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If you're familiar with Simi and her BBQ sauce or Acheron and his
Dark-Hunters, then you're well acquainted with visiting author,
Sherrilyn Kenyon. For those who aren't aware of this New York Times
best-seller, it may be hard to believe this sweet, down-to-earth woman
writes about a dark world that runs parallel to our own.
Sherrilyn may not be from Louisiana, but many of her characters were
either born in or live in New Orleans. While her birthplace is in
Georgia, the author currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee with her
husband, three sons and various pets.
At the tender age of seven, Sherrilyn began her writing journey because
it's all she ever wanted to do. Her characters (and fans) won't let her
stop. Her favorite author is Oscar Wilde, and Canterbury Tales is
her favorite book. She's a huge fan of the movie Army of Darkness,
and while she likes all types of music, AC/DC is her favorite band. Her
hobbies include crocheting, drawing, boxing and restoring cars.
When asked if her life experiences influence her writing, she replied,
"Not at all and a great deal. Like all writers I am who I am because of
my past, but I don't bring it directly into the books. Yet all books
have a piece of me."
As a published author, some high points in her career include the first
time she saw a fan's tattoo from one of her series and again when she
held a baby named after one of her characters.
It took Sherrilyn "a lifetime" to get published, and there was a time
when she had to rebuild her career (she also writes as Kinley MacGregor).
"I always say there are two things you never want to ask me about -
childbirth and publishing. I'll scare you off both."
Sherrilyn is extremely fan-friendly and speaks at many functions across
the United States. In the past, she's worn extravagant outfits to book
signings. Her favorite color is black, and she readily admits, "I don't
dress Goth because I write vampire novels. I write paranormal because
I'm Goth."
"Readers' luncheons are my most favorite event," Sherrilyn admits. "I
love to sit and talk with other people who share the same passion that I
do - books."
I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Sherrilyn for the first time at a
luncheon in Birmingham, Alabama. She was the keynote speaker, and she
gave us a peek into her childhood, which was not always happy. During
the trek into her past tragedies, she managed to keep the crowd uplifted
with her delightful sense of humor.
Sherrilyn was eight when her father abandoned the family. Her mother was
left to raise eleven children - eight boys and three girls. While there
were moments of happiness, there were more times of profound sadness.
Twelve people lived in an 800 square foot house with little money. She
wore hand-me-downs from her brothers, and her schoolmates made constant
fun of her clothes, accent, and sister, who had cerebral palsy. One girl
in particular was very cruel, and while unable to "defeat" her in
reality, Sherrilyn was "David to her Goliath, and I slew that vicious
cur everyday!"
One of her favorite movies lines comes from A Knight's Tale, when
Chaucer says to the abusive loan sharks, "I will eviscerate you in
fiction ... I was naked for a day, you will be naked for eternity."
"Books were my champions growing up," she states. In them, she became
equipped with the hope, solace and laughter necessary to get through
life's hard times. She spent hours in her youth scouring bookshelves for
works from her favorite authors such as Johanna Lindsey and Kathleen
Woodiwiss. "They were my sanity in a world that was mostly insane.
People can say what they want to about romance, but I know the truth -
romance novels saved my life."
Her life changed when she read The Flame in the Flower by
Woodiwiss. She could relate to the heroine, who also had a bleak and
unhappy home life. Inspired, Sherrilyn used her strength to turn a bleak
situation into something much more positive.
"I can never fully express to the romance writers what they did for me
and what they mean to me. Laugh if you will at those little harlequin's
but those little books were never little to me. They were the lights
that guided me through the darkest nights toward safety. They alone with
all the other romances were my lighthouse during many, many storms.
Never ever let anyone belittle what you write or what you read … not
even yourself."
Her best advice for aspiring authors - "Never give up. Never surrender."
While she has fifty-plus New York Times best-sellers (twelve of those
are number one's), she continues to belong to many writing groups -
Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), Horror Writers
Association (HWA), Romance Writers of America (RWA), Music City Romance
Writers (MCRW), Author's Guild, Sisters in Crime (SIC) and more.
The members of Heart of Louisiana (Baton Rouge's local chapter of the
Romance Writers of America) are pleased to have Sherrilyn Kenyon as the
Keynote Speaker. HeartLa's 4th annual Fall into Romance Reader's
Luncheon will occur on Saturday, November 6, 2010, at the Crown Plaza in
Baton Rouge. In addition, Leo Honeycutt, author of the bestselling Edwin
Edwards: Governor of Louisiana, An Authorized Biography, will be the
emcee. It's sure to be an exciting event, and as seats are limited, be
sure to register early! Each attendee will be seated with at least one
author and will receive a goody bag. Registration fee is $40.00. To
register for the luncheon, please visit
www.heartla.com/luncheon .
If you have any questions, please send an email to
heartla_luncheon@yahoo.com
.
For more information on Sherrilyn, visit her website at
www.sherrilynkenyon.com
Feel free to contact Josephine with any questions or comments at
ladyjojo13@gmail.com or
visit her website at
www.josephinetempleton.com .
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