Welcome, today we are talking with Shereen Vedam! I would like to thank you for taking time out of your busy writing schedule to answer a few questions.
First, I think it’s important for readers to get a little insight on an author that they don’t necessarily get from your professional bio. You’d be surprised at what readers connect to, and sometimes the simplest ‘I can relate to that’ grabs their interest where nothing else can.
Can you share a little something about Shereen Vedam that’s not mentioned in your bio on your website?
I’m a firm believer in belonging to a critique group. Honest feedback is invaluable when you’re an author.
What is your favorite:
Animal – cats, black cats to be specific, both wild and domestic
Food – curry dishes, any kind
Movie – Lady Hawk
TV show – currently, Lucifer, and not just for the eye candy
Actor – Tom Mison
Singer – Shanaia Twain, because I’m Canadian and so is Shanaia, and her song (Life’s about to get good) suits my book Hidden’s heroine to perfection. Not so much about recovering from breakup, as much as being ready to be loved.
Love the chorus:
Oh! Life’s about joy
Life’s about pain
It’s all about forgiving and the will to walk away
I’m ready to be loved
And love the way I should
Life’s about
Life’s about to get good
Author – has to be J.R.R. Tolkien
What are your pet peeves?
Don’t have any. Life’s way too short.
Who is your hero?
My dad, may he rest in peace.
Give us one thing on your bucket list.
To visit Wales and Cornwall.
What would readers find surprising about you?
I was in a dragon boat races this summer and my team brought home 1 silver and 2 bronze medals.
If you could go to heaven, who would you visit?
My mom. I’m curious. Could she have been more like me than I realized?
Any bad habits?
Whispers (I love Coffee Mate in my black tea).
What’s the funniest thing that ever happened to you?
While on a research trip, I went horseback riding in Andalucía, Spain. I’m not good at riding and they said I needed at a minimum to be able to trot so we could “go for a gentle ride through a forest of cork.” I took riding lessons before going so I would be able to trot without embarrassing myself. Got there and realized my horse, Hermosa, had only one speed. Gallop!
Now that our readers know a little bit more about Shereen Vedam, let’s get down to the business of your book, Hidden, Tales of Ryca, Book 1. How long did it take you from beginning to end before your novel was completely finished, and how did you decide on the topic and title?
1 year to write
1 year to critique
1 year to edit
And about a decade under my bed to ruminate about life in general.
I guess you could say the book remained hidden for a long time. Sorry, couldn’t help that one.
Writing fantasy has always been a dream and when it came time to write this book, my very first fantasy novel, I wanted to write about a girl I once saw walking around my university, who limped. She had the coolest walk, very musical, as her left hip rose higher than the right with each step. That’s how Gilly was born, years after I’d left behind my university life in Ontario. Goes to show, every experience in life leaves an impression on us.
Please tell us a little bit about Hidden, Tales of Ryca, Book 1.
This is Hidden’s premise:
Come out, come out, wherever you are…
A fugitive from an evil sorcerer, GILLY hides among shadows, tortured by memories of the family she lost. Her twisted leg is both a hindrance and a reminder of her tragic past. For twenty-three years, she disguises herself as an eccentric goat herder and lives alone at the edge of an idyllic village. Who would notice her here?
From a distance, she keeps a maternal eye on her only remaining sister, ANNA. But in a moment of crisis, her fantasy of safety is shattered. Her use of magic lifts the veil and now she and Anna must flee again. The evil sorcerer, and the malevolent King he serves, are on their scent.
A perilous journey across unknown terrain with family, friends and strangers, leads Gilly and Anna back to the beginning. To discover hidden secrets, earn forgiveness for past discretions and perhaps even find enduring love. If they manage to stay alive long enough.
The title indicates that this might be a series, if so can you please give us a little sneak peek at the next installment?
Hushed is book 2 of this series. It will be coming out in the YA fantasy boxed set, Magic and Shadows, in November 2017. The heroine in Hushed, Gilly’s sister, is nothing like gentle Gilly. Tamara is a teenager who has trust issues. Mix in dragons and trouble abounds. And, oh yes, my trip to Andalucía and my experience riding Hermosa…well, there’s a certain dragon in Hushed who bears a striking resemblance to that willful filly.
What was your hardest challenge writing this book?
Finding the courage to believe I was permitted to write in a genre I adored.
What in your opinion makes good chemistry between your characters?
When characters care about each other, they make themselves vulnerable and open to hurt. That vulnerability that can touch another’s heart. And the heart is where the best chemistry, the lasting kind, comes to life.
Any other works in progress?
I have a new series coming out in 2018. This will also be a fantasy, but this time set in the early 1800s in England.
Any advice for aspiring authors?
Never give up.
Final words?
Being an author requires total commitment or a need to be committed to an mental institution. Not quite clear which yet.
Please include the following links:
Website: http://www.shereenvedam.com/
Blog: http://shereentwo.livejournal.com/
Email: contact page is on my website: Send a missive
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