ARTICLE POSTED ON: http://oldtimechristian.blogspot.com
Friday, August 14, 2009
Author Fridays Presents...Cheryl Zemke!
Welcome to another edition of Author Fridays! Sit back; get comfortable and read about this week's featured author, Cheryl Zemke.
Cheryl L. Zemke is the author of Defenders of Naturion published by Publish America. www.publishamerica.com
Zemke, a first time author holds a B.S.B.A and Associate degree in merchandising, and owns her own business, CZ Creations Custom Sewing & Alterations. She is married with a teenaged son.
"I am and probably always will be an artist, first," she says. "I love books with innovative and unique characters. So, the pictures have always meant more to me than words."
When asked about her hobbies, she replies, "Drawing, camping, scrapbooking and having a great time watching my son grow up. I do not have a favorite author, but as I learn about being an author myself, I am growing to respect the classic children's book authors like Dr. Seuss. Authors like him take something very simple and make it yet so creative, that everyone can enjoy reading."
"I have enjoyed reading books like Spiderwick with my son. The artwork is amazing and so is the imaginative story."
Zemke says she has never considered being an author before, however, she has considered doing artwork for someone else's book.
What inspired her to write her story were some sketches that she and her son worked on, while
camping. The story developed from there," she says, "but it was my son and his cousin who had confidence in me to tell the story in writing. They kept me motivated to complete the book."
A woman who cannot resist putting a creative edge to everything. Cheryl Zemke is inspired by nature and everyday life, both past and present.. She feels that she is different from most authors in that she did not grow up writing or even wanting to write. "This book was an inspiration from God through what I love to do; draw and create." Cheryl wants to tell a good, moral story that children will find adventurous, that parents will not have to worry about the content therein, and one without all the blood and guts that alot of fantasy stories have.
So, what will you get out of reading Defenders of Naturion?
Cheryl says she hopes that readers will connect with the characters. She tells me she
attempted to make each of them with some special, God-given natural ability and also as realistic as possible. They do not have the perfect "DAD+MOM+2 kid + dog" families. They have problems with their peers at school and things that they are not good at, as well.
"God gives each of us an unbelievable talent of some sort," Zemke believes, "and it is up to us to discover it and do things to praise His name! "
To any aspiring author, she says, "Write as much as you can and never give up on your dreams."
When I asked Cheryl if there was anything more that she wanted to share, she informed me that all the artwork in Defenders of Naturion was created by none other than herself, including the cover and its design, and 15 pages of characters scattered inside the book.
More characters can be seen on her Website: www.defendersofnaturion.com
From her website, you can purchase a copy of her book and learn more about it.
There is a popular page called "the Fairy Realm" which features a new fairy to vote on each week.
Her site has been viewed by people in forty-five of the fifty states and numerous places around the world, so stop by and check out the characters from Naturion. There is a new character featured on "Inside the Story" page each month.
As a published author myself, it seems that once you've held your book in your hand, you yurn to publish again, and again, and this seems to be true with Cheryl Zemke. She is currently working on three more books: a sequel to Defenders of Naturion titled Color of the Jewel;
A picture book for young children ages zero to six years entitled The Adventures of Freddy and Teddy Book #1- Where's Teddy?; and a book for ages six to eight, entitled The Magical Dream Belt.
"I would like to thank Shannon for interviewing with me and taking this time to help promote a story that means so much to me."
"No problem, Cheryl. It has been a pleasure."
To learn more about Cheryl L. Zemke go to her Website:
www.defendersofnaturion.com
Thanks for joining me on another edition of "Author Fridays." If you are an author and would like to be featured here, please send an e-mail to
SShannonNicoleWells.suddenlink.net
Put "author interview" in the subject, and I'll get back with you as soon as I can.
