Pump Up Your Book Chats with Women’s Fiction Author Sheila Roberts

Sheila Roberts lives on a lake in the Pacific Northwest. She’s happily married and has three children. Her novel On Strike for Christmas was a Barnes & Noble Top Fifty and has been optioned for film. Her book Bikini Season was a Bookscan top fifty romance and chosen as an Amazon summer read and Love in Bloom is soon to be a Reader’s Digest Condensed Book. When she’s not hanging out with her girlfriends or speaking at conferences, Sheila can be found writing about those things near and dear to women’s hearts: family, friends, and chocolate.

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Thank you for this interview, Sheila.  Do you remember writing stories as a child or did the writing bug come later?  Do you remember your first published piece?

Oh, yes. I remember reading my stories to my poor third grade class – a captive audience. My teacher was very supportive. Once Halloween, she dressed up like a gypsy fortune-teller and came up with cute little predictions for success for all the children. Mine was a poem predicting writing success. I’ve never forgotten that.

What do you consider as the most frustrating side of becoming a published author and what has been the most rewarding?

There is nothing so rewarding as seeing your work in print. I love the whole process, the writing itself, the editing, seeing the cover art for the first time – it’s all a great adventure! And, of course, I work with fabulous people. Frustrating? Hmmm. I’d have to say it’s frustrating when a book you’ve worked hard on doesn’t do well. (And not every one does – that’s just the nature of the business.) Let me tell you, I’m grateful for every reader who invests hard-earned money in one of my books. A writer’s career, even the whole book business, in fact, depends on the loyalty of readers. We authors don’t take that for granted.

Are you married or single and how do you combine the writing life with home life?  Do you have support?

Married. And I have great support. In fact, my husband is going with me to Leavenworth, WA, this weekend, where I have a book event. He’s both my business manager and my travel agent!

What do you like to do for fun when you’re not writing?  Where do you like to vacation?  Can you tell us briefly about this?

We love to travel. Just last month we went to Germany to visit friends and show our son where we lived when were first married.

If you could be anywhere in the world for one hour right now, where would that place be and why?

Right where I am!

Who is your biggest fan?

My daughter, bless her!

Where’s your favorite place to write at home?

In my office. No distractions.

What’s your favorite library and why?

I don’t play favorites – I love ‘em all. Libraries area one of our greatest untapped resources.

What’s your favorite bookstore and why?

Again, I love ‘em all – independents, used, and chains. How can you not love anyone who loves and sells books?!

Do you have any pets?

Not right now. We’ve had plenty over the years, but I reached the point where I didn’t want to cope with losing an animal. I’m going to get a cat when I’m about seventy-five or eighty and will it to my daughter.

What are you reading right now?

Just finished the classic “The Turn of the Screw” for my book club’s Halloween reading. Tough sledding, that book.

Tell us a secret no one else knows.

That would have to be my weight and, sorry, I’m not tellin’. J

What’s the first thing you notice when you meet someone?

Their smile

Have you ever won anything?

Singing contests. Hopefully, someday I’ll win a writing award. I would certainly like to.

What’s on your to do list today?

Got to pack for Leavenworth. And first I have to do laundry so I have something to pack! I’d better get busy.

I understand that you are touring with Pump Up Your Book Promotion in October via a virtual book tour.  Can you tell us all why you chose a virtual book tour to promote your book online?

Because everyone is on-line these days. What better way to reach readers than to go where readers like to hang out? I wish I could visit every city in America and meet people in person, but really, that’s not possible or practical. This way I can meet so many great people … and still stay in my jammies!

Thank you for this interview, Sheila Good luck on your virtual book tour!

Thank you so much for having me. I hope people will stop by my website for a visit. Lots of fun stuff to check out, including a chocolate recipe contest that could win you Godiva chocolates.