INTERVIEW WITH COLLEEN M. CHESEBRO!

Colleen M. Chesebro

Please help me welcome, author Colleen M. Chesebro to Jemsbooks Blog Segment, Interview an Author.

Welcome, Colleen. It’s lovely to have you here today.

Please step up on the platform – it’s all yours.

Please tell us something about yourself.

Hi, my name is Colleen Chesebro. I’m an Air Force veteran and a retired bookkeeper who loves to write paranormal stories, poetry, and novels. A few years back, I met an elemental being, I called the swamp fairy. Not only did this experience send me down a new life path, it also ignited my imagination. I even wrote book called The Swamp Fairy.

My writing career began when I was eighteen years old. I enlisted in the Air Force after graduating from high school as a Chapel Management Specialist. (Don’t ask me the year… it was long ago). One of my first writing jobs was to update the historical records for the chapel at Moody AFB, Georgia. At the time, I didn’t realize this job would help me when I went to college, but it sure did.

Through the years, I’ve always found the time to read and write, and I’ve always dabbled in writing poetry. In 2014, my writing career took off after I started my first blog at colleenchesebro.com. I also have a second blog, which is a group blog I formed with some close author friends called The Sisters of the Fey. I’ll tell you more about that later.

Currently, I host a weekly Tanka Tuesday poetry challenge where I give the participants two words to use when they write their poetry. The poets must find synonyms for those two words to be used in their Haiku, Senryu, Tanka, Haibun or Cinquain poem.

I also write flash fiction and participate in the Carrot Ranch Weekly Flash Fiction Challenge at carrotranch.com as often as I can. Writing poetry and flash fiction have helped me to hone my writing skills. I think it’s the brevity of words that really makes you think.

jjspina: Wow, you certainly have a lot on your plate, Colleen, with two blogs and more.

What process do you need in order to write?

I like to start my writing day with a guided chakra clearing meditation. This is one of my favorite videos: https://youtu.be/_4auAzCIoj8. It’s only 15 minutes long but gets my mind where it needs to be to write.

I have a room that is flooded with sunlight which I’ve dubbed “my creative room.” It’s filled with plants, crystals, fairies, witches, and photos of my husband and grandchildren. Most days I burn incense to Kwan Yin, the goddess of compassion, asking for her guidance in my writing.

Once I’ve gone through this ritual, I’m ready to write.

jjspina: Hmm, this is all fascinating the way you prepare to write. That’s why you are so creative.

How do you come up with ideas for your stories?

I have a strange imagination, I suppose. I also have the most vivid dreams. Many of my writing ideas pop into my head. If I’m looking for the strange and unusual to write about I turn to the Ancient Aliens television show. Seriously, they share information about myths and gods I’ve never heard of before. I literally take notes, do some research and come up with ideas for poetry and short stories.

jjspina: Wherever and whenever your muse comes, go with it.

What hobbies do you have when you are not writing?

I love to crochet with thread and create old fashioned doilies. My mother passed away when I was three years old. In my early twenties, I taught myself how to crochet with thread when my grandmother gave me two doilies my mother had made years ago. I decided it would be my tribute to her.

I made this runner for my Great Grand Niece

jjspina: How wonderful that you dedicated your crochet to your grandmother. I’m sure she is watching over you and as proud as she could possibly be. How beautiful, Colleen!

Please share your books with us and a synopsis of each. 

Title: Fairies, Myths, & Magic ~ A Summer Celebration

ASIN: B07DTSBH4T

Release Date: June 17, 2018

Format: Paperback Kindle

Purchase from: Amazon & FREE on Kindle Unlimited

Country Tagged Universal Book Link: Smarturl.it/FairiesMythsMagic

Blurb:

Step into a world where fairies, dragons, and other magical beings converge in a collection of poetry and short stories inspired by the celebration of Litha, the Summer Solstice.

Meet Drac, a dragon cursed by his own poisonous deeds, and two pixies who help an old man remember a lost love. You’ll meet a pair of fairies with a sense of humor, and a young girl who fulfills her destiny after being struck by lightning. Learn what happens when a modern witch’s spell goes terribly wrong. Meet the Sisters of the Fey, a group of Slavic Witches who sign a pact with the Rusalki Fey to preserve their magic for the good of all.

Atmospheric and haunting, the prose and poetry, will rewrite the mythologies of the past bringing them into the future.

***

I was thrilled when this book reached the distinction of being a #1 New Release in Poetry Anthologies.

Title: The Heart Stone Chronicles: The Swamp Fairy, Book One

ASIN: B01MU69MXT

No of Pages: 252 pages

Release Date: December 30, 2016

Formats: Paperback and Kindle

Purchase from: Amazon & FREE on Kindle Unlimited

COUNTRY TAGGED UNIVERSAL BOOK LINK: smarturl.it/HSCSwampFairy

Blurb:

Fourteen-year-old Abigale Forester, recently orphaned and a ward of the State of Illinois moves from Chicago to Florida to live with her aunt, her last living relative. Magnolia Forester becomes her legal Guardian, and together they claim an ancient inheritance; land that belonged to Abby’s mother’s family for generations.

Holding onto the only piece of her mother Abby has left, a calcite pendant and her mother’s most sacred possession, she discovers the truth of her legacy. The pendant is more significant than she could possibly imagine. Forged from a giant mystical heart-shaped stone found on the very swamp land Abby now owns, it holds the power of her ancestors.

But with that power comes greater responsibility, one that pits her against Rafe Cobb, a greedy land developer, who will stop at nothing to own Abby’s swampland.

As Abby learns to be part of a family again and explores her love of horses with friends, Savanna, and Blake, the swamp slowly gives up some of its secrets. She is summoned by a primeval nymph, who teaches Abby that her true destiny is to protect the nymphs from evil in an ever-changing modern world.

Can Abby save the swamp and the Naiad Nymph Clan from certain destruction before it is too late?

jjspina: I thoroughly enjoyed this book, Colleen. Here is my review below from Amazon.

March 22, 2018

***

As a bonus to go along with the book, my dear friend, Irene Skov-Hansen, from IreneDesign2011, created and designed two amazing styles of calcite fairy pendants just like the one that Abby Forester wears in The Heart Stone Chronicles. The pendant, along with the book makes the perfect gift for that special girl in your life.

Large Pendant Shop NOW ==>

Small Pendant Shop NOW ==> 

jjspina: These necklaces are lovely, Colleen. Your friend is quite talented.

What are you working on currently?

Currently, I’m working on a book called, The Sisters of the Fey – Genesis. The story is about eight women who are healing Slavic witches. The women align with the Rusalki Fey to save magic and the old ways from the Byzantine Monks who have made their way into the back county. I promise lots of excitement and magic.

The fun part is that this idea came to me after I combined forces with seven other authors to start a blog called the Sisters of the Fey. The authors are: Annette Rochelle Aben, Deborah Bowman, Wendy Anne Darling, Tina Frisco, Debby Gies, Marjorie Mallon, Adele Marie Park, and me. You can find the link here: https://sistersofthefey.wordpress.com/. These women have inspired me to write this new book. I’ve managed to capture their personalities in the storyline. It will be fun to see if my readers can figure out who is who.

jjspina: These are a lovely group of ladies including you, Colleen. I have visited this blog and enjoyed reading the posts from all of you. Ooh, I look forward to this new book.

Colleen’s Bio:

Colleen M. Chesebro is an American Novelist who loves writing about paranormal fantasy and magical realism, cross-genre fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. She loves all things magical which may mean that she could be experiencing her second childhood—or not. That part of her life hasn’t been fully decided yet.

A few years ago, a mystical experience led her to renew her passion for writing and storytelling. These days she resides in the fantasy realm of the Fairy Whisperer where she writes the magical poetry and stories that the fairy nymphs whisper to her in her dreams.

Colleen won the Little and Laugh Flash Fiction Contest sponsored by the CarrotRanch Literary Community.com in November 2017 for her piece, called The Bus Stop. Her debut novel, The Heart Stone Chronicles: The Swamp Fairy won gold in the 2017 AuthorsDB.com cover contest.

Colleen lives in Colorado with her husband and her two Pomeranians, Sugar and Spice. When she is not writing, Colleen enjoys spending time with her husband and friends. She also loves gardening, reading, and crocheting old-fashioned doilies into works of art.

Feel free to get in touch with me below on the contact form, or you can email me at colleenchesebro3@gmail.com.

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Thanks for sharing your lovely blog with me today, Janice. I had a great time.

It was my pleasure to have you here, Colleen. I found your answers to my questions fascinating. I wish you all the best with your books and much success with your future endeavors. I look forward to reading your new book of poetry and short stories. It’s on my TBR list. Please feel free to come back again now that you are part of Jemsbooks Blog family and share new releases.

Thank you, readers, for stopping by to read about this fascinating and creative author. Please visit her links and check out her books and blogs for some intriguing reading.

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Blessings & Hugs!

Janice