Welcome, Cherie. Tell us about what you write.
I write paranormal and fantasy stories grounded in the real world. My published novels are young adult paranormal romances. I have a middle-grade ghost story coming out later this year, and a couple adult paranormal romances in the works.
When did your writing journey begin? What drew you to writing?
Chicago Botanical Gardens.
I was in my thirties when I penned my first novel. My husband and I like to go for long walks. The photo is from the Chicago Botanical Gardens, one of our favorite places to go. During our walks, I’d talk about different story ideas I had. He’d chime in with his thoughts, and before we knew it, we’d have created a mini world hidden within our own. One day he asked me why I don’t write the story I talked about the most. So I did. And I enjoyed it so much I kept going until I honed my craft and found homes for some of my books.
What was your inspiration for Damned When I Didn’t?
The premise for this book blossomed from my desire to write something that hasn’t been done before, which isn’t easy when there are so many authors writing paranormal and supernatural stories. Well, you don’t find many YA succubus books. And then I thought, wouldn’t it be ironic if the succubus in my book is a virgin? How would that work? And how did she end up a succubus? Could she survive? Would she want to? I sure hoped so! So I put pen to paper and Avery Williams was born. She’s thrown into a life she didn’t ask for and she’s determined not to lose her human side or her morals.
Death isn’t the end for eighteen-year-old Avery Williams, and her final resting place isn’t beyond the Golden Gates. No, the Queen of the Damned has plans for her and, unbeknownst to Avery, fought hard to gain possession of her soul. As Hell’s newest succubus, Avery is expected to siphon life from the living. It only takes a long, meaningful kiss, but for a virgin like Avery, kissing guys she barely knows isn’t something she’s comfortable doing. Avery focuses on the upside of her fate—she’ll be returning home, or so she thinks. When the Queen of the Damned cuts her off from her old life, Avery is determined to find a way back to her family and friends, even if it means facing Hell’s fury if she’s caught.
Any new projects on the horizon?
I’m thrilled to have my first middle grade ghost story Friends to the End coming out later this year with The Wild Rose Press. Between edits for that novel, I’ve been playing around with a sequel to Damned When I Didn’t and a couple adult paranormal romances.
Words of advice for fellow writers in the trenches:
About Cherie
Cherie Colyer is best known for her young adult, paranormal romance thrillers, including the Embrace series (featuring witchcraft) and Challenging Destiny (a story about outsmarting heaven and hell.) She usually has several book projects in the works. She enjoys helping budding writers improve their craft and learn more about the publishing industry. Cherie lives in Illinois with her family. She happily visits schools and libraries and is a member of SCBWI (Society of Children Book Writers and Illustrators).
This sounds cliché, but read as much as you can, and read a little of everything. You can learn a lot about flow, characterization, plot, etc. by reading different books. And don’t give up. Writing is hard at times. First drafts often (maybe even always) suck. But that’s why we revise. So keep going, finish the first draft, and remember to have fun.
What was the most interesting part of the story to write/research?
I like to learn as much as I can about the supernatural elements in my stories, put a unique twist on what I learn, and weave these elements into my stories. Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about ghosts, angel and demon hierarchy, witchcraft, vampires, werewolves, and many more things that go bump in the night. I’ve also discovered some interesting locations, many of which are in my series.
Keep in Touch
Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads ~ Bookbub
Excerpt:
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple ~ Google Play ~ Kobo
I scurried to the bathroom, figuring I didn’t want to waste one second checking to see if there really were clothes for me in the closet. I took a speed-shower. I’d just finished wrapping a plush black towel around my body when the door opened. He wasn’t kidding about pushing me aside.
“Not bad, for a girl.” His hands went to the drawstring on his pajamas pants.
“At least let me get out of here.” I turned sideways to squeeze past him, accidently bumping into his hand as I stepped into the hallway. The contact managed to move the towel enough to show the smooth skin of my hip and get my heart pounding a little quicker. Sure the sudden increase of my pulse was due to nerves—it had been a weird twenty-four hours—I hurried to the bedroom.
His laughter bellowed out of the small bathroom. “You’re going to have to loosen up if we’re going to be living together.”
“Do not!” I called back.
The shower started, but he’d left the door open. “Succubi are supposed to be promiscuous. Not shriek at the sight of a naked man.”
“Well, I’m not most succubi and you’re not a man,” I retorted.
My jaw dropped when I opened the closet and found it stuffed with clothes. The things on the right were obviously Cole’s. A hint of his cologne wafted off of them. The left side, however, was crammed with juniors’ jeans, skirts, tops, sweaters—everything I could possibly want and not department store knock-offs. Designer brands that I used to dream of owning.
I fanned through the various items, wishing I had time to try them all on. If Megan knew the road to Hell was stocked with the best clothes, she’d purchase a first-class ticket.
“So I’m not a man?” Cole asked from behind me.
He leaned against the doorframe, wearing a towel that conveniently hung low enough to emphasize his six-pack abs and the muscles leading to, you know. He didn’t bother to dry off either. His chest glistened with water droplets.
“I have parts that beg to differ,” he added