Hi, Cherié Summers, welcome to the Indie Publishing Group website!
Introduce yourself to us. Tell everyone who you are, where you’re from, what you enjoy doing, hobbies and interests.
Hello, I’m Cherié Summers and I’m from Jacksonville, Florida. Besides writing, I enjoy photography and I teach belly dance. I’m a pop culture nerd and love going to conventions and meeting my favorite people like the stars of The Walking Dead (I’m obsessed with this show) and Jason Momoa. Also love going to concerts from my favorite artists most of whom were huge stars in the 1980’s. Music and dance have always been a big part of my life which may be why music has a big influence on the books I write.
When did you start writing and why?
Writing was something I always enjoyed as a kid and I was pretty good at it. I was constantly making up stories in my head. When I was 18, I had a dream about my favorite rock star, Billy Idol, and began writing it all down in story form. It became the first draft of my book A Melody for Adrian.
Which is your favorite book you have written and what gave you the idea for it?
Eternally Wild is my current favorite. It’s the latest book I’ve had published. The idea came from a dream I had about meeting the ghost of the late rock star, Michael Hutchence. That dream became the first scene of the book. I felt Michael’s spirit throughout the entire writing process. The book has humor, lots of drama, sexy romance and will bring on the tears as well. I love writing books that take readers through a rollercoaster of emotions.
How did you come up with the title for your book?
Eternally Wild is a lyric from the band INXS who Michael Hutchence fronted.
Who helped you with the cover? Or did your design it yourself? What was your inspiration for your cover design?
I wanted my cover to convey my story. Plus, being my first self-published book, I had to work cheap. I combined two photos I pulled from a free stock photography site and created it myself. Once I’d made the cover, I posted it on social media to ask what people thought the book inside might be about. And since they were able to give ideas that were close to the storyline, I knew it conveyed what I wanted it to. The cover is a couple clearly in love with a rock star between them. Because it is a love story between three people.
What are some of the themes of your story?
All my books have similar themes. They are not just erotic romance stories, but stories about the strength of true love, the bonds of friendship, and finding personal redemption. For Eternally Wild another theme is overcoming loss.
What’s your process when you sit down and decide to start writing a book and do you have a system?
No system to speak of. I have ideas in my head and just begin writing. I go where the story takes me. I can always edit later.
Who are some of your favorite characters and why?
For my own books? Buzzy from my Love on Fire series cracks me up. He is the keyboardist jokester of my rock band, Lightning and injects humor into even the most serious moments. Of course, I love Adrian, my male lead, from the series (inspired by Billy Idol). When I wrote the first book, I thought I was going to be telling Melody’s story and while she is vital to the series, it really is Adrian’s journey to overcome his past that is being explored over the course of the first three books.
As for the latest, Eternally Wild, I love all three main characters. Caesar Blue is carefree (and a ghost I might add), loving and kind. He’s the romantic male lead whereas Johnnie Vega is the bad boy, down and dirty male lead that sizzles. Melanie is the female lead who’s overcome a tragic loss and turned off her heart. When it’s opened again, she finds herself in love with both men. Because don’t we all want a man who’s a bit Caesar and a bit Johnnie?
Who are some of your favorite authors?
Johnathan Kellerman is my favorite as I love criminal psychology. I love The Walking Dead graphic novels, so I must include Robert Kirkman as well. My daughter was introduced to Louise Rennison’s books in middle school and I read the whole series and absolutely loved them. They made me laugh out loud.
Have you got anything you’re working on now?
When I finished Eternally Wild, I thought it would be a stand-alone book. I was ready to move on to my next idea, but then thought I might explore a continuation of the story told from Johnnie Vega’s point of view. We shall see where it takes me. Over the summer I began writing Buzzy’s story as a new addition to the Love on Fire series.
If you could have any superpowers what would they be?
The power to write faster or make more time to write at least. My day job is very stressful and tiring, so I must push myself to write a something every day. I see so many writers cranking out books, while I put out about one a year. Although Eternally Wild was written very quickly so I did manage two last year.
If you could travel to any location in the world where would you go?
England, France, Italy, Greece, Scotland. Ironically, I’ve used these locations in my books.
Where do you hope to be in 5 years’ time?
On a best seller list of some kind. Or at least have a steady readership for my books. And since so many who have read my Love on Fire series have said this, I’d love to see that series turned into a television show. Of course, with the language and sex it would have to be on HBO or Showtime.
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