Hello and welcome to my blog, Author Interviews. My name is Fiona Mcvie.

Let’s get you introduced to everyone, shall we? Tell us your name. What is your age?

Hi Fiona, thank you for inviting me here. My legal name is Sherri Phelps but I write and publish under S.R. Crawley. I use this name in honour of my mother. I have now been a survivor of life for 55 years and still counting.

Fiona: Where are you from?

I was born in Valdese NC, raised in Jacksonville Fl, and now reside in Jonesboro Ar.

Fiona: A little about your self (ie,  your education, family life, etc.).

I married at the young ripe age of 17. I was smart enough to know that he was going to be trouble, but my heart had fell in love with him. I followed my heart for 34 years. Over those years, that love slowly, and painfully bled out. I was however; blessed with 3 precious children during that time. I do not and never will regret any of that time.

I started writing poetry as a teenager. I was one of the many that kept their feeling bottled up until they festered and exploded poison outwards. I chose to spill that poison onto paper in the form of poetry.

Writing was my dream, but I had to live in reality. I took my first job at 15 as a donut finisher at Dunkin Donuts. The following year, I moved into retail and was stuck there for too many years.

It took the company I worked for, going out of business, to allow me to change my career. I took advantage of all my benefits from Workers Comp. and followed in my mother’s footsteps.I went back to school an became a Certified Nursing Assistant. That was many years back, you had to learn many skills before you were certified as a nursing assistant. That career path as changed over the years.

It was after I divorced when I finally decided to take my writing serious. I self-published my first two books, “One Shoe” and “Kisses from the Mind to the Soul,” in 2018. I am in hoping to publish “Murder at LPW,” latethis year or early 2020.

Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

I am working on my third book, “Murder at LPW.” This piece will be my first full length novella. It is takingme longer than I like to write this, but I have high expectations for this piece.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

I started writing as a young teenager. It was the safest way I knew to let my feeling out.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

From my first writings, I considered myself as a writer. It was not until I self-published my first book, “One Shoe” in 2018, that allowed me to proudly consider myself as an author.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

I remember as I was growing up in Florida, I would see one shoe laying on the road. I remember seeing many of these, one shoe scenes. I found myself wondering what the story was behind that one shoe. Why was it there, where was the other shoe, and who did it belong too?

It was not until I was a young adult, that I came up with the idea of taking my curiosity about one shoe and turning it into a book.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

LOL!! There would have never been another title as perfect as “One Shoe.”

Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style? Is there anything about your style or genre that you find particularly challenging?

I don’t think I have a style, if I do, I am not aware of it. I do have to be in a mood to write. I have diagnosed OCD, If I feel what I am going to write is not perfect, I don’t write at all. That slows down my writing process tremendously.

Fiona: How much of the book is realistic and are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

“Kisses from the Mind to the Soul,” is a collection of my poetry. Many of the pieces was wrote for or about a family member.

I am a huge wrestling fan and attend events whenever I can. My work in progress, “Murder at LPW,” is about a murder that takes place in a wrestling promotion. Many of the characters in this book are real life wrestlers that have given me permission to use their name in my book.

Fiona: To craft your works, do you have to travel? Before or during the process?

I don’t have the luxury to travel much. Most of my traveling and experiences is done in reading and research.

I did have to attend many wrestling events to get to know the wrestlers that are in “Murder at LPW.” Oh, what a chore! NOT! LOL!!

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

I designed the covers for “One Shoe” and “Kisses from the Mind to the Soul.” Even though“Murder at LPW,” is still in the writing process,  the cover was designed by my oldest son, Norman Meklakov. By the way, he is also a wrestler.

Fiona: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

The only book of mine that has any messages for readers is my collection of poetry, “Kisses from the Mind to the Soul.” Each piece has it’s own meaning.

Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?  Who is your favorite writer, and what is it about their work that really strikes you?

I discovered Stephen King in 1976, and he became and will always be my number one author. His writing fascinates me and never lets me down.

I have read many books not written by him, but the author never mattered to me. I picked those books by reading the back cover. It what I read grabbed me, I bought it and read it.

I am only now getting into reading books from other self-published authors.

Fiona: Outside of family members, name one entity that supported your commitment to become a published author.

No doubt, my precious mother. She was my biggest supporter. She was the one that convinced me that my writings were good enough to be published. I just wished I would have gotten my courage to publish before she died.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

According to Webster’s dictionary, the definition of career isan occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person’s life and with opportunities for progress.

If Webster’s definition is correct, then yes, I do.

Fiona: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

I would have gotten professional editors.

Fiona: Did you learn anything during the writing of your recent book?

I have learned so many things since I published my first two books. I’m still learning whenever and however I can.

Fiona: If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?

I have to be honest, if any of my books were to be made into a film, I would be so ecstatic, I wouldn’t care who it was.

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

Your writing won’t appeal to everyone, so make it appealing to you

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

There were times when reading the words of others brought me peace and understanding. My goal is to pay it forward.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

Sleeping Beauties by Owen King

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

I know it is not the first book I read, but it is the first book I remember reading. “Carrie,” in 1976.

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

There is so many things that can make me laugh or cry. I believe Imust do both to experience a well-adjusted life

Fiona: Is there one person, past or present, you would love to meet? Why?

No other than Stephen King himself. A few years ago, I was able to hear him speak in Nashville, Tn. That was one of my dreams come true. I have never wanted to meet one of my favourite celebrities before. I have this phobia, so to speak, that if I meet them, they will not be as nice as I believe them to be.

After hearing Stephen King speak, I have nothing to fear about meeting him.

Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

Collecting Stephen King books

Fiona: What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?

Just like the books I read, I love a good story line

Fiona: Favorite foods, colors,  music?

LOL! The only way I can answer this is, variety is the spice of life. That says it all.

Fiona: Imagine a future where you no longer write. What would you do?

I guess I would have to hire a psychiatrist to release my feelings on, if not everyone would be mad at me.

Fiona: You only have 24 hours to live how would you spend that time?

Every second would be with my family

Fiona: What do you want written on your head stone?

Night-Night, Sweet Dreams, see you in Heaven, I love you. This might sound strange to some, but these words where spoken by me and repeated by my children when I tucked them in to bed at night. Instead of saying see you in Heaven, we would say, see you in the morning.

Fiona: Do you have a blog or website readers can visit for updates, events and special offers?

Sure, the best place to stay up to date and receive notice of special offers, is my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/SRCrawleyauthor/?ref=bookmarks

But I can also be found on:

My website: https://srcrawley2018.wixsite.com/mysite

Instagram: www.instagram.com/s.r.crawley

Twitter: https://twitter.com/srcrawley2018

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/srcrawley

Amazon Authors page USA https://www.amazon.com/S-R-Crawley/e/B07FKZ9X42?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1564564169&sr=1-1

UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/S-R-Crawley/e/B07FKZ9X42?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2&qid=1564564231&sr=1-2

I will mail you a personalized copy of either book by emailing me at srcrawley2018@yahoo.com

$6 per copy includes shipping

I except payments through PayPal or Messenger

While traveling have you ever noticed a shoe laying on the highway? Not a pair of shoes, only one. For as long as I can remember, I have wondered how that one shoe ended up on that highway. S.R. Crawley is going to tell you the hidden story of 3 different shoes that ended up lost and abandoned on a highway. She promises you will never look at a shoe on the highway the same ever again.

Many of the poems you will read in this book are based on events in the author’s life. Each poem was written with such feeling that it is sure to tug at your heartstrings.
Some of the poems, however; are from the author’s deep thoughts, and a few come from her dark side. S. R. Crawley proves to have different personalities when it comes to writing poetry. You are sure to connect to at least one of her poems, maybe more

 

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