Interview with novelist Sherilyn Decter

My special guest today is author Sherilyn Decter. She’s here to chat a bit about the first release in her new historical women’s crime fiction, Innocence Lost - Book One of the Bootleggers’ Chronicles series.

During her virtual book tour (schedule is listed below), Sherilyn is giving away two (2) autographed paperback copies of Innocence Lost. Each of the books comes with a couple of sheets of flapper paper dolls. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below.

Welcome, Sherilyn. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

The Roaring Twenties and Prohibition were a fantasy land, coming right after the horrors and social upheaval of World War I. Even a century later, it all seems so exotic.

Women got the vote, started working outside the home, and (horrors!) smoked and drank in public places. They even went on unchaperoned dates (gasp)! Corsets were thrown into the back of the closets, and shoes were discovered to be an addictive fashion accessory after hemlines started to rise. And thanks to Prohibition, suddenly it was fashionable to break the law. The music was made in America- ragtime, delta blues, and of course jazz. Cocktails were created to hide the taste of the bathtub gin. Flappers were dancing, beads and fringes flying. Fedoras were tipped. And everyone was riding around in automobiles (aka struggle buggies and I leave it to your imagination why - wink.)

Bootleggers’ Chronicles grew out of that fascination. Writing as Sherilyn Decter, I will eventually have a series of historical crime fiction novels dealing with the bootleggers, gangsters, flappers, and general lawlessness that defined Prohibition. The Bootlegger blog rose out of all the research that I’ve been doing about this incredible era.

Growing up on the prairies and living next to the ocean, I am a creature of endless horizons. Writing allows me to discover what’s just over the next one. My husband and I have three amazing daughters, a spoiled grandson, and two bad dogs.

Please tell us about your current release.

Innocence Lost is the story of Maggie, a young widow struggling to raise her son in 1920s Philadelphia. Prohibition has turned her neighborhood into a bootleggers’ playground. When her son’s friend goes missing and the police aren’t interested in investigating, Maggie steps way out of her comfort zone to begin investigating. After all, the safety of her son may be at stake. Providing support and guidance is a ghostly police detective, Frank Geyer. Together they battle police corruption and dangerous bootleggers in their attempts to bring evil-doers to justice.

What inspired you to write this book?

I start a story with the idea ‘what if?’ and begin to knit up those fascinating threads into something that grabs the reader and holds them to the end.

Stories about women at the crossroads have always inspired me. Maggie started out life as a feisty, independent girl but wound up thinking and acting like her turn-of-the-century mother. With her back to the wall financially and worried about the safety of her son, Maggie is forced to rediscover who she was before life got her down.

I am also intrigued about how people react when faced with extraordinary circumstances. They’re tested-- revealing their true character, for better or worse. Several of the characters in Innocence Lost must come face to face with that truth. Innocence Lost is set in dangerous times, ‘not because of evil, but because of people who do nothing about it.’

Finally, the 1920s was an exciting era. Hemlines were going up, hair was being bobbed, women were stepping out, and that razzmatazz jazz got fringes flying. Prohibition may have cut off the legal supply of liquor, but that didn’t stop people from drinking, which created a business opportunity for folks who enjoyed risk and adventure. Great change has interesting consequences, often unexpected. And that leads me back to answering, ‘what if?’.

Excerpt from Innocence Lost:

Philadelphia has not yet lost its soul. It’s still the early days of Prohibition. Sure, you can see the rot around the edges beginning to creep in, but people, for the most part, are enjoying the thrill of being lawbreakers. The times; they’re dangerous, but not yet deadly. Bootleggers are still the boys from down the street, and hooch still has a bit of quality control to it. Hell, the most dangerous thing about the Twenties, so far at least, is hemlines. Those short skirts are trouble.

You can smack your lips at the scandal of it all. Everyone has a bit of an outlaw in them, don’t they? Many of the good people of Philadelphia are secretly thrilled to be able to thumb their noses at a senseless bit of government regulation imposed by morons in Washington. It’s a buzz to sneak out to the local speakeasy, get in with a secret password, and tip back a refreshing swig of illegal booze.

Ah yes, that inevitable illegal booze. Stashed in old warehouses; some of them are by the river, some close to the tracks, all hidden from view. Brick carcasses of abandoned enterprise, those warehouses now bustle with new business. Risky business. Bootlegging.

What exciting story are you working on next?

The decade of Prohibition and its effects on America provide an endless source of inspiration for compelling, dramatic stories. Having completed the five book series about bootleggers, the ghost of a police detective, and Maggie Barnes, I’m now heading south.

The next series is set in Florida and delves into the dangerous world of rum runners. There’s a trio of dynamic women who run things along Rum Row, a fortune teller who finds answers in the tarot, and a very nasty villain.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I’ve always been a reader, losing myself in the pages of a good book. But I was finding it harder and harder to find the stories I wanted to read: stories of strong women facing exceptional circumstances, who find themselves along the journey. I love history and a touch of the paranormal. The stars aligned and I started to write.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I’m retired, so have the luxury of writing full time. As an early bird, you can find me at my desk well before dawn, spinning tales. I usually spend all my creative energies by lunch time, leaving me the afternoons to research historical aspects of my books, to look after the business side of being a writer, to cook or garden, to visit with my grandchildren, or play with my two bad dogs.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

All my stories have been written with one dog in my lap and another at my feet. (Yes, I have poor writing posture and long arms!) They wisely refrain from commenting on my first drafts and a good tummy rub often inspires the solution to a particularly vexing conundrum in the plot.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

As a child, I was the tall, awkward, nerdy girl in glasses and her nose in a book. If I couldn’t be a teacher, I wanted to be a librarian. One of those weird quirks of fate that I had mentioned earlier put me behind a country bar slinging beer and mixing drinks instead of cool, quiet book stacks. But regardless of where I’ve been or what I’ve been up to, I’ve always had plenty of bookcases and my ‘to-be-read’ pile is at dangerous heights.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

If you like flapper fashions, you can find all kinds of eye-candy on my Facebook author page, on my Pinterest page, or on my website. There’s just something about sequins and feathers that stirs those creative juices.

Links:

Website | Facebook | Bookfunnel | Media Page | Amazon

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The full tour:

Monday, Feb. 25 - What Is That Book About - Spotlight
Juneta @ WritersGambit - Guest Post & Excerpt
Mythical Books - Excerpt
The Story of a Writer - Excerpt
Rockin' Book Reviews - Review & Excerpt
Today, Feb. 26 - Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews - Q & A
Thoughts in Progress - Spotlight
Wednesday, Feb. 27 - A Smile And A Gun - Interview
Thursday, Feb. 28 - Book Reviews by Pat Garcia - Review
Hank Quense's Blog - Excerpt
No Genre Left Behind - Excerpt
Friday, March 1 - Carole's Book Corner - Spotlight
Celticlady's Reviews - Excerpt & Spotlight
Reviews by Crystal - Excerpt

Interview with non-fiction writer Mark Villareal

Today’s special guest is Mark Villareal and we’re talking about his new leadership book, Leadership Lessons from Mom.

Bio:

Mark Villareal is the author of the International Best Seller Shortcuts Get You Lost! A Leadership Fable of The Dangers of the Blind Leading the Blind. The book reached #1 status in the U.S., Canada, Australia and #12 in the U.K. Mark Villareal has been an established public speaker, presenter, coach and consultant for many years. He has been a guest on The Viki Winterton Radio Show, The Dr. Jo Anne White Radio Show, The Energy Shift with Sonia Bueno de la Torre, The Dare To Dream Show with Debbi Dachinger, and Talenttalk Radio to name a few. He has had multiple articles published in magazines and publications.

Mark Villareal has a passion for developing people in a manner that helps them achieve their goals. Villareal has been helping business leaders succeed for 35 years. Early in his career he realized that the more he focused on others' success, the more his career blossomed as well. It is with a servant’s heart that Villareal has helped employees and managers reach their next level of success. Villareal has had the innate ability to quickly identify high-potential individuals. He mentors them via personal instruction; professional development plans, and focused coaching. He has assisted in developing consultative sales executives, managers, and business leaders. Villareal has a passion for leadership development and has a hunger for continued growth and development. He believes strong leaders pay if forward.

Welcome, Mark. Please tell us about your current release.

My mother I quote was the best leadership coach who chose to be a housewife. The book describes and demonstrates the lessons she taught me throughout my lifetime and how they formed my character and who I am. The book correlates those lessons to business and leadership today.

What inspired you to write this book?

I am amazed by women in leadership and in addition, working mothers, whether single or married at how they balance their life and yet still make a tremendous impact with the raising of their children. I believe that mothers make the most important impact of our future leaders of tomorrow. Many years ago I had the privilege of employing several single mothers that drove my success. It was grown organically as one single mother would recommend another. Their “I cannot fail” attitude drove their own success and drove my overall success. That business won an award for the most outstanding location of that business of over 260 Worldwide. I make it a point to pay it forward. The book is not only a testament to my mother but all women.

Excerpt from Leadership Lessons from Mom:

As the next few years went by, and as I made other choices that would have repercussions, Mom at least wanted me to learn valuable lessons that she believed at some point would bring me through any consequence. No matter if I was going to be a Rocket Scientist or a Restaurant Cook, Mom wanted me prepared to succeed, be the best at what I chose, and have lessons to teach others. That is the true mentorship of a leader. Mom knew that we were at a point where she could not change my direction, so she made me better prepared for the direction I was headed. What a wise woman. I can still remember our conversation and her words, and like Mom, she repeated them many more times throughout my life.

“Marcos, your choices will bring happiness and sadness in your life. Enjoy the good times and treasure them. Keep your head up and have faith in the Lord during the hard times and ask the Lord, “What is it that I am to learn from this”, and then listen. Most of all, never give up. Remember that life is lived in the valleys and you need to attack life to make it through. But those few times that you reach the mountain tops remember, to enjoy the view. It is the view from the mountain tops that will keep you fighting forward in the valley for that next moment on the mountain. Because you have been to the mountain top and you remember the view, you will fight to get back there again.” 

She hugged me, and left my room.

What exciting story are you working on next?

I am expanding more in my speaking engagements and workshops to help businesses. I am scheduled to speak at several women entrepreneur events. I also mentor several women aspiring to grow into leadership. Of course I have my third book outlined and in the works. The next book is business focused on key points that organizations need to do, or can fail to do for success.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Funny but I have written for a while, almost 20-years, but more for manuals for business process and education. My first book I wrote several years ago and it sat unfinished until I refocused my efforts on its completion over a year and a half ago. It was published in 2016 and became and International Best Seller, which I am humbled by. I write blogs to help share what I consider important messages of learning and education. Hopefully they are motivating as well.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I combine writing with mentoring others, coaching, and consulting. In addition, I do public speaking. So my day starts with exercises assigned by my speaking coach that include breathing, posture and voice exercises. My coach is awesome. I then spend about 2 to 3 hours a day going over my speaking and speech for the next event. I tend to do more writing in the evening. Leadership Lessons From Mom was almost all written at night time.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Not sure if I have an interesting writing quirk. I would state that I have many ideas that come in the middle of the night that wake me up. So I wake up, grab my cell phone, and either text the ideas to myself or email them to myself. It is important I do this as I have at times thought that I would remember the idea and unfortunately I do not. I have found it invaluable to text or email when the idea is fresh and clear.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

As any child I went through a lot of phases, but around the age of 13 I wanted to learn and be in the computer technology industry. I had visited my father’s work and at that time a computer was the size of a refrigerator. Anyway I brought home a computer book from his office and started studying it then. Funny but I was in technology for 20-years.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

Yes, to follow up on the question on what I wanted to be when I grew up. I tell the story in my book about how at different times I would tell my parents that I wanted to be an Astronaut, a Police Man, or a Fireman, etc. Each time as a child my parents would encourage me and I believe we as children do this to impress our parents. Finally as I was developing in age my mother stopped me and told me what she wanted me to be. She stated, “Mijo, which means my son, the one thing I want you to be that would put a smile on my face is a good example. If you make sure you are a good example as a son, brother, friend, husband, father, employee, etc. then I will be satisfied. That is what I ask of you. Be a good example.” Hopefully she is smiling from heaven.

Links:

Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook Author | Facebook book | Amazon

Thanks for being here today, Mark.