Tell us about yourself.
I grew up in Indiana, number four of five sisters,
no brothers. Let me beat you to the punch, “Your poor dad!” Heh, heh.
As far as previous
occupations go, there have been many, including retail, elementary school
teacher, medical lab tech, insurance, finance and more. Writing has been
something I've enjoyed since grade school. I like my books to include
something fantastic, a touch of science fiction, or elements of the
paranormal. Currently, I live in rural Ohio with my husband, two children and
a lab/border collie mix. I love weird trivia and humorous antidotes, so you'll
find them sprinkled throughout my blog.
When and why did you begin writing?
I began writing in grade school because my
teachers made me—the big meanies!
When did you first know
you could be a writer?
There’s a difference between being a writer and
writing for a living. I’ve always known the former was possible. As for the
latter, ask me again in ten years.
Why do you continue to
write?
I’m addicted. When a scene comes together, it
gives me a high. When I’m forced to stay away from my computer too long, I get
jittery until I get my daily fix of wordage. The compulsion sometimes
interferes with my other responsibilities—housework, social life, and even my
health. Writing is my blue meth, I guess.
What writing are you most proud of?
The Wish Thief—definitely. I wrote the skeleton
of the book, from beginning to the end in less than three days. Didn’t eat,
didn’t sleep, it was as if the story poured into me from some other realm. I
haven’t had the same experience with any of my other books.
What is hardest – getting
published, writing or marketing?
Anyone can publish these days, so my first
inclination is to say marketing. But the more I think about it, the more I’m
leaning toward the middle option. Writing is easy, but writing well is hard.
It’s so hard only the bravest, or perhaps the most delusional of us, set
out to make a living at it.
Do you find it difficult to share your work?
At first it felt like offering my heart on a
platter to a stranger. Would they tear it apart or cherish it? I’ve grown a
thicker skin since then. So, nah, it’s not difficult anymore.
What are you working on
right now?
I’m currently working on the sequel to Avant
Nation, a dystopian suspense with romantic elements. I’m way behind schedule,
still working on the first draft, but it will be published sometime this year.
God willing.
What else is
coming down the pipeline?
I’m thinking about writing a novel based on a
dream I had during my freshman year of college. It was both religious and apocalyptic,
something I’ve pondered many years. Sometimes it’s so hard
to keep at it - What keeps you going?
Sheer madness.
What do you hope people
will take away from your writing? How will your words make them feel?
My goal is to entertain
people. I invite readers to apply their own understanding of the characters and
events as presented. If someone finishes one of my stories and it leaves them
wanting to dive deeper into my fictional world, then I’ve accomplished my goal.
I hope my words stir up a wide range of emotions . . . anxious, excited,
scared, love, hate and joy. You name it.
How do you think people perceive writers?
Traditionally published authors are thought of
as intelligent, introverted, eccentric, worldly, competent and cool.
Self-published authors are
perceived as subpar, delusional, annoying little boogers who are always pushing
their books.
I’m not saying the labels are
fair or accurate, but that’s the common perception. Fortunately, opinions are shifting. The
high price of traditionally published eBooks have brought a lot of readers over
to the bargain bins, which are overflowing with self-published books. Since
many readers return to the bargain bin again and again, they are obviously
satisfied with what they have found there in the past. From what I can tell,
the negative sweeping judgments about self-published writers aren’t as negative
as they used to be. I regularly sift through the bargain bin myself. More than
half of the books on my Kindle are self-published. If I can be entertained at
bargain prices, I’m going for it.
When you are not writing, how do you like to
relax?
The ideal answer would be to say exercise or
volunteering at a soup kitchen, but that would be a lie. I eat, nap, read, talk
on the phone, take a walk down the lane or watch television. Isn’t that what
normal people do to relax?
What is your favorite quote, by whom, and
why?
On hearing tens of thousands
of young people singing in St. Peter’s Square, Pope John Paul the Second’s last
audible words:
"I sought you out and
now you come to me. Thank you."
I like this quote for many reasons. One of them
being that it highlights how a man’s deeds come back to him in the end. It’s
also a testament to a great man’s humility, gratitude and undying
faith.
Do you intend to make writing a career?
If the income was reliable it would be the
career of my dreams. Reality tells me to wake up and smell the coffee.
Is there a message in your novels that
you want readers to grasp?
I inject my own philosophies and beliefs into my
novels, sure, but I don’t set out to send messages. Once my book goes out to
the world, its interpretation belongs to the readers. They will grasp what is
meaningful to them and it doesn’t matter what I think.
***
Thank you, C.D.!
Learn more about C.D. at the following sites:
World of C.D. Verhoff blog:
Amazon Author Page:
The Wish Thief on Barnes & Noble:
Author on Goodreads:
