<img width="1080" height="1080" data-tf-not-load src="https://sarahhamakerfiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Sherri-Shackleford.png" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://sarahhamakerfiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Sherri-Shackleford.png 1080w, https://sarahhamakerfiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Sherri-Shackleford-300x300.png 300w, https://sarahhamakerfiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Sherri-Shackleford-1024x1024.png 1024w, https://sarahhamakerfiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Sherri-Shackleford-150x150.png 150w, https://sarahhamakerfiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Sherri-Shackleford-768x768.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" />

“For me, I’m very much a character-drive plotter,” Sherri said. “If I know my character’s conflict at the beginning, that helps keep the romantic and personal plots in place. Because if I’m ever tempted to stray, I go back to what is their false belief.”

The post How Sherri Shackleford Gets to Know Her Characters (Episode 4) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.

<img width="940" height="788" data-tf-not-load src="https://sarahhamakerfiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Denise-Weimer.png" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://sarahhamakerfiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Denise-Weimer.png 940w, https://sarahhamakerfiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Denise-Weimer-300x251.png 300w, https://sarahhamakerfiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Denise-Weimer-768x644.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px" />

“My favorite thing is to name a book based on a theme, an underlying inspirational theme or character development theme in my books,” Denise said. “I also sometimes choose a name based on a big event that happens in the book.”

The post How Denise Weimer Stumbled Into Romantic Suspense (Episode 3) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.

<img width="1080" height="1080" data-tf-not-load src="https://sarahhamakerfiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Linda-Shenton-Matchett’s-Strategy-for-Writing.png" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://sarahhamakerfiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Linda-Shenton-Matchett’s-Strategy-for-Writing.png 1080w, https://sarahhamakerfiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Linda-Shenton-Matchett’s-Strategy-for-Writing-300x300.png 300w, https://sarahhamakerfiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Linda-Shenton-Matchett’s-Strategy-for-Writing-1024x1024.png 1024w, https://sarahhamakerfiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Linda-Shenton-Matchett’s-Strategy-for-Writing-150x150.png 150w, https://sarahhamakerfiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Linda-Shenton-Matchett’s-Strategy-for-Writing-768x768.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" />

“We recently downsized and relocated to a tiny house that backs up to woods and forest,” Linda said. “There’s a chair that looks out over the woods. In the summer, I sit on our deck in a chaise lounge overlooking the woods. I find it restive and rejuvenating while I’m working.”

The post Linda Shenton Matchett’s Strategy for Writing (Episode 2) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.

<img width="1080" height="1080" data-tf-not-load src="https://sarahhamakerfiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/The-World-of-Julie-B-Cosgrove.png" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://sarahhamakerfiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/The-World-of-Julie-B-Cosgrove.png 1080w, https://sarahhamakerfiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/The-World-of-Julie-B-Cosgrove-300x300.png 300w, https://sarahhamakerfiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/The-World-of-Julie-B-Cosgrove-1024x1024.png 1024w, https://sarahhamakerfiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/The-World-of-Julie-B-Cosgrove-150x150.png 150w, https://sarahhamakerfiction.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/The-World-of-Julie-B-Cosgrove-768x768.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" />

“I would advise someone who wanted to write a book to do it—just sit down and write and get it out,” Julie said. “Don’t worry about grammar, don’t worry about spelling or any punctuation—get the English teacher out of your head!—just get it down on paper. … Get into in person or online with a good, supportive critique group."

The post The World of Julie B Cosgrove (Episode 1) first appeared on Author Sarah Hamaker.