It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Sharon Buchbinder, author of Tears of the Wolf

Author’s Bio: Amazon best-selling author Sharon Buchbinder’s broad range of writing includes internationally best-selling textbooks and award-winning novels that tell haunting tales of love, family secrets, forgiveness, extraordinary abilities, truth, justice, and redemption. She believes happily-ever-afters are born through strengths developed in overcoming adversity in fiction and real life.

Sharon’s Western romance ghost stories are woven with supernatural and Native American paranormal suspense elements. Set in small towns in the American West with strong female heroines, sexy male heroes, secret government agencies, undercover agents, shape-shifters, werewolves, weretigers, ghosts, jinnis (genies), telekinesis, teleportation, and remote viewing, these stories will make you wonder about those bumps in the night. For more information go to: https://www.sharonbuchbinder.com

Deliah Lawrence: What inspired you to write your book?

Sharon Buchbinder: The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s (MMIW) epidemic has been heavy on my heart for many years. At last it is gaining the attention it deserves. However, part of me wondered if some of these murders could be the work of a serial killer working under the radar of MMIW? Tears of the Wolf sprang from that “what if” thought.

DL: Describe your writing process?

SB: I'm a reformed pantser, now a plantser. Having learned the hard way on my first novel, which I revised ten times (no, that's not a typo), I realized I needed a better plan. I took courses and settled on a blend of the Hero's Journey and Alexandra Sokoloff's plotting grid. With an outline, I know where I start and it's okay if I take a side road—I know how the story will end.

DL: Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?

SB: With respect to a LIVING author, Katherine Neville (lovely woman) inspired me to emulate her story structure in The Eight, alternating between present and historical times, in my own work.

DL: If you were hosting a dinner party which three authors would be your dream guests and why?

SB: It would have to be a séance.

Ray Bradbury—Because he envisioned the world around him in a new way.
Robert Heinlein—Because he taught me to GROK.
Agatha Christie—Because she opened me up to puzzles in writing.

DL: What are the keys to success in marketing your book(s)?

SB: Get help!! I work full-time, have a busy family life, exercise 30-45 minutes daily, and need to have time to write. Marketing is a HUGE time suck. When you promote your book, target your advertising money wisely. I spent a lot of money on ads that never worked. Find an affordable assistant with a good track record to help you grow your brand.

DL: What tips would you give to aspiring writers?

SB: I would give them the following 10 tips and advice:

Read the genre you want to write.
Learn your craft. Take courses. Go to conferences. Be among other writers.
Write and publish your best story for your genre.
If you are self-publishing, pretend you are the biggest publisher in the world and you are submitting to them.
Again, if self-publishing, find a great editor who knows how to work in various publication formats.
Publishing is a business. Read your contracts, understand royalties, and learn to use spreadsheets.
Promote your work without being a jerk.
Don’t respond to reviews—except to say thank you!
Participate in and submit to contests. The feedback will help you grow.
Be patient. Overnight success in this business is rare. Don’t be fooled by those who say you must make it big by a certain date. It is your life, your story, your timeline.

DL: What do you like to do when you are not writing?

SB: Spend time with family and friends, even socially distanced. We connect with our family and friends daily by phone or video calls.

DL: If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

SB: Smart, sassy, bold achiever.

DL: Can you share an excerpt from Tears of the Wolf?

SB: Sure thing. Here you go:

“He’s a murderer.” Zena took a deep breath. “Look, I know he’s your uncle and you probably have some good recollections with him. I’m sure he was like a father figure to you because your dad was gone. Don’t the facts outweigh the memories? The man is a sociopath. His whole life is a lie. You saw him murder your father, Jacob. What more do you need to convince you that this is justice—delayed—but still justice?”

“You had no right—”

“I not only had the right, but the duty to follow the leads. If I hadn’t followed protocol and done everything by the book, there would have been a federal investigation. Put yourself in my shoes. Would you have told me if the tables were turned?” She paused and lowered her voice. “You’re raw, I get it. I’m sorry we didn’t have a chance to discuss this right after the arrest. I’ve been tied up with paperwork—you know what that’s like. I’m sorry your uncle murdered your father. I could not have predicted that. The wound of your father’s death never healed—and this forced you to relive that night.”

“Family matters, but maybe it’s different with you. You’re so cold, so matter of fact about your sisters’ deaths. Maybe they didn’t mean as much to you as my father and uncle do—did.”

DL: What new projects are you currently working on?

SB: I’m working on a novel for the Cat’s Paw Cove Series. Located in Florida, Cat’s Paw Cove is a magical place, where anything can happen—and does. The title for my new story is Healed with a Kiss, wherein an uptight man of science finds his life unraveled by a carefree woman of magic.

DL: Where can readers learn more about you and purchase your book(s)?

SB: They can learn more here: