All posts by NewEngland_Muse

I'm a traditionally and self published author. I write in the genre of children and YA at the moment but working my way up to adults. I'm a sports loving, photo taking gal who loves to sing/dance to my own enjoyment. I love to laugh even at myself. I am also owned by 8 birds and 2 hamsters, and yes they know it. :)
Blog

Counting Sheep

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The old classic to help a person sleep- counting sheep. It has worked for generations for many people, well except for me. When I try to count sheep one of the following will happen.

-The sheep will run up to the fence and stop on a dime, refusing to jump.

-The sheep will run to the fence and take a big leap. However halfway over they fall onto the fence.

-The sheep will be running up to the fence and instead of jumping will go around.

-I will see a variety of sheep-white,black, spotted. In my mind I will start separating them into groups.

My mind just over analyzes the situation. Instead of seeing white fluffy sheep jumping over a fence, I have chaos and mayhem. My brain gets so worked up the last thing I am doing is sleeping. Yelling at them in my mind apparently does not work either. How hard can it be? It is not rocket science. I am not sure why my brain goes into overload. Somewhere along the way I must have missed the memo on how to do this properly. Yet after all the failed attempts, I still continue to try. Until I get it right, the golf channel will have to do. The best way for me right now to fall asleep.

Ramblings

Weathermen

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I tell my son this is the job for him. Yes I know, most mothers would push their children to be doctors or lawyers. Just think about it. My weatherman has been predicting rain for 2 weeks- still no rain. I guess he figures if he keeps on predicting it he will be right one day. Right? One day my son and I were heading out to do an errand and it was raining. While waiting at a stop light, the weatherman’s voice came over the radio-his prediction was a day of sunshine. My son and I looked at each other and thought HUH? The commercial breaks came on and we just continued to wait for the light to turn green. Soon the weatherman came back over the airwaves and announced there was now rain in the forecast. We kid that he must have looked outside the window of his office and saw the rain. A good case of egg on face.

We expect them to be wrong. Or maybe we are not surprise when they are. My thought pattern is this- when I wake up and go outside is when I know what it will be like for the day. Granted the weathermen of the world get it right most of the time- don’t get me wrong. With so much technology out there for meteorologist , they have being right on their side. Still for the most part people don’t appear to be to surprise when they are wrong. Weather is not a 100 percent predictable science. With odds like that , why not go into this field? People are happy when you are right and not surprise when you are not. How many jobs can say that? So yes I kid my son he should become a weatherman. It seems from this standpoint a win win.

Books

My first interview

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I have just been interviewed for the first time.  How cool is that? I will tell you, pretty freaken cool!
It was so fun, and John was so patient with me.

http://tinyurl.com/42758qh

 

 

 

A copy:

 

 

Sharon is a native of New England but now resides in North Carolina. She is married with 1 son. She is owned by a flock of 8 birds and 2 hamsters. She is working on her first MS which is a children’s book based on her Amazon parrot Jasper.

Learn more about Sharon by clicking on the links below:

Sharon’s Blog: https://newenglandmuse.wordpress.com/

Twitter: @NewEngland_Muse

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sharon-Williams/195232693863109

What is the current project you are working on?

I am working on my first MS, it’s a children’s book. It is based on my Amazon parrot Jasper. It is set in the Amazon.

Did you always want to be a writer?

No, it had never occurred to me- I had always thought this was a field set aside for people who had skill and talent

What inspired you to become writer?

My husband told one of my friends that I wrote really well. A year or so after I started thinking of a story in my head and it would not go away. Later that year I had 2 surgeries within 3 months of each other( not related).  Having time to recover, I decided to put my thoughts on paper. I have been writing ever since, from short stories to full blown books.

What is the best thing about being a writer?

You can write about anything- from personal history to things you know. A writer can make up anything with different scenarios that makes their readers think.  I have always been an avid reader.  The thought that one day I can be one of those writers that bring people joy excites me.

What is the worst thing about being one?

The process one has to go through once a book is complete. So many hoops to jump through, it is not an easy business especially for the first time writer like myself. The easiest part is the writing no doubt :)

What is the estimated number of projects you have worked on?

I am working on my first MS, in the process of editing and fine tuning it. However, I have a nice collection of short stories. Down the road, I plan on making two of them into a book.

Who is your favorite author?

Oh an easy question for me- Stephen King. I am from Maine and bias. However, I do love his works. Agatha Christie, James Patterson, Bentley Little and Greg Ilse are other authors I follow.  These are the books you will see mostly in my library.  However being an avid reader- I read basically anything between two binders.
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How has your life changed since you became a writer?

It has consumed me. I look at things differently now. Before I started writing, I was going through the motions of life. I see things through a different perspective now. Looking at people, I now go hmm how can I make that into a story?  I wonder what they are thinking and doing.  I use my senses more now.  I look at everything as a potential story.  For example, I have a long going war with the squirrels in my back yard.  I am not a fan.  Yet  I wrote a short story( I am on page 23 and still going) in 3rd person on what they thought of me.  It made me rethink, so yeah my life has not been the same.

What is one piece of advice you can give to someone who also wants to become a writer?
I know it sounds like a cliche but this has been the best advice I have ever received. Write on what you know.  It is really that easy.  A writer just needs to know a little tidbit and turn it into a short story or book.

What do you like to do besides writing?

I am owned by 8 birds and 2 hamsters. I love to read,take pictures,walk, exercise, go to the movies and listen to music. I am a budding bird watcher and learning to crochet on the side.  I run a book club in town but also am a member of one at a local library. I am a huge sports fan. I love baseball, basketball, hockey and football.  I like to stay busy needless to say.

Have you had any other jobs before you decided to become a writer?

My jobs have varied from janitor to cashier to office assistant to chemist


How would you describe your education?

I have a BS degree in Chemistry

How would you describe the writing “scene” where you live?

There are many writers in my area. In fact, I am a member of 2 writing groups. The need and want is here.

How has social media changed the publishing film industry?

It helps writers promote themselves. The writers gets to “meet” and talk with fellow writers. Everyone knows writing is a solitary job- the need for social interaction is there.  Places like Twitter and Facebook and the likes gives writers a chance to share information and ask question. Ideas can be exchanged and a network is formed. It is so beneficial mentally and emotionally.

What is your thought process like when your writing?

I lose all track of time. The world could be coming to an end and I would be oblivious to it.  When I am writing, I envision the scenes in my head. I try to imaging the reality of what I am writing down on paper.  I think of different options, scenes and problems. I will write them down on the side in case I can use them later.  I tend to write by long hand- the flow works better for me. It consumes me and  I love it.

You could have any book in the world. Which would it be?

The bible- hands down.

You could be any animal. Which would you be?

Anyone who knows me would say a bird and they be right. I have owned or rather been owned by birds since 1998, they are my inspiration- relaxation

You could have any super power. What would it be?

To fly

What is your opinion on book to movie adaptions?

Unless the author helps with the screenwriting or does it themselves- then I tend to worry they will mess it up.

There have been some amazing movies that have done honor to the book they are adapting from- but it is a hit or miss .

You could have any first edition book. Which would it be?

Drawing blank

Thanks Sharon for doing the interview. I wish you the best of luck with your book. Please let me know when it is published. I’m sure my niece would love to read it.