Interview with Sharon Middleton

Author of The McCarron’s Daughter

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

I grew up in San Antonio, Texas. I met my husband at Texas A$M 47 years ago. We have been married 45 years and have lived in a Alvin, Texas the past 44 years.

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

I graduated from Trinity University in 1972 and went to Texas A&M to graduate school. Classes started on Labor Day that year. One of my sociology professors gave us a walk. I went to Sbisa Dining Hall and found myself sitting next to a cute young man with a winning smile and beautiful brown eyes. We moved to this area when we married two years later.

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

This story was in my head and the characters kept insisting I had to write it. Once it was completed, I tendered it to a contest. It didn’t win that contest, but Black Rose Writing contacted me about it and offered me a contract.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

I write historical romance /time travel books from the view point of the women in the stories.

Beyond McCarron’s Corner is Sassy’s Story. She was a historian whose husband died unexpectedly. She falls through a hole in time, falls in love with one of Washington’s spies, and helps turn the tide of the war with her knowledge of things to come.

In Home to McCarron’s Corner, Lily is a young doctor torn about which direction she wants to go. When she falls through that hole in time, she finds she can combine modern medicine with ancient Cherokee practices. She helps fulfill a Cherokee prophesy and falls in love with enigmatic, introverted Marcus McCarron.

And in The McCarron’s Daughter, Marc’s daughter, Fancy, has to learn to accept herself and love herself before she can truly love a man. It’s not a typical romance. It has been described as a darkly brilliant, stark narrative about learning to thrive despite past physical and mental abuse, blended with fascinating glimpses of 1770’s era Colonial life as detailed in the series.

The sequel, Diary of the Reluctant Duchess, has been tendered to my publisher. In it, Fancy finds healing as well as true love when she travels forward in time.

Sassy’s Story won the Pencraft Award first place award last year for Historical Romance, and Fancy’s Story won it this year.

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

I find men and women enjoy the books, but the people who seem to enjoy it must are women old enough to have lived a bit and who know life us not always pretty.

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

I have learned I am always looking for stories. I’m an attorney, and clients know I may modify stories and put them into manuscripts. I have learned I don’t really enjoy marketing – it takes me away from writing – but it is essential to get the word out about my books.

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

Don’t wait until your sixties to follow your bliss.

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

Millions. I would love for everyone who loves romance and time travel to read them, love them, and clamor got more.

Isn’t that what all writers want?

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

Having enough time to market while maintaining my law practice. I hope to retire soon, but it still pays the bills.

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

My passion about my stories and my willingness to tell my stories to people is my best strength. I can weave a pretty good tale when I’m talking.

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

Marketing gets me down. I enjoy it when I am doing it but I find it very hard to contact book stores and solicit marketing.

When do you think you will write your next book?

As I said, I just tendered Diary of the Reluctant Duchess to Black Rose Writing. I am also about halfway through Path of the Guiding Light, Baylie’s Story. Baylie is a Cherokee woman who has worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs for 15 years. When she meets Fancy and learns she has traveled forward in time, Baylie decides her future is in the past. She goes back to help the Cherokee move from North Georgia before Trail of Tears. She falls in love with Shadow Wolf, chief of the tribe, and they are planning to marry. However, when she reveals whereabouts to Kirk O’Malley, Kirk hoes forward in time, she must go after him to bring him back to his own time.

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

I am blessed to be represented by Black Rose Writing.