Difficulty in knowing where to shelve and market a title is a big reason they’ll turn books down. Readers often don’t really care if you do this…publishers do. Though a few publishers showed interest in The Do-To List, I genre hopped a little too much and those interested said no.

Are you traditionally published, self-published, or both?Īll my books were done through publishers (Kensington for my two series), with the exception of one.A notion I’m slowly taking stock of far too late in my own life. I set out to write a character with the same baggage, but who slowly learns that self-love comes from within. Occasional remarks by adults (though said jokingly) left me even more self-conscious about my appearance. Like the heroine of this story, my own self-image was formed back during my childhood, where I was very aware of my weight. I’ve struggled with my weight as far back as I can remember. It was delightful to get up each day and write about a place where I have such fond memories.

And the more she delves into the past, the more clearly she sees herself, her future, and the way home. Soon, she’s even retracing her roots-and testing her endurance-amid the region’s natural beauty. Yet as Willow proceeds with her plans, she’s sidetracked by surprising discoveries about her family’s history–and with Owen’s help, the area’s distinctive attractions. Plus, single dad Owen Hughes, the estate’s resident groundskeeper and owner of a local tour outfit, isn’t thrilled about the idea of leaving. Willow’s trip across the pond to sell the property and salvage her company soon becomes its own adventure: the house, once owned by grandparents she never met, needs major work. Add in a business advisor who drained her finances, and Willow is out of options-until she learns she’s inherited a house in England’s most picturesque locale, The Cotswolds. Now the scandal of getting caught on camera binging on pizza, and the internet-wide mocking of her new curves, may destroy her career. Willow Armstrong, the once-famous “Queen of Weight Loss” and president of Pound Busters, succumbed to stress eating after her divorce. My April 2018 release is Willow’s Way, a book that took on a personal journey for me. The book I’m currently working on, however, is straight women’s fiction. I’m published in romantic women’s fiction.

Would you say you write women’s fiction or romantic women’s fiction? Do you write in other genres?.

We’re thankful and excited to hear from our member, Sharon Struth, who shares thoughts about her writing journey and advice for those who have recently completed their first novel.

The Hourglass by Sharon Struth