Cheryl Wyatt Interview & GIVEAWAY

Soldier Daddy

by Cheryl Wyatt

Steeple Hill Books / 2009 / Paperback

ISBN-13: 9780373875573

I'm so thrilled to welcome Cheryl Wyatt to my blog. She's doing an interview with me and then will be answering any questions you might have for her in the comments. Make sure to leave questions for her so that you can be entered to win an autographed copy of her newest release Soldier Daddy. Contest info will be given at the end of my interview.

Cheryl, what first got you interested in writing? Was it something you've had in your heart since you were little?
I have loved writing since I was old enough to hold a crayon. My mom still has the first book I penned. It was a several page story about a dog named Blue...long before Blue's Clues came along. LOL! It still has the tattered construction paper cover on it. I didn't know she'd kept it until I brought my first book over to show her how excited I was over my first book. She said, "Nope. THIS was your first book. I always knew you could do it." That is such an amazing story!Great mom moment!

What was the first book you had published? What was it like having the very first copy in your hands?
Last year my debut novel released. A Soldier's Promise which is the first book in the Wings of Refuge Series. It was really cool to hold it in my hands. Embarrassingly I attacked the UPS man who dropped them off. Burst out laughing and crying at the same time...like he was somehow responsible for it or something. Poor man had no idea what hit him. LOL. I was just so beyond humanly-happy that I couldn't contain myself. The feeling is indescribable. I wish it on everyone who reads this. I'm surprised the UPS man didn't ask for a different route to avoid the emotionally unstable woman. *grin*

I'd been writing fiction for ten years. When the box of books came, I sat in the floor and hugged the box and cried. Then I got up and ran outside with a handful of books and literally ran down the street yelling and dancing and waving the book around as neighbors stepped outside to see what the racket was. Living in a small town, they rushed over and hugged me. Makes me almost cry to think of their support and how happy everyone was.

Scared the neighbor's dog though. He still skirts a wide berth around me. So does the UPS man. LOL!

Which authors have inspired you in your journey to publication?
Literally too many to name.

Does your family enjoy seeing your books at bookstores?
Yes, they find them before I do. Like they have a special radar for them or something. LOL! Their support means so much. My daughter pointed out my book to a woman once and the woman refused to believe I was the author. LOL! Sounds like when you buy a new car and you start to see that same one everywhere. :)

What kind of books do you like to read?
Action-romance. Romance, historicals and contemporaries. Anything high-octane. Military. Sniper books. Anything action-adventure. Did I mention romance? LOL.

Is there one book of yours that you would love to see be made into a movie? If so who would you choose to be the actors?
I would love any of them to be made into a movie. The whole series! LOL.

Here's who'd play each hero:

A Soldier's Promise: George Eades
A Soldier's Family: Mario Lopez
Ready-Made Family: An Asian Ben Affleck
A Soldier's Reunion: Paul Walker
Soldier Daddy: Kevin Costner (This book is IN STORES NOW! Hope everyone will get a copy.)
A Soldier's Devotion: Keanu Reeves
Steadfast Soldier: Channing Tatum

What got you into writing about military? Was it because you grew up a military daughter?I got into writing about military persons because my dad served as a Marine and I have a great respect for our military and feel they should be held in high esteem. I write to honor them and their families. I so agree with you! They absolutely need to be honored!

What kind of music do you like? Do you sing loudly in the car without caring who sees or do you just hum along? I'm definitely a singing and dancing driver. :)
I like modern rock and alternative. Mostly Christian but not all. I'm fortunate in that my husband has an audio production company and we see concerts all the time, bands like Mercy Me (love 'em), POD, Pillar, Skillet and every major and up and coming band you've heard of or will hear of, he has worked with. Some country artists too that you'd know. I love Lo-Cash Cowboys. Their choreographed dancing and music is awesome. They have probably the best stage presence of any band I've seen. Right now I'm on a Daughtry kick. One of his CDs is in my car and one is in my computer and they play at all times. LOL! Also love 3 Doors Down and modern worship songs/bands. And of course I love LUCID, my husband's groove metal band...even though I can't understand the words. It's Christian screamo music and the lead singer is an attorney who wears a kilt when he plays. That must be a sight to see, but the music? not so much my kind of music. They are very entertaining. I'd imagine! Maybe they even rival Lo-Cash Cowboys. LOL. I'd love to see Jeremy Camp or Casting Crowns. They are my ultimate duo concert!

If you could have dinner with any 5 authors, living or dead, who would you invite?
Dee Henderson (can't wait for more books from her!!)
Fmr First Lady Laura Bush
Catherine Mann
Ted Dekker
Jerry Jenkins
Steven King
Karen Ball
Well, those authors look very interesting! Not as romancey as I expected after seeing what you like to read.

What is on the horizon for fans of your writing?
I have two more books coming out next year in the Wings of Refuge series. Vince's story in January, titled A Soldier's Devotion and Chance's story in June, titled Steadfast Soldier.

Then right now I'm working on Brock's story which will complete the PJ stories for now. I'm also working on a new proposal that will keep the setting of Refuge but focus on other characters we met or are yet to meet in Wings of Refuge. But this series would probably be titled something else, like The Heart of Refuge or something. It will feature the police officers, first responders, paramedic, and other caregivers in Refuge as well as characters readers haven't met yet that I hope to bring in. I hope Steeple Hill loves the idea and decides to contract it. We'll see!

I have a blog http://www.scrollsquirrel.blogspot.com/ and I'm also very active on Facebook and Twitter. I'd love to connect with people there. I also have a newsletter that I send out about 4 times a year. To sign up for that folks can visit my Web site http://www.cherylwyatt.com/ and put their email address in the space provided. I respect people's privacy and don't share their info with any third party. I also participate in a writing-related blog http://www.seekerville.blogspot.com/ and we have a ton of fun there. Would love it if people dropped by. I also participate here: http://www.craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com/ and http://www.loveinspiredauthors.blogspot.com/

Thanks for hosting me today! Much appreciated.

Here's a cover blurb for Soldier Daddy, the book in stores now:

U.S. Air Force commander Aaron Petrowski leads pararescue teams, yet can't find one nanny for his three-year-old twins? The widowed father is returning to duty, but not without the best care for his beloved boys. So when Sarah Graham applies, the young woman surprises everyone by passing inspection. Until Aaron discovers Sarah has a secret tied to a tragedy in his past. He can't keep her in his employ—or in his heart. Until his brave little soldier boys teach him a thing or two about love.

Soldier Daddy-4 Stars-Romantic Times


About the Author

Born on Valentine’s Day on a naval base, Cheryl Wyatt writes military romance. Her Steeple Hill debuts earned RT Top Picks plus #1 and #4 on eHarlequin's Top 10 Most-Blogged-About-Books, lists including NYT Bestsellers. www.CherylWyatt.com

How to Enter:

To be entered to win Cheryl's book Soldier Daddy, you need to leave a comment asking her a question, which she will reply to. This will be a super quick giveaway, as it will end tomorrow evening, October 8th at 10pm. You may start leaving questions today. Make sure you check back often or put a check mark in the box "Email follow-up comments to..." on the comment page.
As always leave your email address so you can be contacted if you win. No email = No entry, although we'll be thrilled you dropped by. You must be 18 or older to enter. Void where prohibited. Contest open to US residents only.