My Guest Is Romance Writer Shar Dimick

Hi,

Come in the meet my guest Shar Dimick. I’m always thrilled to have another contemporary writer join me, I feel like we have a common bond before we even say hello.See if you feel that same connection.

Welcome Shar, its great to have you here. Thanks for taking the time to stop by and visit with us.

Tell us something about yourself – where do you live, with who, marital status, children, etc.?

I live on a small farm in Northwest Ohio with my husband and two daughters ages 11 and 6.

What inspired you to write romance?

I love happy endings and 99% of the time a romance has that happy ending. As a girl I loved to read those sweet happy endings and now I enjoy writing them!

What sub-genres do you write?

Contemporary

Where do you get ideas, are they based on true/past events or made up?

So far my stories are a combination or twist of both. The events and characters are entirely made up, but there is usually a small grain of truth based on my life.

Your life before writing – did you have another career?

My “other” career still pays the bills. I am a technical and marketing writer. I’ve also been a journalist and a technical editor in the past.

Are your characters inspired by people you know?

Some of my characters are inspired by people I know, while others are imaginary people I wish I knew!

Do you wish you could live in your story?

That’s an interesting question! It depends on which character I was! I’d love to ensure my own happily ever after, though!

Where does most of your “fan mail” source from – FB, Twitter, other social media?

I get the majority from FaceBook, but I also get quite a few direct emails from readers. I’m guessing they click on the link to my email address at the back of my eBooks after finishing the book.

Do you use a pen name  – why?

No. I thought it would be too complicated!

Who helps with your writing, critique partner, writing group?

My sister and mom read, edit and critique my books. My mom is a retired librarian and my sister is an all-around brainiac. I also have several go-to romance readers who give me feedback.

Publisher or indie?

Indie

Do you live a similar life to the characters in your story?

Not really although there is a little bit of me in each of my heroines.

Would you like to “build” another world (like JRR Tolkin or Terry Goodkind) and set numerous stories there?

No – I like to read and write about this world.

What does your family think about your writing?

They are very proud and supportive of my writing.

Do you have an office?

I typically write in bed! Although, I do have a desk in my bedroom now as well.

Do you have a sign to hang at the door suggesting everyone keep away – what does it say?

No, but that is a great idea!

What writer do you aspire to be like?

I would love to be like Nora Roberts or Debbie Macomber.

Tell us all about your latest release.

My latest book is called “Take Your Time.” It is the story of Maddy, an unsure, young girl who just graduated from college. She focused on her studies in school and not on her social life. While on vacation with her sister, she meets a gorgeous guy on the beach, but blows him off because she doesn’t think he could actually be interested in her.  After much encouragement, she agrees to go on a blind date with her old roommate’s brother.  She doesn’t expect much, but when her blind date turns out to be the guy from the beach sparks start to fly.

Excerpt:

Maddy’s phone vibrated in her pocket, distracting her from her thoughts. She glanced at the kids now building a sandcastle on the shore and pulled her phone out. The screen told her it was a text message from her best friend and college roommate, Monica. Speaking of pity dates, Maddy thought as she scrolled through the message. Monica was always trying to set her up with some guy. This time the guy happened to be Monica’s older brother.

“Hey Mad, how’s it going?  Mason is visiting friends at your lake! I know you would hit it off. I can set it up!”

Maddy frowned. She’d never met Monica’s brother, Mason, and had no intention of going through another painful pity date, especially a blind one. She didn’t want to hurt Monica’s feelings, but she also didn’t want her brother to be obligated to go out with her on his vacation. She sighed as she touch-typed her response.

“I’m not sure I’ll have time with all the wedding stuff going on.”

A few seconds later Monica’s reply flashed across the display. “You’re always too busy. Take some time for you this summer. At least think about it.”

Monica was not going to give up. “I’ll think about it,” Maddy typed and pressed send.

“That’s better than ‘No’” Monica’s reply popped up seconds later.

Maddy rolled her eyes at her friend and tucked her phone back in her shorts pocket. She picked her camera back up and shot some more candid photos of her sister’s children building their sand castle. She scanned the horizon and the surrounding boardwalk with her zoom lens. She’d left her telephoto at home, but her every-day lens still had a decent zoom on it. She snapped a photo of a sailboat skimming the water. A few seconds later a pair of seagulls dipping into the water filled her frame. She panned over to the docks and the line of boats tied to it. Sail boats, speed boats, jet skis, row boats, pontoon boats and even a canoe were moored to the three long wooden piers that jetted out into the lake. A small houseboat made its way into one of the open spaces on the pier closest to Maddy. She saw a golden colored dog sitting on the deck of the boat. She zoomed in a little closer. The dog sat perfectly still except for his wagging tail and panting tongue. The dog stared straight ahead as if guiding the boat into place. The boat bumped the edge of the dock and the dog didn’t flinch. Maddy watched as a man joined the dog in her view finder. She sucked in her breath at the sight of him. He wasn’t wearing a shirt and his well-muscled back glistened with sweat. Unable to turn away, she snapped a photo as he turned toward the dog. The man bent down and reached to pat the dog’s head. He had a broad smile across his tanned face. Just as the man scratched the dog behind his ears, the dog turned and flicked his tongue right into the man’s mouth. Maddy giggled to herself as she continued to snap a series of photos as if on autopilot. The man quickly stepped back and wiped the back of his hand over his mouth on reflex. He wagged his finger at the impish dog and gave him a mock scolding, before scratching his ears again, this time with his mouth closed. Maddy adjusted her camera to see if she could zoom any closer and caught the sun in her lens. She could see the glare as it flashed across the man’s face. Crap. So much for blending in.

The man looked up and out toward the beach and Maddy. She quickly dropped her camera back around her neck as she felt her cheeks grow hot from being caught watching the man and his dog. She’d been so mesmerized by their interaction that she couldn’t help herself. The photos were for her personal collection and wouldn’t be sold, so there was no real harm taking them. With more people now dotting the beach, he probably hadn’t even realized she’d taken his photo. She was worrying for nothing. Maddy waited for her heart to start beating normally before she looked up and glanced over toward the man again. He seemed to be watching her, studying her. He must see someone he knows, she thought as she continued to stare at him. He wore a pair of faded cut-off jeans that hung off his slender hips. His dark eyes caught and held hers a moment as he slowly brought a smile to his lips. Maddy felt her cheeks burning again. He’s not looking at you anyway. So why are you blushing? she chided herself. He raised his hand and waved. Maddy quickly turned to look behind her. He surely wasn’t waving at her. Her imagination must be playing tricks on her again. She swallowed and glanced back to the pier, but both the dog and the man were gone.

 

And now for some silly and inconsequential questions:

Do you wear glasses? I had corrective eye surgery a few years ago. So now, I only wear sunglasses.

What’s your favourite pizza topping? Extra cheese?

How do you like your coffee? In a mocha latte

Tea or coffee? Diet Coke

Beer, wine or spirits? Wine

Favourite colour? Purple

What do you do when you can’t sleep? Read

Coffee shop or ice cream parlour? Coffee shop (otherwise I’d eat too much!)

Pen or pencil? Pen

Do you put on makeup in the morning or before leaving the house? Usually

Bio:

Shar Dimick started writing stories and poems as a grade-schooler. Her passion for writing continues to grow. Whether writing, a blog entry, a software manual or a chapter in her next novel, not a day goes by where she isn’t writing something. Cousin to her love for writing, Shar’s also an avid reader of romance novels from contemporary to historical. Drawn to the genre from an early age, it seemed natural that her first novel, Take a Deep Breath, be a contemporary romance. Many readers emailed Shar how much they enjoyed Take a Deep Breath and asked for more. Writing in the early mornings and late evenings with a push from the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), she pushed ahead and wrote her next novel, Take Your Time, the second book in what is now the “Lake of the Pines” series. She is currently at work on the third book, Take My Hand.

Shar holds a Master of Arts in English from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. Shar, her husband and their daughters live in rural Northwest Ohio.

Email: shardimick@gmail.com

Twitter: @shardimick

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SharDimick

Website: http://www.shardimick.com

Books:

Take a Deep Breath: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007WN3BSG

Take Your Time: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BCBMTGE