Sharee Stover Interview

Q: Let me start with asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself.
A: I’m extremely blessed to be the mother of three children, ages elementary to college and my husband is in law enforcement, so he’s my in-house Subject Matter Expert for my stories. I’m originally from Colorado and I had a long career in government. I still miss the mountains and visit as often as I can, but I also enjoy the beauty of the Nebraska hillside. We have a very spoiled one hundred-pound German Shepherd who demands daily two to four-mile walks regardless of the weather and a nineteen-pound schipperke miniature pinscher who’s happy to go along for the ride.

Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
A. I was never one of those people who dreamed I could be a writer, but I’ve always been a bookworm. Writing didn’t become a dream for me until much later in life. After the birth of my youngest, the desire to write sprouted and grew at a ridiculously rapid rate. I’ve always been into journaling, so it seemed logical to me that I’d be writing something non-fiction. Clearly, I was wrong because nearly a decade later, I’m knee deep in romantic suspense and loving every second.

Q: Could you give us the highlights of your professional writing career including how you got your first writing break?
A: Writing is definitely a journey. I wrote my first book (which now lives under my bed collecting dust) and entered several writing contests. That was incredibly educational and humbling because I discovered I had a ton to learn. I started following writing blogs, joined ACFW and RWA, and participated in the classes and groups as often as possible. I read craft books and sat under mentors. I also attended several conferences and workshops. I was determined to learn everything I could about how to become a better writer. After attending a local RWA event, I pitched to an editor and bombed it. Bad. Really bad. A year later I saw a post from Harlequin Love Inspired Editor, Emily Rodmell, on Facebook. She was snowed in and offered to take pitches online. I posted my blurb and about fell off my chair when she commented she’d like to see the story. She offered me a contract that summer and I’ve been on cloud nine ever since.

Q: Would you tell us about your current book release SECRET PAST?
A: Katie Tribani discovers her entire life has been a lie when gunmen show up on her doorstep. While running for her life from her crime-lord father, she learns she’s been in witness protection since childhood. Placed under the protective custody of US marshal Daniel Knight, she’s determined to uncover the truth about her life, if she can survive long enough.

Q: Where did you get your inspiration for SECRET PAST?
A: A favorite writing tool I use is to ask WHAT IF. I was researching stories about witness protection and that’s where the idea began. There is a plethora of stories about people going into protective custody, but I thought, what if you’d been born in witness protection and never knew it?

Q: What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story?
A: Poor Katie is told “truths” by many people. Her life depends on figuring out who is honest and who is lying. We face that every day in our world. It’s so important that we know God’s truth because it’s the only thing we can rely on one hundred percent of the time. He hasn’t left us alone and loves us enough to keep pursuing us when we’ve lost our way.

Q: What inspires you to write?
A. I don’t know that I have any one particular thing that inspires me. Sometimes it’ll be a news story or a television show that sparks an idea. Sometimes it’s just a normal conversation. For me, writing is an obsession and an addiction. I have to write. Usually, I have an abundance of stories bouncing around in my brain. There’s just never enough hours in the day to get them all down.

Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now?
A. I have a couple of stories in the works and both are romantic suspense. One is about a pregnant widow framed for murder and the other is still big time under construction.

Q: When you’re not writing what do you like to do?
A. I love spending time with my family, taking walks, or being lazy and watching Netflix. I crochet and scrapbook, so I never lack for projects, and my to-be read pile is always overflowing because I’m constantly reading, too.