How did you start writing fiction?
I came to the writing game
late. In 2009 my husband told my friend, Debbie, that he felt I wrote well.
After she told me it got me thinking. I had always thought of writers as
special individuals. How it was reserved for people with talent, skill and a
master of the language. How could I ever entertain the thought that I could
write? But hearing what my husband thought I started to wonder what could I
write about. I literally looked around my house trying to come up with an idea.
That is when my eye landed on Jasper. He is our rescued and adopted parrot who
came home to us in 1999 at the age of five.
Thinking I could write a children's book for any future grandchildren I decided to go in that direction.
I found out how much fun it was to write and from that day since the stories have continually formed in my head. They are forever begging and screaming to be let out. At the moment I write in a few genres which include comedy, action and adventure, short stories and drama.
The fever has hit me. I hope it never burns out.
Are you a Plotter
or pantster?
I’m a proud pantster. I love letting my characters decide where my WIP
will go. I also don’t want to take the time to plot. I feel, as far as I am
concern, that it restricts my creativity. I love to free style. Majority of my
books have arrived from me free styling. I just want to write and than figure
out the mechanics after it is done.
What are three things you have on your writing desk?
I have a big day planner which I use to schedule posts on my different social platforms, interviews, guest posts and seminars that I am heading and any other events pertaining to writing.
I also have a big tumbler for my water or sweet ice tea is a must for me as well as speakers so I can play good music as I work.
Tell us a little about your new release. What character in the book really spoke to you?
My latest book is volume three to my Jasper, Amazon parrot series. This
may seem an easy way out to this question but I have to go to my main
character, Jasper. With each volume his character arc keeps growing and
expanding as readers learn more about this incredible animal. He continues to
show his bravery, his love for his family and friends. But more importantly he
continues to show his way of continually learning to get along with those
different from us that we may encounter.
Finish this sentence: I write because ____…
I write because it gives me absolute and utter joy, filling and giving me purpose that literally makes me smile from ear to ear.
What is your favorite type of character to write about?
When it comes to my children’s series I incorporate a new character, in this case an animal. in each volume. Writing about a new animal to share is absolutely one of my favorite things to write about. I love learning about the animals of the Amazon rainforest.
You see, my main character to this series, Jasper, is based on our own Yellow Cheek Amazon parrot we rescued in 1999 at the age of five. After being around him for so long I started investigating where he is from, the animals he would have seen and the issues that plague this region.
To share any information with my readers in hope they will have empathy for the animals as well as the issues of the region is something I just love to pass on.
When I write outside of this genre that changes. I love writing characters that have character personalities I would love to have. I want strong and independent people who can take a hit and keep on going. Who know what they want even when obstacles tries to stop them. I want to explore their inner flaws to show they are human. I love writing characters who the readers can relate to.
What is the sexiest scene you ever wrote?
The genres I write in are children's, comedy, short stories, action/adventure and drama. So far none have required me to write a sexy scene. But there is a scene in one of my WIP where I wrote for the first time a murder scene.
Without
meaning to, or expecting, I had so much fun creating the scene for this
WIP. It was new, exciting and I did not
want it to end. I wanted to shout to the world that I had completed my first
scene on this topic. So, in a way, that was
my sexiest scene. Here’s to more.
What is next on your writerly horizon?
I’ve finished volume four to my Jasper, Amazon
parrot series and just completed the first round of edits. I’ve finished volume
two to my Squirrel Mafia series and I’m working on the first round of edits. I
am also working on a drama that is untitled at the moment, a YA novel titled Lost
Faith as well as a true story novel called A Woman of Color. Even
with all of that said I have in mind the next installation of the Jasper,
Amazon Parrot book which would be book five.
Genre of the book and series: children’s chapter book series
series name is the Jasper, Amazon parrot series.
Publisher is Peculiar Possum
Jasper is no ordinary parrot.
He lives in the rainforest, which secrets he’s
eager to explore. Jasper loves his home and his family, and he's also in charge
of his younger brother Willie - a responsibility Jasper takes very seriously.
When he meets Charlie - a spider monkey with a
penchant for food and a laid back attitude - he realizes he’s in for an
adventure he never thought possible. Even if this means getting
into danger and worrying his mother to no end.
Exploring the boundaries of the forest, Jasper
understands that there is more to the world around him. Who are the strange new
creatures that have come there? With Willie and Charlie by his side, he will
soon find out.
Buy links:
Audible: https://www.audible.com/author/Sharon-C-Williams/B00CSAFL8Q
Itunes: http://tinyurl.com/o7jpqj6
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sharon-C-Williams/e/B00CSAFL8Q/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1390329738&sr=8-1
Seeing Willie by the
entrance, he asked, “What’s going
on, Willie? You woke me up
from a good sleep with the ruckus
you’re making.”
“Sorry, but this is so
awesome, I could not hold back. You
can sleep any time, Jasper,”
his brother said. “Come check this
out.”
Jasper walked over to the
entrance of their nest and stood
by his brother’s side.
Looking in the direction Willie was
staring at, he saw a large
group of birds flying across the
horizon.
“Wow. That looks like so much
fun. I can’t wait until our
wings are fully grown.”
“Why wait?” Willie asked.
“Well, duh. We would fall,”
Jasper said, thinking to himself
that Willie must have hit his
head while sleeping to come up
with such a suggestion.
“No, we won’t,” Willie
replied, flapping his tiny wings. “All
we have to do is the same as
those guys and don’t stop.”
“Mama said it would be a few
more weeks before we could
start to fly,” Jasper
reminded his brother.
“What, you’re chicken?”
Willie goaded. A smile formed
upon his face.
Now, if anyone knows anything
about anything, they know
that no one likes to be
called chicken, especially by their baby
brother.
“Mama just left before you
woke up. She will be gone for a
bit,” Willie continued.
Willie apparently had
forgotten it was due to him that
Jasper had been woken up from
a good sleep.
Not wanting to be the one to
back down, Jasper said,
“Okay. Let’s do it. You’re
right. How hard can this be?”
“I saw the birds just lift
off, so if we jumped out that should
do the trick,” Willie
suggested.
Both brothers looked at each
other for a few minutes and
then looked back out. In
unison, they jumped out of the nest,
flapping their tiny wings.
Instead of flying with ease like they’d
seen the other birds do, they
started to fall, and fast.
“Flap, Jasper, flap!” Willie
yelled as he did the same.
“It’s not working!” Jasper
shot back.
Both of them continued to
fall toward the ground. It didn’t
take long for the two of them
to hit the soft leaves lining the
floor of the jungle.
Looking around, Jasper
searched for his brother, but he was
nowhere in sight. “Willie ...
Willie? Where are you?” Jasper
shouted.
Nothing.
“Willie ... Willieee?” he
repeated.
Again, nothing
Jasper shivered. It was a bit
cooler down here than it was
up in their nest.
Where could Willie be? he
wondered. Okay, don’t worry.
How far could he be?
Jasper looked up and saw how
far he’d fallen. This wasn’t
good. He should have never
listened to Willie. The leaves
rustled from the small breeze
making its way to the bottom. It
reminded Jasper of where he
was.
Should he sit here and wait,
or start looking for Willie? He
honestly didn’t know what to
do. He would call out for Willie
one more time, and then move
on. Sitting here wasn’t going to
help either of them at all.
“Willie? Willie? Come on,
stop playing, Willie!” Jasper
yelled.
Jasper took a deep breath and
walked slowly from where
he’d landed, taking the time
to cry out Willie’s name, just in
case. Taking small steps,
Jasper arched his head and kept a
lookout for his brother. He
had to find him. He didn’t want to
be all alone in this strange
place.
When he’d thought Willie
hadn’t made it, Jasper mourned
him, not truly understanding
what it meant to have a brother.
What he knew now was that he
didn’t want to be by himself.
He wanted his brother with
him; someone who was just like
him, who understood what it
was like to be a young parrot.
Jasper made his way to the
nearest tree and rested near it
for a tiny bit. He was
scared, hungry, and now alone. He also
had no way of getting back
home. Although afraid to close his
eyes, his eyelids closed from
exhaustion because of the failed
attempt at flying.
He didn’t know how long they
were closed when the
sound of movement stirred him
awake. Looking straight
ahead, he saw a brown blob
coming straight toward him.
Well, it was half blob and
half leaves. He leaned back against
the tree as much as possible.
Jasper gulped.
About the Author:
Sharon C.
Williams is a native of New England raised in Northern Maine. She lives in
North Carolina with her husband and son. She is also owned by a flock of birds.
Sharon has a B.
S. degree in Chemistry and two A.S. with one being in Biology and the other in
Math. She loves to read, sketch, take pictures, walk, exercise, go to the
movies, and listen to music. She is a budding bird watcher, and knits on the
side. Sharon has been rescuing and adopting birds since 1998. She is a huge
sports fan of baseball, basketball, hockey, football and MMA. She is also a
shutterbug and is always looking for the next big shot.
Two of her short
stories were published in the anthology, Cassandra's Roadhouse, which is
no longer published. Sharon also has two short stories published in the Dragons
in the Attic anthology, which was written by her writing group, The Wonder
Chicks. She has two short stories in the anthology The Reading Corner: Book One which was released by
Fountain Blue Publishing in 2016. The second edition of her children's chapter
books, Jasper, Amazon Parrot: A Rainforest Adventure, and Jasper:
Amazon Friends and Family were published by Peculiar Possum in July of
2019. Volume three, Jasper, Amazon Parrot: The Perils Of The Jungle, was
published by Peculiar Possum on November 27, 2019. Her comedy novel about her
war with her backyard squirrels, Squirrel Mafia, was released in 2015 by
Peaceful Musings Publishing, followed by an anthology titled Everyday
Musings, which was published in in 2016 by Lysestrah Press.
Find the author at: https://newenglandmuse.com/where-to-find-me/
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