About Meriam Wilhelm:
For thirty-five years, Meriam Wilhelm worked in education. From high school teacher to college dean to her favorite job of elementary school principal, she took an excitingly non-traditional pathway, always passionate about shaping young minds.
When she retired, something magical happened. Wilhelm was bitten by the writing bug and her chosen genre was the paranormal world, specifically of the witchy persuasion. Now, six books into The Witches of New Moon Beach series, Wilhelm has brought her passion for learning to her new profession.
A world traveler, Wilhelm has researched the history and culture of witchcraft and found inspiration as far away as Bergen, Norway and as close as her home town. A Redondo Beach, California resident, she decided there was no better location for her family of witches to reside than the beaches outside her own front door.
"I think there is magic in everyone you meet," Wilhelm says. "You just have to look for it." In her case, you also have to write about that magic. Wilhelm just completed book seven, The Witch of Bergen – a time traveling paranormal romance.
She is the recipient of the Paranormal Romance Guild Reviewers Choice Award for her series The Witches of New Moon Beach. She is married and the mother of three grown children and a brand new grandma. When not writing or traveling, Meriam Wilhelm can be found at her sewing machine, at yoga class or, of course, reading.
What inspires you to write?
I love meeting new and different people and then somehow remembering them in each of my stories. Writing makes me happy, allows me to imagine, play and dream!
Tell us about your writing process.
As I have expanded my writing, I find that I spend a fair amount of time researching. My last book, The Witch of Bergen, allowed me to travel to Bergen, Norway where I researched the role of witchcraft in the history of that country. I try to learn several new facts in the writing of each book. Then I create a brief outline and dream up my story. I am always looking for a new name, unusual fact or character to add. I spend a great deal of time in the rewrite stage, clarifying my thoughts and hoping to improve my story line.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
Once I start writing a story, I seem to carry my characters with me everywhere. I go to sleep thinking of them and often wake up just to write down a thought or two. Yes, I talk to my characters and often wonder how they might respond to a real life situation.
What advice would you give other writers?
Be kind to yourself. Its hard to put yourself out there and reviews can singe the soul. But I have also learned a lot from what readers have told me… as much as it may have hurt initially!
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I have had so much help from other writers. My sister in law is a very successful author and she has been my guiding light through the world of e-publishing. It also helps to join a group of authors as a way if learning.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I am hopeful that it will continue to be an open and welcoming wonderland for us all to explore.
What do you use?: Professional Editor
What genres do you write?: paranormal romance
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Link To Meriam Wilhelm Page On Amazon
Link to Author Page on Smashwords
Your Social Media Links
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All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
