S.L. Sterling Interview Published on: 31, Jul 2018
Where were you born and what is your favorite thing about the place?
I was born in the Niagara Region of Ontario Canada. My favorite thing about the Niagara Region would have to be having Niagara Falls in your backyard. You don't truly appreciate it until you have moved away.
You always wanted to be an author. What inspired you to be one at such an early age? What kept you from giving up on your dreams?For me, it was every author that I have ever read that inspired me. I always loved getting lost in the stories that they created. I wanted people to get lost in my words like I did when I would read another author's books. For years I just put the idea away in the back of my mind and when I was introduced to indie publishing and learned how easy it was to self-publish I decided to give it a shot.
How supportive and critical is your family of your writing? How do they inspire you to write?My husband is very supportive even though he has never read a book I have written. My sister always receives the first signed paperback that I release even though I don't think she has read them either.
You read digital books. How have e-books made the lives of writers and readers easier?As a reader, I love the fact that I can take my e-reader on vacation loaded with a lot of books and then I get to choose which I wish to read. I couldn't do that with books.
Who is your favorite romance novelist and your favorite book of him/her?It's so hard to choose just one! I am tied between three, Kendall Ryan, Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward.
What is your favorite holiday destination? What about it has contributed to your writing?My favorite holiday destination is Cuba. The people are so warm and friendly and it is a beautiful island. My last vacation there I wrote my upcoming release A Kiss Beneath the Stars, which is very loosely based at the resort I stayed at even though in the book I state its a different island altogether.
What else do you enjoy doing in your free time apart from writing?I love spending time with family and friends, there is something to be said about enjoying a nice meal and some drinks and just relaxing.
What inspired you to write your first book, ‘It Was Always You’?It was a story that had been floating in my head for a long time.
‘It Was Always You’ was very well received by the audience. How has this inspired you to write?Since It Was Always You was my debut I was kind of taken aback by the response it received. It has kind of made me excited for my readers to read what I have coming next. It has definitely made me see that if I put my best foot forward anything is possible.
Do you plan to write any series in the future or make ‘It Was Always You’ into one?It is something I have thought about, and the idea isn't dead. I'm just not sure when it will happen, but I will tell my readers to keep their eyes open!
Every writer receives his/her share of bad reviews since liking a story is very subjective. How do you try to turn the negative reviews into something positive and learn from them to write better?I try to remember that a bad review isn't necessarily a bad thing. There is always something you can take from a negative and turn into a positive. So I read what they are saying and try and see if I can make myself better from what they are saying. Since every book isn't meant for every reader you have to keep that in the back of your mind as well.
‘It Was Always You’ was published very recently but we are sure the story had been in your head for a very long time. What kept you from writing it before? How do you feel about the decision of finally publishing it?As I said it was a story that had been floating in my head for a long time. I'm not sure why I didn't write it before. But I am so happy that I finally published it, it is very hard to put yourself out there and expose something so close to you.
Would you like to explore any other genres apart from romance in the future?There is always a possibility but for now, I will stick to romance.
Which is the next book you are writing? What is it about?Well, I have A Kiss Beneath the Stars currently releasing in August, which I am very excited about. Readers can learn more about it here http://bit.ly/AKissBeneaththeStars Currently I am writing a book called On A Silent Night. It's about a woman who loses her husband at a young age and falls for his best friend, it just takes her a few years and a failing relationship to see it.
