Phyllis Cherry
Hello and welcome. We are so excited to have you here today. We know that the readers are looking forward to learning more about you. Please tell us a little about yourself.
I’m Phyllis Cherry, and am thrilled to be an InkSpell author. I write about things happening in my fantasy world and sometimes unwind by painting watercolor pictures. I’m a traveler and an avid cooking school student.
Now onto some fun questions! When did you first start writing? What made you want to be a writer?
I was a late bloomer, working several career jobs before taking a job with a food service firm that managed a private faculty club at the University of Alabama. The job included producing a monthly newsletter. I had never written anything for publication and made lots of mistakes. The experience was a big help when I began writing magazine and newspaper articles about my experience in cooking schools here and abroad. My Club Management travels gave me an opportunity to study winemaking in Europe and other foreign countries. I didn’t try to write a book until I retired in 2001.
What inspired you to write your book?
I have been fascinated by angels forever.
Are you a pantser or a plotter?
I am a little of both. I usually start out with a loose plot.
Do you have any writing rituals or special processes you complete before sitting down to write?
No
What authors inspire you?
My latest favorite author is Lucinda Riley, unfortunately she died in 2021. I always enjoy Nora Roberts, Jayne An Krentz, Andy Weir, JK Rowling and J. K. Rowling.
If you could only write in one genre for the rest of your career, what genre would you choose? Why?
Fantasy. I love creating a new world.
Which of the characters in your current release is your favorite? Why?
Halo Havens is my favorite heroine. She has lived in my mind for many years and has had various names, but Halo is most fitting.
Are any of your characters modeled after real people? If so, which ones?
No. However, the golden dog, Midas, in White feathers Academy is the memory of our wonderful Golden Retriever, Chrisy. She crossed the rainbow many years ago but continues to live in my and my children’s hearts forever.
What music was on your playlist while writing your novel?
I don’t listen to music when writing.
Morning person or grumpy bear?
I am a grumpy bear.
Tell us one thing it would surprise us to know about you?
Desiree Holt, a wonderful romance writer was a god friend of mine and encouraged me to submit my story to a publisher. Lucky me, Melisa Keir liked my book. I miss Desiree, and her encouragement.
I’m not sure anything about me would be a surprise. I am 85 years old, still driving a car, playing bridge and traveling as often as possible. I am an amateur watercolor painter despite years of belonging to a group. I still plan finish the White Feathers Series plus a story that keeps wanting to be written.
What is next for you?
Who knows? Staying alive keeps this mind and body busy. There are still places I would like to explore.
Do you have any unique skills or talents? If so, what?
I once loved being a seamstress and made all my clothes as well as my children’s. I took cooking classes in England, France, the Orient as well as here in the United States. I also served as Host (President) of the International Wine Society for the Club Manager’s Association.
If I were to look in your closet right now, would I find frills and lace or denim and tees?
You will find both, but tights, slacks, and casual tops are dominate.
I’m Phyllis Cherry, and am thrilled to be an InkSpell author. I write about things happening in my fantasy world and sometimes unwind by painting watercolor pictures. I’m a traveler and an avid cooking school student.
Now onto some fun questions! When did you first start writing? What made you want to be a writer?
I was a late bloomer, working several career jobs before taking a job with a food service firm that managed a private faculty club at the University of Alabama. The job included producing a monthly newsletter. I had never written anything for publication and made lots of mistakes. The experience was a big help when I began writing magazine and newspaper articles about my experience in cooking schools here and abroad. My Club Management travels gave me an opportunity to study winemaking in Europe and other foreign countries. I didn’t try to write a book until I retired in 2001.
What inspired you to write your book?
I have been fascinated by angels forever.
Are you a pantser or a plotter?
I am a little of both. I usually start out with a loose plot.
Do you have any writing rituals or special processes you complete before sitting down to write?
No
What authors inspire you?
My latest favorite author is Lucinda Riley, unfortunately she died in 2021. I always enjoy Nora Roberts, Jayne An Krentz, Andy Weir, JK Rowling and J. K. Rowling.
If you could only write in one genre for the rest of your career, what genre would you choose? Why?
Fantasy. I love creating a new world.
Which of the characters in your current release is your favorite? Why?
Halo Havens is my favorite heroine. She has lived in my mind for many years and has had various names, but Halo is most fitting.
Are any of your characters modeled after real people? If so, which ones?
No. However, the golden dog, Midas, in White feathers Academy is the memory of our wonderful Golden Retriever, Chrisy. She crossed the rainbow many years ago but continues to live in my and my children’s hearts forever.
What music was on your playlist while writing your novel?
I don’t listen to music when writing.
Morning person or grumpy bear?
I am a grumpy bear.
Tell us one thing it would surprise us to know about you?
Desiree Holt, a wonderful romance writer was a god friend of mine and encouraged me to submit my story to a publisher. Lucky me, Melisa Keir liked my book. I miss Desiree, and her encouragement.
I’m not sure anything about me would be a surprise. I am 85 years old, still driving a car, playing bridge and traveling as often as possible. I am an amateur watercolor painter despite years of belonging to a group. I still plan finish the White Feathers Series plus a story that keeps wanting to be written.
What is next for you?
Who knows? Staying alive keeps this mind and body busy. There are still places I would like to explore.
Do you have any unique skills or talents? If so, what?
I once loved being a seamstress and made all my clothes as well as my children’s. I took cooking classes in England, France, the Orient as well as here in the United States. I also served as Host (President) of the International Wine Society for the Club Manager’s Association.
If I were to look in your closet right now, would I find frills and lace or denim and tees?
You will find both, but tights, slacks, and casual tops are dominate.
Tell us about your latest release:
Buy Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086MHMQNV
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/white-feathers-academy
BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/white-feathers-academy-phyllis-cherry/1136771186
Itunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1505618172
Blurb:
WHAT IF - Somewhere in the galaxy there is a school taught by angels?
WHAT IF – A young person with no special talent finds the one perfect gift?
WHAT IF – Youngsters who failed to survive their first life are given a new life?
WHAT IF – One evil young girl threatens talented students with her greed?
Halo Havens didn’t know that angels had special talents and different jobs.
She’d never met an android, talked to a giant fish or met an angel.
Her life changed the day she skated in front of a car trying to rescue a puppy and was transported to the fantastic world of White Feathers Academy. There she makes new friends, accepts the challenge of a seemingly hopeless job and embarks on the greatest adventure of her new young life, if she can survive the tests.
Excerpt
A girl behind them whispered, “Why is she worrying about flying-up, anyway? She’s with Dr. Leaf and you know what that means. Almost thirteen and no talent.”
Halo squirmed in her seat, pretending not to hear their comments and giggles. They had talent and dreams. She wanted the chance to be a teenager, wear a bra, go to the prom, have her own phone and computer, get a driver’s license, and go to college someday. They didn’t understand.
How did you decide on your story plot?
We were studying the Bible verses about a proprietor giving each of three employees a talent to take care of while he traveled and how two of them multiplied their talents. So, my overactive imagination came up with the idea of children finding talents and multiplying them.
How did you choose your characters names and location for your story?
I loved little Halo from the beginning, and she, Zadie and her deaf-mute brother Jet were the original characters. The triplets, Star, Opal and Ruby just decided to show up one day and stayed for the rest of the story. The beautiful guardian angel Asia has been around for a long time and Midas is a much beloved golden in my own family.
Do you have a favorite scene? Why?
The scene when the triplets and Zadie spend the night together while Jet and Koze are searching for Halo. Their idea of asking their guardian angels to help their friend had me crying right along with them.
Do you have a character that you identify with? Who and why?
Halo, of course, because she is really trying to find a talent and is worried that she doesn’t have one. I can relate to talent seeking.
Let our readers know how they can get a hold of you…
https://www.facebook.com/phyllischerrybooks.
https://www.phyllischerry.com
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/phyllis-cherry
https://www.instagram.com/phyllischerrybooks
https://www.twitter.com/PhyllisCherry_
https://www.goodreads.com/phyllischerry
Buy Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086MHMQNV
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/white-feathers-academy
BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/white-feathers-academy-phyllis-cherry/1136771186
Itunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1505618172
Blurb:
WHAT IF - Somewhere in the galaxy there is a school taught by angels?
WHAT IF – A young person with no special talent finds the one perfect gift?
WHAT IF – Youngsters who failed to survive their first life are given a new life?
WHAT IF – One evil young girl threatens talented students with her greed?
Halo Havens didn’t know that angels had special talents and different jobs.
She’d never met an android, talked to a giant fish or met an angel.
Her life changed the day she skated in front of a car trying to rescue a puppy and was transported to the fantastic world of White Feathers Academy. There she makes new friends, accepts the challenge of a seemingly hopeless job and embarks on the greatest adventure of her new young life, if she can survive the tests.
Excerpt
A girl behind them whispered, “Why is she worrying about flying-up, anyway? She’s with Dr. Leaf and you know what that means. Almost thirteen and no talent.”
Halo squirmed in her seat, pretending not to hear their comments and giggles. They had talent and dreams. She wanted the chance to be a teenager, wear a bra, go to the prom, have her own phone and computer, get a driver’s license, and go to college someday. They didn’t understand.
How did you decide on your story plot?
We were studying the Bible verses about a proprietor giving each of three employees a talent to take care of while he traveled and how two of them multiplied their talents. So, my overactive imagination came up with the idea of children finding talents and multiplying them.
How did you choose your characters names and location for your story?
I loved little Halo from the beginning, and she, Zadie and her deaf-mute brother Jet were the original characters. The triplets, Star, Opal and Ruby just decided to show up one day and stayed for the rest of the story. The beautiful guardian angel Asia has been around for a long time and Midas is a much beloved golden in my own family.
Do you have a favorite scene? Why?
The scene when the triplets and Zadie spend the night together while Jet and Koze are searching for Halo. Their idea of asking their guardian angels to help their friend had me crying right along with them.
Do you have a character that you identify with? Who and why?
Halo, of course, because she is really trying to find a talent and is worried that she doesn’t have one. I can relate to talent seeking.
Let our readers know how they can get a hold of you…
https://www.facebook.com/phyllischerrybooks.
https://www.phyllischerry.com
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/phyllis-cherry
https://www.instagram.com/phyllischerrybooks
https://www.twitter.com/PhyllisCherry_
https://www.goodreads.com/phyllischerry
