Interview with Daniel Sherrier

Author of The Flying Woman

Where are you from originally and where do you reside now?

I was born in New Jersey and grew up in central Virginia, where I currently live.

If you currently reside somewhere besides where you were born, what’s the story that lead from there to here?

I was eight at the time, so I was a terribly passive protagonist in this particular story. But I did choose to stick around the area as an adult, as it is a nice place.

What made you decide to write and publish your first book?

I’ve been writing since childhood and never figured out how to stop.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

In “The Flying Woman,” a young woman gains powers and has to figure out how to be this supposedly perfect superhero, despite knowing she’s nowhere near perfect. It takes the classic type of superhero origin story and makes it work for prose. It’s appropriate for teens and adults alike.

Who do you feel is most likely to connect with the topics you write about?

Anyone who enjoys superheroes, first of all, but also anyone who’s ever been any sort of role model (parent, teacher, coach, etc.) — that is, anyone who’s ever had to be “perfect” to others.

What unexpected or surprising thing did you learn during the process of writing and publishing?

It’s a lot harder to adapt superheroes to prose than you might expect. The genre has made much less headway in novels than in other media, and now I see why. Superheroes were created for a very visual medium, so novels aren’t necessarily a natural fit. But that did make for an interesting challenge. I wrote this book at least three different times from scratch before finally getting on the right track, and I’m glad I stuck with it.

If you could, what advice would you give to your past self before embarking on this journey?

Don’t ever be in a hurry to publish. Take your time, figure out what works and what doesn’t, and get it right.

How many people would you ideally like to reach with your books?

The more, the merrier.

What has been the biggest challenge and frustration during the process to date?

Marketing, especially in a crowded marketplace, has always been a challenge. I’m always trying to figure it out. Somewhere, there’s a balance between adhering to “best practices” and not coming across like a pre-programmed robot.

What’s your biggest strengths when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

a) I’m in it to have fun, and I invite others to have fun with me.
b) I know I can’t do everything, so I make sure I hire the right people to do the things I can’t (such as creating a great cover).
c) While there’s a lot I don’t know about marketing, I do know that nothing beats face-to-face interaction, so I participate in book festivals in my area whenever possible.

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

a) Perfectionism anxiety. It slows me down a bit too much. I need to be better at giving myself permission to write sloppy first drafts so I can get to the revising process faster.
b) I’ve self-published, which has allowed me to avoid my weaknesses of writing query letters and synopses.
c) I need to be more consistent and focused on social media. I’m a little too aware of how it pales in comparison to in-person communication, and I need to get over that.

When do you think you will write your next book?

I’m currently writing the sequel to “The Flying Woman” (the second book in the Terrific series). I’m a little behind schedule, as I realized the book I was writing should actually be at least the third in the series. So I’m now writing a new version of the second book and hope to have it ready to print sometime next year.

Are you self published or did you use a hybrid publisher, or a traditional publisher?

I’m self-published, though I’m certainly not a partisan in the self vs. traditional debate. Both have their advantages, and I hope to someday be both self- and traditionally published.