Author Interview: Randi Sherman

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I recently enjoyed an interview with Randi Sherman, author of the newly released (book review coming soon!) Big & Fabulous: The Life and Times of Brenda Cankles. Randi's author bio shares: "With an eye for detail, an ear for well-tuned dialogue and an incredible grasp of the obvious, all honed while performing stand-up comedy in Los Angeles and improvisational theater in San Francisco, Sherman adds just enough bawdiness to deliver a character-driven contemporary novel that will have the reader laughing and connecting with major and minor characters.

Randi lives in California's wine country, finds a reason to laugh everyday and doesn't take herself too seriously. Risk and change are two of Randi's favorite things in addition to carbohydrates, sugar and a great cocktail."

My author interview with Randi Sherman, below- enjoy!

Tell us a little about yourself...
I’m a native Californian and I live and work in Northern California wine country. Let’s see. I’m a fantastic cocktail party guest and I have never met a passed hors d’oeuvre I didn’t like. I have a Bachelors of Science degree for health science. I’m older than I want to be. I love to garden, cook, eat, watch movies, sing show tunes and I’m a good driver. Is that enough?

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I did stand-up comedy in Los Angeles about a million years ago, then I studied improvization in San Francisco. I loved writing scenes and creating characters - eventually performing evolved into writing. 

Can you share your journey to becoming a published author?

Sure, About eight years ago, I came home from work one day and said to myself that there had to be more to life than working every day in a career I barely tolerated with people I didn’t relate to only to come home, eat, sleep and do it all over again. It was an epiphany of sorts. So, I dug deep, thinking about what I would do if I didn’t have any obstacles - and the answer was to write books.

What do you find to be the biggest challenge, as an author?
The writing is the easy part - it’s all of the promotional stuff that is so time consuming and daunting. I wish there was a support group for the social media challenged. Although it is getting a little easier, it’s still not on my list of top 100 favorite things.
 
What do you find most rewarding, as an author?
When I laugh at my own work while I’m doing the final edits on a book. (Fortunately I write humorous fiction)
 
Share with us a daily habit of yours, that helps you reach your goals.
Coffee first, then have some more coffee.
 
What is one piece of advice you would share with an aspiring author?
Write something every day - even if it’s just a paragraph.

Finish these sentences:

I am most grateful for… the usual things, including love, health and waking up in the morning. I would have to add that I am also grateful to have the ability to dream with while I’m awake.

If I could give my 18 year-old self one piece of advice it would be… to, without pause, follow my dreams no matter what anyone may say or think. Take risks, a lot of them. Never stop!

My favorite thing about being a writer is...meeting new characters every time I sit down at my desk.

My least favorite thing about being a writer is... self promotion

My goals for the future are... constantly changing

I love living a creative life because...I feel free

The last book I read was...Colin Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad. Next is Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s My Own Words

My favorite book, ever, is... hard to say. I guess The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald is my all time favorite. My guilty favorite is Sheila Levine is Dead and Living in New York by Gail Parent. I especially enjoy biographies and autobiographies.

Outside of writing, my favorite hobby is... cooking and eating and eating while cooking

The most important thing to do if you want to achieve your goals is... celebrate then set another one.

A few more questions...
Do you have any New Years Resolutions for 2017?
Just to be the best person I can be at the time. Somedays I’m more successful than others.

Tell us about your books (genre, where we can find them, etc.)
All of my books are character-based humorous fiction novels.

Big & Fabulous, The Life and Times of Brenda Cankles  (2017) is my fifth novel. My fourth The Lobby (2016) is a multiple award winner in the categories of humor an general fiction. Other novels include The Truth About Caroline (2015), Caroline Starts Over (2014), and Paula Takes A Risk (2012)
All of my books are available through your favorite online booksellers: Amazon, BarnesandNoble.com, iTunes and more.
 
Where can readers find you (i.e. website, social media, etc.)?
https://www.randimshermanbooks.com
Facebook: RandiMShermanBooks
Twitter: @RandiMSherman
Instagram: @ShermanRandi
info@randimshermanbooks.com

PS--- A quick side note: I'm halfway through Randi's latest book Big & Fabulous: The Life & Times of Brenda Cankles-- and I love it. It is a fun read that keeps a smile on my face (book review coming soon, stay tuned)!

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Stacey Ritz is a bestselling author and award winning writer. An empathetic and compassionate storyteller, Ritz wrote for a plethora of local and national news outlets, magazines, blogs, and websites (copywriter), prior to becoming a novelist. Her book, Covered in Pet Fur  has gained attention from RIVA Media and Animal Planet. She is the Executive Director and co-founder of Advocates 4 Animals, Inc. – a 501(c)3 non-profit animal welfare organization that has saved more than 11,000 lives (and counting). She currently resides in Ohio. Ritz is published through Rockville Publishing. You can interact with Stacey online via Stacey's Book Blog, on Pinterest, andInstagram.

Ritz writes the following genres:
Non-Fiction:
Motivation/Inspiration
Writing/Publishing
Animal Welfare
Fiction:
Romance/Thrillers

Click here to view Stacey's fiction books.

Click here to view Stacey's non-fiction books