Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My husband kept hounding me to write my first book, The Garden of Souls. As it was based on my teachings, it wasn’t hard to write because all the references I used in my theology classes were already completed. My second novel, The Truth and Nothing but Lies, was based on my experience volunteering in a crisis pregnancy center. The next two books, The Night Shadow and The Touch of a Shadow, I used my growing up in LA during the sixties as the backdrop. They’re great mysteries based on a ballet (The Night Shadow) and photography (The Touch of Shadow).
Feeling a bit constrained by the small press, I’ve ventured out into short story writing, and have published shorts in two separate anthologies: The Day of the Dark: Stories of Eclipse, “Black Monday” is my story, and No Trace, “Sacred Harp” is my entry.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I haven’t a title yet for the third in the Shadow series. It ties up delving into the parentage of Esther Charlemagne, and how tied Aiden “Mac” McManus is to her, long before they met at the NYPD and became partners.
Connections between people has always fascinated me. It never ceases to amaze me how many people are connected to each other in ways we’ve never imagined.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I love Brazilian music. I can’t understand a word, but the music is so soothing and I can get lost in the soft beat and sound of the voices. If I’m feeling a bit uninspired, I put on a great noir film. That usually does the trick for me.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I read so much that those authors I absolutely love always give me the inspiration I need for plotting and characters. Graham Greene has certainly had a strong hand in inspiring my Shadow series. It’s not specifically his plots or characters, but the feel of Brighton Rock, or The Heart of the Matter. The characters feel claustrophobic, the darkness surrounding them. It’s the way I wanted my characters to feel as they tried to uncover the truth of the cases they worked.
What are you working on now?
I have a novella and a novel I’m working on. The novella is an adult fairytale and the novel is a new character Craig Johnson’s, Longmire series inspired. My hero is half Comanche and half French, and receives dreams and visions to help him solve crimes.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Short-stories are the best method I know of to find readers who want a taste of your writing style and subject matter. I keep submitting shorts when I can.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Prepare for rejection. It’s the best advice I can give. Also, read, read, read, read. You don’t have to write everyday, but you should read everyday.
When i say prepare for rejection, you must remember that all the gatekeepers love and hate stories subjectively. Just because you’re rejected doesn’t mean your story is bad. Also, conversely, it doesn’t mean it’s good. Look at rejection as a means to better yourself, or try again.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Prepare for rejection. It’s what happened to me, and what I’ve learned. I still get rejected even though I’m published. There are trends in writing, too. Sometimes the trend dies. When you realize that every agent, editor, and publisher is a year ahead of everyone, you’ll see that trends come and go. Your story today may not make it, but it might tomorrow, or a year from now.
What are you reading now?
Smiley’s People, by John Le Carre; I, Robot, by Issac Asimov; The Wrong Side of Goodbye, by Michael Connelly; Sanctuary, by William Faulkner; and Great American Detective Stories, editor Anthony Boucher.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I have five more short stories I’m submitting to different magazines and contests, and a novella I’m self-publishing, unless a publisher picks it up. I also have a new detective I’m working on.
What is your favorite book of all time?
It’s hard to beat the Bible, but I have several other’s I love also: The Brother’s Karamazov, and poetry by Yeats. All of them make me weep for joy, with sadness, with devotion. Each time I read any of them, I learn something new.
Author Websites and Profiles
Cheri Vause Website
Cheri Vause Amazon Profile
Cheri Vause’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account