Posted in quarterly goals, Recipes, Thoughts

The Fruit is Sweeter After the Climb

My mom, my grandmother and my aunt…three strong women!

I keep trying to tell myself that I’ve only been a published author for three years and like any infant I must learn to crawl before I can run. It is difficult not to compare myself to other writers. Like the baby demanding it’s bottle, I want it now. I want to make the sales, to get my name out there, to get a movie deal and retire, but the fruit is sweeter after the climb.

Remembering things my grandmother told me has always given me strength and courage to persevere. She didn’t have an easy life. As a farmer’s wife, a share-cropper’s wife, she knew the hard scrabble of getting by, doing without and learning to make things herself. From her blackberry jam that was both tart and sweet with the taste of summer to selling ladies’ products out of her car down backroads all over eastern North Carolina, my grandmother knew if she wanted a better life, she had to do it herself. My grandfather worked hard. He paid the bills, but anything extra came from what my grandmother could do.

My grandmother led the way for my mother and me. She taught us that we could dream our dreams and make them come true, but no one was going to hand them to us. We had to work for them. I’m proud to come from a long line of hardworking women.

It is sometimes difficult for me to toot my own horn. I grew up believing a true southern lady (which I’ve never been able to be) was humble and quiet. Most people who know me as an adult know I’m a loudmouth with a wicked laugh and sense of humor equal to that of a teenaged boy. But I wasn’t always so vocal. It has taken me years to find my voice. It is often difficult to promote my own books and believe in myself.

Raising six boys taught me to be a little stronger, a little braver, a bit bolder but it has only been in the past few years that I’ve come to believe I might have something worth saying.

When you are promoting your books, you have to first promote yourself. It’s been scary but in the past few months I’ve started a newsletter increasing my readership from the seven original subscribers to 97 in the past four months. I’ve joined a few groups: AllAuthor and Bookfunnel and using their platforms began doing promos for my books. I’ve also bought a couple of ads from Bargain Booksy and joined a couple of free online groups on social media to help promote myself and my books. It’s a lot of work and sometimes a lot of money but I’m hoping that it’ll pay off. I can see steady traffic and that’s a good sign. As my dad would say “scared money don’t make money.” I’m trying to be brave and I’m thankful to all of you who have supported my efforts.

I now have six books out and I’m working on number seven. I’m hoping to finish a novella for an upcoming anthology.

The pandemic has made public appearances difficult. I’d just taken books around to the Brown Library, Riverwalk Art Gallery and The Next Chapter Books and Art Store when the pandemic first hit. I had a book signing at The Next Chapter but there was little traffic in the store that morning. I’m hoping to go back once Janie’s Secrets finally arrives. Covid-19 has messed up a lot of people’s plans but we’re still making progress slowly but surely.

As July ends and August begins, I can’t help but think about grandma’s blackberry jam. It was a lot of hot work to make a few jars but that first taste of sweet, tart jam reminded you that it was worth the effort. Looking at the past 30 days sales and subscribers it may not seem like a lot to someone with thousands of followers but I’m celebrating. Each sale, each new reader, each new subscriber is a blessing and a positive step forward.

Thank you to all of you who repost my promos and try to help me sell my books. Thank you to all of you who leave reviews. Your efforts make a huge difference and I cannot thank you enough. Wishing you all a happy August.

seven books sold in D2D last month may not sound like much but I’d only sold 1 the previous month

Grandma’s Blackberry Jam with my own twist

4 cups blackberries raw

1 cup sugar, white granulated

2 tablespoons Cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Mash blackberries in saucepan with potato masher. Stir in sugar until becomes juicy. Take out a little juice and mix with cornstarch in a small bowl, return to blackberries and sugar. Bring to a boil. Stir often until thickened. Approximately 15 minutes. Stir in spices and lemon juice. Remove from heat and let cool. Put into a glass bowl, cover and refrigerate until cold. Fill jars to save.

Posted in inspiration, Thoughts

Celebrating Small Accomplishments

My First Quarter Goals

January 2020 started with a lot of promise and hope. I am still trying to hang onto that feeling. It is not easy during this time of Covid-19 to keep up that optimistic spirit. Like many of you, I am still working and though there are safety measures in place, I don’t have a lot of faith in them. It is nearly impossible to protect ourselves 100% from the virus if we are out in the public, but are we, or am I making myself crazy worrying about something that may never be a problem for me or won’t be that bad if it is. I am trying to be cautious and smart but I’m also just trying to live each day. I have allowed myself to get overwhelmed and overwrought, it is time to take back control. Today, I’m celebrating each new milestone I have made in my writerly journey. So, join with me and celebrate your journey too. Tell me what this quarter has brought you. What did you do? Big or small, it is important to celebrate each day and each accomplishment.

Ad came out just as everything was closing for quarantine!

One of the greatest things I did this quarter was take Sarra Cannon’s Publish and Thrive Course. I wish I had taken it sooner. This was an awesome program for indie authors. Even after publishing five books, there is still so much I needed to learn. After her Publish and Thrive Course, I decided to take her HB90 Bootcamp. Now this program isn’t just for authors, it is for anyone trying to get organized, but it does have a strong focus on authors because Sarra is an author too. She only offers these programs a couple of times a year but once you sign up for the program you can sit in whenever she is giving the course. She sends updates to her previous students and she gives free video lessons on YouTube or you can check out her website http://www.sarracannon.com. I know, I sound like an ad for Sarra Cannon and perhaps I am. Sarra is such an uplifting person, listening to her YouTube videos has been a great help to me during this pandemic scare. If you are looking for a great YA story, check out her The Witch’s Key videos, she has been doing live all month.

My notebook for Publish & Thrive

In Sarra’s Publish and Thrive Course she suggested authors have a newsletter to stay connected to their readers. As we have recently seen Facebook and Amazon do little to help us reach our readers and keep them informed. I started out with three people receiving my newsletter. My first official newsletter for April had 15 (two of those myself), and I have now increased it to 22 real followers. Nine of those in the last month. Thank you for supporting my efforts and I hope you like the new short story I wrote just for you.

While I have been struggling to write the new story (not because I don’t know what happens but because I am exhausted and just have no energy to write), I am happy to share some of Mike and Janie’s back story. It was fun to go back in time and write about how their romance started and tanked. I plan to use some of this in the novel but for those of you who signed up for the newsletter, you have all of the details.

writing Mike and Janie’s romance both past and present

Another part of the struggle is I have three stories planned and as a pantser I’m having to plan or plot my stories because it is too much to do in my head. I want to weave these three together and it feels like I am trying to unknot a necklace chain with low light. I know how to untangle it if I could just get a hold of it. I do have about 20K of this new novel written, that is probably a third of it. So, I am hopeful I can finish it this month. I just need to focus.

My HB90 Board

There is so much to learn when you are an indie author. After five books I still feel I do not know how to market or promote myself and my books well. I am constantly searching for ideas that will work and not cost a fortune. Those of you who repost my book promos and post reviews on my Facebook page, Amazon, Bookbubs or Goodreads, thank you. Your efforts do more to help me than anything I can pay for. I still believe that word-of-mouth advertising is the best advertising there is. Thank you for supporting my dream.

home for lunch, I can’t believe I won

Many of you saw where I won The Heart of Carolina RWA’s Christine Hyatt Service Award. When I opened my box and read the letter, I cried. The award is for my work as moderator or as I call it, host of the Book in a Week challenge. This is a monthly writing challenge where participants set their own writing goals and we try to encourage each other to achieve it. We are mostly a group of women, with an occasional brave man joining us. We share our triumphs and our challenges. While I try to be cheerful and encouraging, I know there are times I drop the ball. When I do, there is someone else who takes up the slack. I couldn’t do this every month without the rest of the group. Some months there are only a few of us and others we fill the board, but many who aren’t even participating still take the time to cheer the rest onward. Being a part of this group has allowed me to reach my own writing goals.

Before I end this celebration, I want to thank the handsome firefighters and EMTs who recently bought my book, Red Steel. The book was a love story to the men and women who volunteer. I admire our local fire and rescue station. They were there for my family when we lost our home to fire and when my father died. They are true heroes. When one of the young firefighters sent me back a message that he loved the book and wanted to read the rest of the series, I felt I had accomplished my goals. I’m celebrating today, not a million sales. I may only have a hundred or so, but that’s okay, because I love writing the books and you like reading them, so I’m calling it a win.

I appreciate your support!

Thank you all for celebrating with me as we close this quarter. I may not have reached all my goals but that’s okay, I still have plenty to be happy about. I hope you do too.

If you haven’t signed up for my newsletter please do, you do not want to miss Mike and Janie’s teen romance. If you have read my stories and you like them, please don’t forget to write a review, it makes a HUGE difference.

Newsletter button below!

https://mailchi.mp/25b327a3db97/httpssherrilhollistercom?fbclid=IwAR2hPuEhZq–scBNEXJjNgB2BNgqMjLa64yqq43LU2_yx-GO9nKPUo9Shpk

Posted in contest, News, promo

Counting My Blessings

Count Your Blessings Not Sales

Whenever I start to get depressed because my writing career isn’t taking off like I’d hoped I am reminded of how blessed I am by the people who support me. I never want to forget that you guys— my friends, neighbors, my community and especially my family are right here reading my books, helping promote them, offering encouragement.

While I might not be a best selling author, I’m a well-supported, blessed author and I thank you all for taking the time to read my books, leave reviews, and respond to my posts on social media. I appreciate all of you who have signed up for my newsletter, I will try not to abuse your email boxes and hope you will enjoy learning some of the background information about my town, my characters and my research.

I recently had a giveaway on social media for a couple of gift cards. One for $20 to The Next Chapter Books and Art Store in New Bern, NC, and another for a $10 gift card for Amazon. I chose Amazon because it is universal, and anyone anywhere could use it. The Next Chapter Books and Art Store was chosen for a couple of reasons, one because my books are there, but it is also because of Michelle Flye, the new owner of the bookstore.

Michelle, an author and poet herself bought the bookstore when the former owner was ready to retire. The Next Chapter already had a reputation for supporting local authors but in Michelle’s hands it has become more active. It has become a place where local authors can come and meet with other authors and readers, where they can become known. With the Covid-19 lockdown, Michelle has shut her doors to customers, but she is still taking orders, making deliveries and doing all she can to keep her store viable. Being actively connected to this vibrant hub of creativity and celebration of local talent was important to me and I wanted to let her know how much it meant to me and other like me to keep The Next Chapter going.

I am pleased and excited to announce the winners of the gift certificates.

For the $10 Amazon Card, Stephanie Beers. I was surprised when Stephanie responded to my email because I did not know her email address and it was all I had on the paper. When her photo popped up, I was excited and a little teary to know that she had not only responded to my social media but had signed up for my newsletter. Thank you, Stephanie.

Stephanie is the voice of Jenna in my audio interview with Tar and Jenna I did for Titanium Blue. She isn’t not a writer herself but has supported my writers’ groups both my Word Weavers group and the Pamlico Writers by volunteering at conferences and helping with our bingo fundraiser. Stephanie has been a great friend and is always willing to lend a hand whenever I have some crazy project going on. I’m so thankful she won.

Stephanie: Thank you Ms. Sherri!! Love you!!! We are so proud of you!

Sherri: Oh wow, I didn’t realize it was you Stephanie! I’m so glad! Thank you so much for your support! 

Love you,

Stephanie: Haha yes ma’am♡ I used the gift card to purchase your first book 🙂 since I let Micheala borrow my copy and it moved away. Can’t wait to finish it! 

Congratulations Stephanie!

The winner of the $20 The Next Chapter Gift Certificate is Lisa Gargaro of Capelli Hair Salon in Washington, North Carolina. I’m not sure if this is a sign that I need a makeover, since Stephanie is also a stylist. Is it kismet that both winners were stylists?

Lisa is owner of the famous Capelli Hair Salon in Washington. She is a lovely lady who gives back to her community through her Wigs and Wishes program, providing wigs for cancer patients who have lost their hair.

Lisa is a talented writer, poet and watercolor artist and has recently become the grandmother to a beautiful baby girl.

Lisa is a member and officer of the Pamlico Writers’ Group. A former Army mechanic, this versatile lady can do anything. She is the kind of person I want on my team and I am so thankful for her friendship and support.

There were many who supported this giveaway, not to win but to support me and I appreciate all of you. When I looked through the names last night and saw who was there, it meant so much to me to see your names some I recognized others I did not, but I am thankful for each and everyone of you.

You can still sign up for my newsletter, the next one will be going out the end of this month and I’m working on a little short story to give you a taste of my upcoming book. It’s an exclusive for my newsletter so you have to sign up if you want to know the backstory.

Thank you all for your support.

https://mailchi.mp/25b327a3db97/httpssherrilhollistercom?fbclid=IwAR2hPuEhZq–scBNEXJjNgB2BNgqMjLa64yqq43LU2_yx-GO9nKPUo9Shpk

Posted in contest, my books, Thoughts

A Sense of Community

During this trying times I have seen some bad things but I have also seen some amazing things. Most of you who know me know I prefer not to dwell on the negative. We can’t stop the prejudice, the ignorance or the selfishness in others, we can only try to correct it in our own lives. So, instead of worrying about THOSE people, let’s celebrate the people we see doing good things.

People, myself included often complain about the negativity on Facebook and social media, but since the virus outbreak I have seen people trying hard to be positive and encouraging. Even as they pass on information, they try to be positive. I still see an occasional post that makes me hesitate to send it, not because I don’t agree with it but because the way it is worded sounds negative. During this frightening time I do not feel it is the time to lash out at each other, it is a time to come together as best we can, and support each other.

I went to our local restaurant this week to pick-up my take-out order. My husband goes to the drive-through but I decided to go inside. I wanted to check on my friends. People were standing apart three to six feet, but they were still having conversations, still helping their neighbors and even a stranger or two, they were showing more kindness and consideration, and patience. It made me realize that there are still good people and we will get through this together.

I’ve put up a sign on the door to my store no more than three customers at a time please and most people check before entering. People stop to visit a moment, hungry for contact but keep their distance, some have worn gloves, avoided touching doors by using their shirts, elbows or backsides to open them. They are learning to cough into their elbows, wipe their face with their wrists and wash their hands often.

No matter whom I see during the day whether at the store where I work or when I have to run my errands or on social media, the majority is trying to offer support to their friends, family and neighbors through whatever talents they possess.

I, and some of my fellow authors have put their books on sale or even free. My first four ebooks are 99 cents each, Red Steel, my recent release is only $2.99 but I have free ebooks available for anyone who asks. I would love to share them with you!

Chrome Pink https://books2read.com/u/bQRlrZ

White Gold https://books2read.com/u/mZKlR5

Titanium Blue https://books2read.com/u/bMpl6a

Evergreen Crystals https://books2read.com/u/mVwlMr

Red Steel https://books2read.com/u/m0OdRV

Just before the virus outbreak, I took my books to The Next Chapter Book Store in New Bern. Michelle Flye, author and owner of the book store has a fabulous collection of local authors’ books. As an author herself, she is an advocate for indie-authors and she is doing all she can to keep her store going during this frightening time.

In trying to support my community and a bit self-serving as well, I have purchased a gift certificate to The Next Chapter Books and Art Store in New Bern to give away. For my out of state friends, I will also provide an Amazon Gift card. To win, share. Share this post. Share your book links, especially if you are one of Michelle’s authors, shout out your books. Tell people what books you are reading, no matter if they are indie or not. Share pictures of what you are doing during your confinement, or if you are like me, still working, tell us how you are coping. I would like to see a real community built here.

April 15th I will draw a name or email address from those who have commented, shared or posted on my social media, or who signed up for my newsletter. If when I contact you, you are not able to use the store gift certificate, I will send an Amazon gift card and draw again. If that person is also from out of state, I will send another Amazon gift card and choose a local supporter to receive the $20 gift card from The Next Chapter. (Facebook, Twitter nor any other entity is NOT responsible for the outcome of this contest.) Winners will be announced on all of my social media sites. Note: if the first winner drawn is local, I will draw once more for an Amazon Gift Card. You do not have to purchase my books with your card though I hope you are a fan. You do not have to sign up for my newsletter to be added to the drawing either but I hope you will. Let’s be a community.

The Next Chapter Book and Art Store website: https://thenextchapternc.com/

Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TheNextChapterBooksNB/?ref=br_rs

To sign up for my newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/25b327a3db97/httpssherrilhollistercom?fbclid=IwAR0cq2YEK3RtTE_UyjxH_K_UbCo_X3y99WItSkJyYp9OtP36iZMtgyai9Wk