If you haven't heard of Shelia M. Goss, I suggest you Google her! Ms. Goss is a national best-selling author and a 2012 Emma Award Finalist. She has over thirteen books in print and writes in multiple genres: Christian fiction, romance, women's fiction, suspense, and young adult. USA Today says, "Goss has an easy, flowing style with her prose..." Shelia's also the recipient of three Shades of Romance Magazine Readers Choice Multi-Cultural Awards and honored as a Literary Diva: The Top 100 Most Admired African American Women in Literature. For more information, visit her website.The Book
When did you fall in love with the written word? I've been in love with the written word since I was a baby. I loved being read to and started reading when I was 4 years-old.
When did you know you wanted to be a writer? I knew at an early age. I was around 9 years-old when I first knew I loved writing.
How long have you been writing? Since 9, but I decided to pursue it professionally around 1997.
Talk to us about your writing journey. If you've faced rejection how do you rise above it? If you haven't faced rejection what advice do you have for other aspiring authors? The road wasn't easy. Plenty of research was involved, hours of classes, submitting to agents/publishers, received numerous rejections but I never gave up. My first book with a publisher was My Invisible Husband and that was back in December 2006. The only way to rise above rejection is to never give up. Continue to polish your manuscript and keep submitting. But again, you must never give up.
Are you an outliner or "fly by your pants kind of writer?" I'm both. I write a synopsis because that's what my agent needs to submit my book proposal to a publisher. I do a detailed character chart on my main characters. Once I know my characters and the story in my head, I sit behind the computer and write the story.
How long does it take you to write a novel? It all depends. I wrote the first draft of Delilah in one month. I wrote the first draft of my young adult book, Secrets Untold in one week, but another book took me three months to write.
What social media outlets are you using to promote yourself/your writing? Facebook and Twitter.
Where do you see your writing career in five years? I hope to still be in the game but one of the ones at the top. I hope to see my books to film/or plays.
What are you currently working on? I'm currently working on book proposals.
You're sitting inside your favorite coffee shop...delicious smells of flavorful lattes and pastries permeate the air. Sitting next to you is your favorite author. You have the opportunity to ask him/her three questions...what would they be? 1. How do you respond to people who think your book is about someone real when it's not? 2. How can author's brand themselves? 3. What's one thing that inspires you to keep going when faced with rejection?