a
reputable one. So, the story was on my computer for a
few months (I also kept forgetting it was there!),
and when I was on the Internet one day, I came across
Athina, liked what I saw, and submitted it to see
what would happen. Voila! A book is born!
ER!-If you weren't a writer, what
would you be doing?
SG-
Well, I've always worked in marketing, PR, and
advertising, creating for corporations, and one day I
decided to quit my corporate life, and embark on a
journey of self-discovery, and take back my life!
There were so many things in the business world that
I didn't like, besides the daily grind, commuting,
the falseness of so many people...it was so draining
on my spirit. When I quit, I took my time trying to
pick the right job from offers, and accepted a
position as an editor, where I could work from home
on manuscripts. It changed my life! It keeps me
pretty busy, while also doing side work for
advertising agencies as a copywriter, and freelance
writing for magazines and web sites. So, I guess you
could say, I'm doing exactly what I want to do, and I
feel so lucky. Some days, I work in my pajamas! I
could never go back to a regular "office"
job.
ER!-What's the non-writing world
like for you? Is there a husband, a boyfriend, slaves
hidden in the basement? Children?
SG- My
"significant other," Robert, is the love of
my life. We've lived together for about 8 years, and
have three kids (in feline form): Pasha, Oliver, and
Jack. My life has always been so filled with
children, with family, friends, and co-workers, that
I haven't even thought about having any of my own
right now. I think my natural "immaturity"
(which I will never give up!) is what draws kids to
me, and my love for fantasy and fun.
ER!-Many readers wonder what's
going on in an author's head, and here's the part where
we find out.
Describe yourself in one line:
SG-
Funny, imaginative, loving, and completely childish!
ER!-(Finish this sentence) On a
Saturday night you'll find me...
SG- At
home, writing, or with friends just hanging out. It's
a 50-50 split.
ER!-If I were a cartoon character
I'd be...
SG-
Underdog! Goofy, lovable, but always comes thru in
the end!
ER!-If I could have one wish, I
would wish...
SG-
That everyone I know, and everyone on the planet,
would be happy, content, and healthy. That in the
blink of an eye, there'd be so much love, instead of
hate and separation, that we could focus all our
energies on taking care of one another instead of
trying to find new ways to blow each other up.
ER!-What kind of car do you
drive?
SG-
Saturn coupe.
ER!-What kind of car do you
*want* to drive?
SG- Any
kind of two-seater sports car. And it must be red.
ER!-Answer the following
questions as quickly as possible, but feel free to expand
on any of your answers (Hey, it's not a test).: What's
your favorite movie?
SG- (I
have about 100, but here it goes): Steven Spielberg's
Empire of the Sun
ER!-Favorite song?
SG-
Dream Weaver
ER!-Favorite snack?
SG- Ice
Cream
ER!-Favorite book?
SG-
Stephen King's The Stand (or The Talisman)
ER!-Typewriter or computer?
SG-
Computer
ER!-Soup or salad?
SG-
Soup
ER!-Pre-planner or blind leap?
SG-
Equally both. Sometimes I plan, sometimes I leap!
ER!-Turkey burger or steak?
SG-
Steak!
ER!-Slacks or jeans?
SG-
Jeans
ER!-Boxers or briefs?
SG-
Briefs
ER!-Are blondes really more fun?
SG- No!
(I'm a brunnette)
ER!-Have you ever held anyone
hostage?
SG- Oh
yeah! And they loved it!
ER!-If no, would you?
SG-
Absolutely.
ER!-Do you believe in love at
first sight?
SG- Big
time. Sometimes, you just know.
ER!-Are aliens real?
SG-
Yes! How could we possibly be all that's out there?
ER!-If you could vote members off
of Gilligan's Island, who would get the boot first?
SG-
Lovey (Mrs. Howell). She always annoyed me!
ER!-If Godzilla and Superman got
into a street fight (no weapons allowed), who would win?
SG-
Superman, of course! He's indestructable, while poor
Godzilla can bleed.
ER!-What is
one thing about you that very few know?
SG- I
get scared sometimes, of what life will hold for me
in the future.
ER!-What is your greatest fear?
SG-
Change. I hate that things change, people move away,
things end. But then again, life would be boring if
things never changed, so, I'm stuck in the middle.
ER!-If you could be anyone (dead
or alive) who would you be? And why?
SG- Any
billionaire will do. I could do so much with that
money, and try to help people.
ER!-And finally (and you can take
your time on this one:-)), what's next for you? Your next
book? Writing venture? Goal?
SG-
After 20 years in South Florida, I'm taking a huge
step and moving to a place I've never been - North
Carolina. I'm terrified, but excited! Mountains,
snow, seasons...I can't wait. I'm taking my editing
job with me, which is great. I plan to find an agent
(I have a huge list to go over now), and get
"Home Is Never Far Away" printed in
hardcover. I want to finish my novels (there's
actually two: the horror, and a hilarious one about
family life in an "Erma Bombeck"-style),
and travel. Boy, where will I find the time!!?
Remember
To
Visit Shari's Site!
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