Meet the REAL Terri Wilson

April 6, 2017 | Interviews | Leave A Comment

Hi Everyone! I’m feeling wild and crazy and I wanted to do something a little different and off book, as the saying goes.

So I asked my PAA to let me tattle on, oops, I mean tell more about her by asking her questions that I probably wouldn’t ask in an interview. She’s cool enough to play along, even if she did take a few of the questions much too seriously.

So without further ado (yes, that’s correct and not “adieu”), please meet the REAL Terri Wilson:

 

Interview Questions You’ll Probably NOT Want To Ask:

When you were 10, who was your favorite villain (other than family members)?
The Misfits from Jem & the Holograms. They had better outfits that Jem and her band.

Who was the first person who broke your heart and how old were you?
Bobby.  I was in the 8th grade. To be fair though I was the one who had to move away, but I thought for sure a long distance relationship would work

How old were you when you were kissed by a possible love interest and why (holiday, prom, wedding, etc)?
Probably the same guy listed in the above question. I don’t remember why; we were probably just hanging out and it seemed like a reasonable thing to do. That would have been the end of 7th grade or the beginning of eighth.

Chose to be the sun, a star, the moon, the ocean or a comet — and why?
The moon. I think the moon has more of an influence on how the world works than the sun. You never hear of people freaking out when there is a “full sun”. Also, the moon has way more sex appeal than the sun. The ocean is too unpredictable and a comet can burn out. 

Tell me the book you wish you could live in and change!
Any of the Sookie Stackhouse books. After awhile she was sooooo whiney and she let too many things HAPPEN to her instead of taking more control.

Why do you want to be a writer and don’t say because you must or you need to. Tell the secret reason and it’s okay to lie.
I want to play God. Where else can you create people and a world from scratch and then you have complete control over who lives and dies? 

French Fries! You add salt? Mayo? Ketsup? Ranch dressing? A milkshake? Tequila?
Tequila- you know me well but seriously, if the fries are good they only NEED salt. Dipping a good fry in a milkshake is good, but only if it is a shoestring fry.

You are a mirror in a yoga studio. What makes you nervous?
I would be afraid of what body parts slip out from clothes.

What’s the best lie you ever heard (other than on the  news)?
My mom and I are actually very good liars when we want to be. NEVER play us in a game of Balderdash. When I was a kid, my mom told me that the face on the cameo pin was my paternal grandmother and her best friend Sharon was Sharon from the Original Mickey Mouse Club. Then after I had my own children we convinced them that my mom’s mom was on the Titanic. 

Do you snort when you laugh?
Only when I laugh really really hard.
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Thanks for playing along, Terri! 
 
 
 
For all of you dying to know even more about Terri, she has a website called Terri Luvs Books where she loves to feature writers and what they are working on. That special is called Talk About It Tuesday.  Anyone with a book in progress can be featured. All you have to do is drop by her Facebook page on Tuesday and tell her about your work in progress (WIP). She’ll pick a random person to write about the following week.
 
Additionally, she has an area on her website called #carolinareads. What is fun about this area is that it is designed for EVERYONE. Terri loves to read and she loves to hear about what YOU like to read. No matter what you do, she wants to hear from you about what you read. Five questions is all you answer. Cabbie, donut maker, dry cleaner, bus driver…it doesn’t matter who you are. If you read, then let Terri tell about your book discovery.
 
NOW FOR A SECRET:
 
I asked Terri, what is the one book you will NEVER read and why?  Her answer:
 The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. The movie upset her for week and a friend told her that the book was worse.
 
So there you go folks.
 
My terrific Personal Assistant can be found on Facebook. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask her your own odd questions that you’ll probably not want to use in an interview. You never know, she might answer!
 
Thanks Terri for playing along. (I should have asked for a poem, darn it all!).
 
And thank YOU for stopping by for something a wee bit different. Come back on Monday!
Until then, I remain,
Yours Between the Lines,
Sherry

Birthdays, Poetry, and Freebies

April 3, 2017 | Contests, Personal, Poetry | Leave A Comment

Most people I know disdain discussions about their age once they reach the more “exalted” years. Oh, I hear that “50 is the new 40” and such gobbledygook, but I don’t really buy it, do you? Really? I think we are what we are. For me, I am the age I’ve lived. I’m every moment, minute, month, and year. I’m every wrinkle, every bruise, every crack in every bone. I’m every white or grey hair (and in my case every purple and blue one, too). I’m every flake of dry skin, busted capillary, expansion joint and skin tag. I am who I have become. I do not pretend it makes me younger or older (though perhaps I am a wee bit wiser).

My physical age is but a number, yes, but it says “look I’ve been around the block.” The good news (or bad, depending on your perspective) is that I’ve probably lived more than many, given I’ve been blessed with a multitude of adventures and opportunities, loves and divorces, the love of wonderful parents, and the joy of a corresponding childhood, plus finding a great love, despite the odds. (This might be a good time to mention you can read all about it in my book, Breaking The Glass Slipper, a fictional memoir.)

I often joke that I am only 12 (mentally). Perhaps that’s because I encourage my inner child to come out to play. I delight in her exuberance. I exercise my imagination daily; and above all, I delight in laughing. I live for joy. I look for good things. I think this keeps perspective and helps you stay young. Sometimes, you just have to LET GO.

I wasn’t always this way. I’ve mellowed with time. This Aries is a true leader of her zodiac, but once the fiery, short-tempered, grudge-bearing, stubborn, self-centered alpha, slowly became a wiser, more forgiving, more moderately tempered, nurturing, dragon lady who knew of and practiced compromise. Still an alpha, I have a temper but the fuse is longer. I have no time for grudges. The soap-box cheering dragon lady raises her ugly head now and again, but one more tolerant, informed, and careful. I like to think smarter. But I am a nurturer. I am a giver. I have a need to do for others. This is where I get my joy.

And that brings me to now. My birthday was last week on March 29. I rarely ask for anything these days. I have so much and want for nothing. I am truly blessed. I give back whenever I can, as often as I can.  I desire only the love and joy of friends and family. I want to be remembered, yes. I want others to celebrate the joy of life with me, yes. To know they take joy in me (or I hope they do) is what birthdays are about, for me.

I do not know if I have succeeded in this wish. This birthday passed without the fanfare so many others feel is needed. After all, I have achieved that realm of my “great and exalted age.” But I’ve not time to exalt! I’m busy. Every day there are things to exalt in and this is the message. Living every day fully, laughing, playing, and finding joy. In this way, every day is a personal gift that you can keep or choose to share. Isn’t that the real joy we want when we reach “exalted” years?

Like writing a book whether you publish or not. Like smiles or giggles. For those who know me, I think you know whether I prefer to keep or to share. Sharing is where I find exaltation.

Once upon a time, long, long ago, a babe was born and delivered in a hospital by her mother.  Gas was 22 cents. Saturday matinee movie was 49 cents. Polio vaccinations began. Father Knows Best was popular on TV.  It was 1954. (It would be another five years before Barbie would be born and one week later, Swanson’s would produce its first TV dinner). I was born into a good year.

Hello 63!  And MY story continues. (say, do you let your characters have birthdays?)

— AND NOW, In keeping with National Poetry Month, I offer you my imaginary obit! 

Sherry – author, poet, woman, child –
lived a life passionate and wild,
tasted everything, regretted some,
loved many, in love with only one.
Believed in magic, danced and dreamed,
died complete, more than she seemed.
She played Led Zeppelin and drank champagne!
She said, “live boldly ’til we meet again!”

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Speaking of National Poetry Month (how did you like that transition?), last week I announced I’m sponsoring a POETRY CONTEST!  You can enter HERE.  Win some books and/or an Amazon gift card.

PLUS – winners will see their poems published here, on Facebook, on other blogs and I will read them LIVE on Facebook. I might even read them on You Tube.

Welcome Poetry Month by trying your hand at a poem. The theme is WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

Well? Go on….I dare you! You might surprise yourself and already be a fabulous poet!

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AND THERE’S MORE! In keeping with National Poetry Month, I’m GIVING AWAY FREE COPIES OF THE BOOK OF NOW! That’s right. FREE.  From April 14 through April 17, you can go to Amazon and get a free ebook of my last book of poetry (already free on KU).  Mark your calendar!  FREE!

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Before I go, I want to thank everyone for their wonderful feedback on last week’s blog post about Commenter Etiquette. Your support and your thoughts are important to me and I am grateful for your interest.

Keep an eye out for more FACEBOOK LIVE events! Keep reading! Keep writing.

Until next time, I remain,
Yours Between the Lines,
Sherry

World Poetry Day is March 21

March 20, 2017 | News, Personal, Poetry, Writing Craft | 10 comments

Tomorrow is World Poetry Day. Created in 1999 by UNESCO, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the day was designed to promote poetry throughout the world, to “give fresh recognition and impetus to national, regional and international poetry movements”.

On World Poetry Day there will be festivals, celebrations, mic events, random readings. Check with your local schools, libraries, community centers, universities to see what is going on near you. Look for open mic nights and show up to support those brave souls who recite aloud.

And don’t forget to try your hand at poetry tomorrow. After all, poetry is the music of the soul.  I’m telling you now in order for you to seek out some poetic fun.

Years ago, I knew a lady online who wrote some fabulous poetry. She did a poem I’ve kept with me that had a line in it, “just for one day, because we’re all poets.”

Well that’s World Poetry Day!  Because deep down we’re all a bit of a poet, reach in and tap into that crazy, secret part of you and write something funny, odd, serious, sad, wild, unusual or normal! But just for one day let your inner poet have free reign. And leave me something to read later, please?  So here I offer this for you. (Thanks K.K.)

Spring Haiku

Blooming daffodil,
yellow ink of Springtime tales
written for the heart.

-Sherry Rentschler

Ok, how about a CLEAN Limerick?

There once was a girl they called “Sherry,”
Whose poetry was really quite scary.
But you count on good times,
Despite her bad rhymes,
‘Cause at least her poems weren’t hairy!

Now, leave me one of yours! Go on, play! Release your poetic cracken and be a titan, if just for one day.

Don’t forget April is coming and that is National Poetry Month! I plan to share lots of goodies with you, so stay tuned.

_________________

Now for some odds and ends:

  • The winner of the Name My Bar contest will be announced this week. I hope you entered! All the details will be revealed — I hope I got a name that I will like!
  • Breaking The Glass Slipper won The Book Designer’s Ebook Cover Contest for Jan 2017. I was very excited and psyched! Enter those contests! Here’s my award:
 
  • Finally, look for a LIVE FACEBOOK event coming at the end of the month. Don’t know where to find me. Follow me here and watch for an announcement. I’ll also put a note here in the blog.

Before I go, I want to wish you all a Happy Spring! Wherever you are, know that winter is being pushed aside and the world is turning to a new season. The winds of change are here; the rains, the flowers, and the twitterpation of birds follows. This is the season of love and color. Allow yourself to be enchanted.

Thank you for dropping by.
I remain, Yours Between the Lines,
Sherry