Featured Author of the Week – Sherry Gomes

First, in your own words tell us a little about you.

Where do you live?

In the Central valley area of California. I grew up in the San Jose area, lived in Washington state and Colorado, moving back to CA in 2022. It’s great to be home!

Who are the special people in your life?

My sister Rosie, best friends Doug and Joylene

Do you have any pets?

I have a yellow lab guide dog from guiding Eyes for the Blind named Shani. I don’t consider her a pet.

What keeps you going? I mean, like what inspires you and keeps you moving forward in your work?

Writing has always been a compulsion for me, a passion, a thing I absolutely must do. Ever since I was a child, I’ve had the all-encompassing urge to write. When I don’t write for a long period of time I feel restless and anxious. What keeps me going? That need to write, the need to tell the story, whatever the story may be. And now there’s the element of not wanting to let down my readers and fans. Though that aspect is important, because they love my words and want more, it still has to satisfy me first of all and be true to my art.

What is your favorite song?

That is so hard. Music is vital to my well-being. Hmmm.

The Beatles I SAW HER STANDING THERE and Your BIRD CAN SING.

George straight Foolhearted memory.

Collin Raye, love Remains.

Dean Martin, AN EVENING IN ROMA, ONCE UPON A TIME IT HAPPENED.

FASCINATION, by anyone.

ANNE’S THEME, FEATHER instrumentals. Anne is from the PBS versions of Anne of green gables, and Feather is the instrumental theme of forest gump. I want my nephew to play them at my funeral, because they represent freedom and lack of pain to me. And last, FOR GOOD from the musical wicked, a song about friendship and everything friendship means to me.

What is your favorite movie? Feel free to list multiple titles.

The Goodbye Girl,

Braveheart,

Hairspray,

Ever after,

apollo 13,

1776.

Affair to Remember with Cary Grant

Love is a Many-splendoured Thing

Sound of Music (it was my dad’s favorite movie)

What is your favorite book? Feel free to list multiple titles.

Exodus by Leon Uris

Jubilee Trail, by Gwen Bristow

Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay

Mrs. Mike by Nancy and Benedict Friedman

The Gateway Chronicles by K. B. Hoyle

The Harry Potter series, by Rowling

Touch Not the Cat, by Mary Stewart

The Passing Bells by Phillip Rock

Airport and Hotel by Arthur Hailey

What is your favorite food? Feel free to elaborate on all your favorites.

Cheese burgers. Preferably with crisp bacon and avocado. I’m funny about food. I don’t dislike much food, but I do dislike eating. So, when I eat, I try to cook things I will find enjoyment in eating it. When I crave food, it’s never sweets or snacks, it’s always a cheeseburger. Hmmm, what does that say. So, cheeseburgers are number one. And then a chicken casserole I make. Currently, Starbucks pumpkin cream cheese muffins, though they are seasonal. I love anything with lots of cheese, and I usually drink a glass of whole milk before bed.

I like strong coffee, Starbucks lattes venti and three shots, ice cold coke in a bottle, wine, red or white

What is your favorite quote?

“No well-behaved woman ever made history.” Mae west I believe. I’m actually not much of one for quotes, but I used to have that one on my auto signature years ago.

What is your favorite affirmation? Dos it in some way relate to your work?

I don’t really have one.

I guess if I had one it would be something like “I’m a Gomes, and we don’t give up.” Or keep going you know Dad and Granny would be so proud.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

I don’t really have any of those either. Currently the biggest one is the neighbor behind me having loud parties till all hours and keeping me awake.

What do you think your best strengths are, and how do they help you in your work as a writer?

I’m patient and stubborn, both help me in my work. My patience keeps me going even during those times I’m just not sure where to go with the piece I’m writing. Being stubborn helps me never to give up if I still believe in the work. It’s helped me hold to what I know is right for the story, even when an editor might disagree with some things. But I also have the ability to listen and to admit when I’m wrong, and that definitely helps in my work. I’m also passionate and compassionate and I hope I bring that to my characters. I’m interested in people and that interest makes me want to tell stories.

What are your weaknesses, do they hinder your work, and how are you making them stronger?

I am my own worst critic, and sometimes that works against me. I continue thinking I could do this better, that chapter isn’t strong enough or other things like that. I had one chapter I started five times and didn’t like it, couldn’t see where it needed to go and kept deleting it. I’m a pantser, so I don’t write to an outline. Sometimes, that’s terrific. I know where the story starts and ends, and a few major scenes along the way, but when I get stuck, I’m stuck because I can’t write ahead either.

What is your dream for the future, and how does it relate to your work as a writer?

I achieved my first dream in 2021 by publishing Haven, my first novel. Now, I just want to be healthy enough to continue to write, to publish and have my group of devoted readers. Sure, I’m human, I’d love to be a best-selling author, see my name on the NY Times best seller list, make money, pay off my sister’s mortgage and travel. But overall, I want my body to stay healthy enough, between my rheumatoid arthritis and cancer, that I can continue telling my stories. And yes, I’d love to see Haven made in to a movie, with a blind actress playing the main female lead.

What is your preferred way of communicating and how can someone best reach you if they should wish to buy from or work with you in some way?

Email is the best and first choice, followed by Facebook and last by phone. I worked on phones for most of my working life, and I still haven’t gotten to the point where I enjoy talking on the phone unless with people I know. I will talk on the phone for writing related things or for blindness causes, and of course with friends and family.

Contact info:

Email address personal: sherry.gomes@outlook.com

Email author: sherry@sherrygomes.com

Facebook group for my author stuff: facebook.com/groups/havenhappenings

Facebook author page: facebook.com/sherrygomesauthor

Phone: 303-885-5565

For the phone, I recommend people text or email first so I’ll answer the call.

Before you go, is there anything you’d like to add about yourself, or your work that I’ve not asked?

A few months ago, I entered Haven in to a contest, the American Fiction Awards. There were many categories and thousands of entries. My friend and fellow author, D. A. Charles, helped me enter, due to accessibility problems on the web site. I didn’t expect anything to come of this, because I’ve never won a thing in my life. I did hope it would mean more readers at least, and maybe more reviews, but not a win.

Imagine my shock when I received a message from the people at the AFA, telling me that I am a winning finalist in the American Fiction Awards, 2023!!!!!! I am not the ultimate winner of the category, but I’m one of only five who made it as finalists. Thousands of books are entered in this contest, and I’m one of only five finalists! There isn’t a cash prize, but I have a logo I can insert on my amazon and audible pages, telling potential readers that Haven is a finalist in the American Fiction Awards! I am absolutely beyond words joyful!

Here is some info about Haven and what comes next.

Haven Summary

“There was one thing she knew. This would not be the end. She would not give up, not

ever. Nico might have the victory now, but she would find a way to turn the tables on him.

Holding her head high, she vowed that somehow, someday, Rosie would be with her again.”

Elizabeth Bennett arrives in Haven Valley, seeking healing after her emotionally abusive, unscrupulous ex-husband uses his family’s political influence to gain sole custody of their daughter, solely on the basis that Elizabeth is blind.

At Haven Valley Church, Michael Kelly’s grief for his wife is fresh as when he lost her three years ago, but he focuses on his love for the son he is now raising alone. A good man, a good father, and a good pastor to the community, he deeply longs for companionship and love.

These two people, nearly broken by disaster, meet on a snowy night that will change their lives. Through this town, its people, and two very special children Michael and Elizabeth begin to create their safe haven, though the past relentlessly places stumbling blocks in their path.

Can they keep the love and healing they’ve found?

Buy the book and follow the author here.

More about Sherry…

From the moment someone put her hands on a braille book and began to teach her to read, Sherry has been an avid reader. For years, she envied her sighted friends who could walk into a book store and buy and own books. With the internet age, her dream of being able to have an extensive library came true, with things like audible.com, Kindle, Bookshare and the National Library Service for the Blind’s digital download service. As a child, she began making up stories with her dolls and stuffed animals, writing stories about favorite rock bands or TV characters. She’s been writing in one way or another ever since. A teacher told her once that she painted pictures with her words and she’s dreamed of being a published author from that moment. In the meantime, she’s worked as a switchboard operator, executive assistant, computer teacher and a tech support representative.

Sherry grew up in the San Jose area of California but now lives in the central Valley. She shares her home with her yellow Labrador guide dog, Shani. She loves reading, shopping, movies, musical theater, spending time with friends, cooking, and of course writing. The Beatles really are her all-time favorite band!

What comes next

I am currently working on the sequel to Haven. This will be set in the same fictitious small town in Colorado, Haven valley, as the book Haven was. It focuses on different characters, though there will be cameos of the characters from Haven. The setting for this book is mostly in and around a coffee shop, where the drinks and treats have names related to books and reading. Things like an epic fantasy, which is a large elaborate coffee drink. And there’s a short story, which is a short drink, coffee or tea. The characters are older in this book, late fifties or sixtyish. The book will be called Fascination. I’m about half done.