Author Bio:
Cheryl Bradshaw is a USA Today Bestselling Author.
Born and raised in Southern California, Cheryl Bradshaw became interested in writing at a young age, but it was almost two decades before she put pen to paper. In 2009 Bradshaw wrote Black Diamond Death (Book One: Sloane Monroe series). Within six weeks it entered the top 100 in two different categories and remained in the top 100 for over a year. Since that time, Bradshaw has written four additional novels in the series, and is busy penning two additional novels this year.
In 2013, Bradshaw introduced a new paranormal thriller series: Addison Lockhart, the first book titled Grayson Manor Haunting.
Bradshaw is the founder of IWU on Facebook, a writers group with over 2,000 members. In August 2012, Bradshaw was named one of Twitter’s seven best authors to follow. In 2013, Bradshaw’s novel, Stranger in Town, was chosen as a Shamus Award finalist in the category of best P.I. novel of the year. She was the only female nominated in her category.
What inspires you to write?
Life experiences and an innate passion and love for what I do.
Tell us about your writing process.
I do not outline which goes against my personality. I find the words are much more fluid when I don’t try to plan them out. I usually have a general idea about where a story is headed, but I allow it to develop on its own. I like the spontaneity of it all.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I listen. Some characters stay longer, others leave sooner. I have no way of knowing until the entire story is fleshed out.
What advice would you give other writers?
Never stop learning the craft, developing your voice, and pushing yourself to be better. Follow your bliss. Don’t give up on yourself. If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it. And yes, after a lot of hard work, but isn’t hard work worth the greatest sacrifice in the end?
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I lacked the patience required to wait until an agent or a publishing company took me on, and I wasn’t even sure I wanted to go that route at first. I published myself in 2011, and last year I was sought out by a fantastic literary agency in NYC. I’d been approached by other agencies before, but I waited. To me, finding the right fit was paramount.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
Ebooks continue to thrive, and I believe they will keep doing so. I’d like to see publishers and talented indie writers work together in a way that’s fair to everyone. That said, I believe many successful indie authors today are doing just fine on their own, and I believe they’ll pave the way of the future.
What do you use?
Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer, Beta Readers
What genres do you write?
mystery, thriller, paranormal suspense, romantic suspense, women’s contemporary
What formats are your books in?
Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Cheryl Bradshaw Home Page Link
Link To Cheryl Bradshaw Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4712744.Cheryl_Bradshaw
https://www.facebook.com/CherylBradshawBooks
https://twitter.com/cherylbradshaw
http://www.pinterest.com/cherylbradshaw/
