My special guest today is Cher'ley Grogg

Today, I'm delighted to have a friend I met on Facebook come to visit. 

Cher'ley Grogg is a lady who has a lot of things going on, and is no stranger to blogging and setting up Facebook groups. Since I joined her group-Writing, Wranglers and Warriors-I've learned how friendly she is to everyone, and how dedicated she is to giving authors a great opportunity to practice their craft and to get their work read by as many people as possible.

I'm sure the smile you see here is on her face most of every day! I asked Cher'ley to share a little about herself with us and here's what she has to say: 

Nancy: 

I know you as the creator of a blog –Writing Wranglers and Warriors - where a number of authors submit posts, the aim being to have a post every single day of the year. What prompted you to set up this particular blog?

Cher'ley:

It is a way of promoting our books or other writing projects. Each of us have social media contacts like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, G+, Stumble Upon, Blogs, Websites, etc., and most of us have exhausted our friends and relatives, so I wanted a wider outreach and felt that others would want that too. It’s not a blog about writing, even though many of the authors do share tips and ideas, it’s a blog about what we want to promote without actually promoting. I like to share a life event or a slice of life that is also part of one of my novels. I hope in doing so, more people will want to read my novels. So, the bloggers can reach each other’s contacts with our blogs and hopefully our contacts will also share the blogs. It is less than 6 months old and it is constantly reaching more people.

You've shared the updates on blog visitors with the all Wranglers and I'm delighted with the blog's progress, and even more delighted to have been asked to join you all.  I know you've other blogs on the go as well.  Can you please explain what these might be? 

I have a blog for “Stamp Out Murder”, a general blog on my website, a truck driving blog called “Life in the Fast Lane”, a catch all blog and of course, my shared blog, Writing Wranglers and Warriors. I am getting ready to start a blog for “The Secret in Grandma’s Trunk”.

As well as a very active social media life you lead a very interesting physical life jaunting all around the US. Please share with us something about that, and how you cope with it as an author.

I and my husband are truck drivers; we drive an 18 wheeler across the US. We each drive 11 hours a day, plus our other duties-like paper work, making sure the truck is in good condition and of course cooking and cleaning the truck. Some days I don’t get a chance to write at all, but maybe we’ll be down for a day or we’ll have a short run and my husband can do all the driving that day, which will give me a chance to write.

That's an amazing life that you lead. I'm surprised you manage to write at all! So, how do you manage a typical day, given all the demands on your time?

I always try to support the other bloggers on Writing Wranglers and Warriors, so as soon as possible in the mornings, I read, comment and share this blog. We all depend on each other to do that. Most days I drive into the wee hours of the morning, so I get some sleep. When I wake up, I try to get my writing responsibilities finished first and if I have more time I work on my other novels. I try to advance my writing skills as often as possible, so I have a lot of learning sites that I belong to, and I work on some skill every week. It’s hard because promoting and marketing takes a lot of time. If we are down for a day or two I read too, because I think it’s important to support other authors and you learn from reading other’s works.

  

How long have you been a published writer?

One year for “Stamp Out Murder” and it will be a year this month for “The Secret in Grandma’s Trunk”.

I've started to read 'Stamp out murder'. I'm only on chapter four but I'm definitely wondering what is going to happen and what purpose is meant by the 'stamp' introduction to each chapter. Very intriguing. More from me on that later when I finish reading! 

Back to the questions. How many books have you published so far?

Two novels, lots of articles, short stories and poems.

Do you only write in one genre, or for one particular age group?

No. They are always books you could read to your grandmother, but they are all different age groups and genres.

Tell me about your latest release “The Secret in Grandma’s Trunk”.

It’s about two teens and a pre-teen who are cousins living along the Ohio River, in Belpre, OH. Great-grandma has always lived in California, but she is not able to stay by herself anymore and she has to come live with her granddaughter. The oldest son is very upset because he has to give up his room and his time to help care for her. When Great-grandma arrives she has a big trunk, in thirteen year old Brandon’s mind it looks like a treasure chest and he thinks there is treasure inside. Perhaps enough for her to get a place of her own, but the trunk is locked. When the children finally get into the trunk they find some things they wish they hadn’t found. To make matters worse a stranger from Great-grandma’s past is threatening her life.  

What’s the genre/ subgenre of “The Secret in Grandma’s Trunk”?

It is a tween novel.

Were there any triggers which led to the plotline for “The Secret in Grandma’s Trunk”?

Not really, I wanted to write a book that would be of interest to young boys, so they would read more. I also wanted to write in a girl that wasn’t the typical teen girl in size and ideas.

Who are the main characters of the story?

Brandon-13, his brother Jacob-12 and their cousin Jordan-13, Great-grandma, the man after her and a 16 year old girl.

Do the names for characters just pop into your head as soon as you start a book?

Some of them do, some of them are changed several times.

How much research do you tend to do?

I do a lot of research. I research before I start and all the way through.

I've had to do a lot of research for my current historical work in progress and know what a pleasure research can be, but also just how much time it takes me.  

What's your biggest writing related challenge in the coming year?

I have several novels started that I need to get completed. I have the draft of the next book in the Stamp series nearly finished, “Cancel Out Murder”.  I also have a YA novel that is a completed first draft that needs a lot of work and a suspense story that is near finished.

What about settings? Do you include places you’ve been to…or just invent?

I used a combination of places I’ve been and places I invent.

Who is your favorite character in the book? Why?

I think Great-grandma is because of her spunk and wisdom.

What are you working on right now?

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I have a lot of readers who want me to write a vampire novel, so I plan to do some more work on that. I’ve started a 365 day devotional book with photos that I’ve taken and I’d like to get it finished by October.

That's a lot of work to undertake, Cher'ley but I've every confidence you'll give it your best shot and will have it done! Best wishes to you with all your projects.  

The Secret in Grandma's Trunk. 

 

A teen's life turns disruptive when Great-grandmother, a stranger to him comes from California to live with Brandon and his family along the Ohio River. Brandon prepared to do whatever it takes to get rid of the old woman, did not count on the spunk Grandma possesses. Her redeeming quality, in Brandon's opinion, is her habit of spitting in disgust. Grandma's huge trunk sets in the garage, tempting Brandon to open it, but she keeps the key around her neck. He is positive there is enough treasure inside to take care of her. But, hidden deep in the trunk is a secret that puts her in dire danger. Will help come from a young ghost, or will her great-grandchildren intervene?

Cher'ley Grogg writes different genres. "Stamp Out Murder" is her first novel to be published; however, she has many poems, short stories and articles published online and in print books. She has a children's mystery book and a picture book completed, and a YA novel and a suspense novel that are waiting for editing. Some of her hobbies are photography, and painting fine art. She has received awards in both mediums and she has art in collections throughout the United States and foreign countries.

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/The-Secret-Grandmas-Trunk-ebook/dp/B0089MAPG0/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1361980019&sr=1-1

Facebook link-Fans of Cher'ley Grogg http://www.facebook.com/cherleygroggfanpage

  

Cher'ley Grogg
http://cherley.webs.com/guestbook.htm

Blog for Mirror Mirror--Who's the Next to Die
http://cgrogg.blogspot.com/

Blog for Stamp Out Murder
http://wantonwraith.blogspot.com/2008_05_01_archive.html

http://www.writingwranglersandwarriors.wordpress.com

 

Thank you so much for joining us, today, Cher'ley. My good wishes to you  for success with all your work. .

Slainthe!