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author of Painted Picture and Daylight Coming
Interviewed by Bonita Lee Penn, The Soul Pitt
SP Bonita: Our readers don’t know but I’ve known you for years through our on-line writers group Real Sista Writers, I was happy to finally be able to meet you when you agreed participated in The Soul Pitt’s Author Event at Dowe’s this past April.
I must say your reading a passage from your book “Painted Picture” was the highlight of the evening. As it was duet reading, along with your husband. It brought the book to life. I would like to thank you again for participating.
How have you been promoting your books? Book tours; Reading at literary events; participating in writers workshops?
Sheila: It was truly a pleasure meeting you as well Bonita and coming to Pittsburgh. I have been promoting through interviews such as this, but also, just as you indicated- through book tours, literary events and writers workshops. I also send out online and regular mail flyers, plus I donate my promotional material (post cards, book marks, brochures, etc.) whenever possible and take out affordable ads whenever I can.
SP Bonita: Sheila, you are a very busy woman, a fabulous writer, great mom and grandmother, plus I hear a wonderful wife, all in all you are a very talented lady, tell our readers, what do you find to be your greatest achievement to date?
Sheila: Thank you for your compliments. When I look at my sons and see how they have grown up to be such mannerable young men and see the love they have not only for myself and my husband but for each other, it gives me a little bit of leeway to say, “Job well done”, even though they are still very young. I take pride in being the best person and parent I can possibly be more than anything else.
SP Bonita: What are some of your writing goals?
Sheila: From the moment I decided I was going to write a book, I told my boys, “One day when I grow up, I’m going to be a famous writer.” I want to write several bestsellers. I want some of my books to become movies and I want to be able to give back while basking in the joy of being a successful novelist. I dream big. They are my goals.
SP Bonita: Sheila, I see from your website you are also an accomplished artist. I didn’t know this about you. Tell us how long have you’ve been painting?
Sheila: Writing and painting has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I can’t imagine not being able to do both even though it has been at least 3 years since I painted my last picture. I was an art major in both high school and college and hold an associate’s degree in commercial art and graphic design.
SP Bonita: Daylight Coming is your second book, was it as exciting to see this book in its’ final print as your first?
Sheila: I missed my May 2006 deadline- the one I set for myself- so I didn’t have a lot of time for being excited. Plus I had to do my first signing without any books. But I still received plenty advance orders. I’m excited now though but try not to let my excitement cloud what I need to do which is push these books. With ‘Painted Picture’, I held my book to my breast and actually cried. With ‘Daylight Coming’ it was more like a sigh of relief.
SP Bonita: The character Alicia in your first book “Painted Picture” was in an abusive and controlling relationship with her boyfriend; your character Nicole in your second book “Daylight Coming” comes from an abusive home, into an abusive marriage. Do you enjoy writing about the strength of women who conquer such obstacles?
Sheila: I love writing women stories period. But do not have any plans to write any more books about women in abusive relationships. My next book will be about a woman who suffers the loss of a child. All of my women will still continue to be conquerors though.
SP Bonita: I read your first book “Painted Pictures” it was amazing to follow the growth of the character, Alicia, from a naïve female to one standing on her own two feet. Where do find the inspiration to write of such women?
Sheila: The bulk of my stories are pure imagination – but as all authors do- I borrow bits and pieces of my life and others’ lives and delicately weave them into my tales.
SP Bonita: Tell us a little about the character Nicole in Daylight Coming?
Sheila: Nicole Kingston is a bright and compassionate woman who spends several years of her life in an arranged marriage (to a very perverted man) trying to win her mother’s love. And trying to find something about herself to love because their abuse has crippled her emotionally.
SP Bonita: You have self-published both books “Painted Picture and Daylight Coming”, how did you find those experiences?
Sheila: Trying at times- rewarding at others. Self-publishing is a lot of work and very time consuming. But also a learning experience.
SP Bonita: What do you feel are the most important aspects to self-publishing, others may not think as being important?
Sheila: Editing, Planning and marketing. You can have the best book in the world but if it is poorly edited- no one is going to want to read it. And if you don’t have a precise marketing plan- your sales are definitely going to be very low.
SP Bonita: I know promotion and marketing is one of the most important steps in getting your book out to the public, what are some ways you have accomplished reaching your readers?
Sheila: Persistence and coming up with new ways to keep my name in the spotlight even if it is only on a local level. And coordinating book events that feature myself and several other authors.
SP Bonita: What advice do you have to share with writers in the process of searching the self-publishing arena to publish their works?
Sheila: Planning and persistence are the major factors in the outcome of your book. They are essential and the best thing you can do for your writing career.
SP Bonita: Give us some tools you feel every writer should keep at their fingertips?
Sheila: Your promotional items, pens, journals, dictionaries and a fabulous thesaurus.
SP Bonita: As a writer have you had any obstacles in building your skills, if so, how did you overcome them?
Sheila: I am still learning how to promote and market myself. That has been the hardest thing for me because I am accustomed to being the behind the scenes person. But I feel myself getting stronger and wiser in that particular arena. I refuse to give up- to quit. I have to remind myself over and over again that I have come too far to ever turn around. Plus I pray a lot and thank God often.
SP Bonita: Did you design the covers of both your books?
Sheila: I did the initial design for ‘Painted Picture’ even though my nephew did the actual drawing. With ‘Daylight Coming’- the format and choice of background was my idea. Keith Saunders from Marion Design designed the cover.
SP Bonita: I would like to thank you again Sheila, for taking time out of your busy schedule to share with The Soul Pitt readers. Of course I’m looking forward to reading your new book “Daylight Coming” will you let our readers know where they can purchase your books.
Sheila: Bonita, my books are available on my website, www.sheilapmiller.com, Amazon.com, Booksamillion.com, any and all of the Barnes and Noble stores by special request and I am pending confirmation from Borders books that I will soon be available through their stores. By Ingrams and Baker-&Taylor being my major distributors most book stores should be able to order both ‘Daylight Coming’ and ‘Painted Picture’ at any time.
THANK YOU SHEILA
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