Wednesday 10 March 2021

A Slice of Cake With... Sherry Perkins

This week I am delighted to have a slice of cake with Sherry Perkins.

Indie author Sherry Perkins has a natural curiosity and love for life-long learning. When not on the beach collecting shells or sea glass, she can be found in her garden avoiding the snakes or following the Dave Matthews Band to snake-free venues on the East Coast. During a once in a lifetime visit to Northern Ireland, she was inspired to write the beginning lines to what would become the Will-o’-the-Wisp Stories. The Wisp Stories are serialized tales of well-known folklore, reimagined in a contemporary form with small-town sensibility and scientific inquiry added. Books in the Wisp Stories have previously been short-listed for “best in genre” at the Paranormal Romance Guild Reviewers Choice Awards. In addition to the Wisp Stories, she has written blended genre sci-fi thriller and romance, or cozy murder mysteries. Her books invite the reader to imagine what they might do in tough situations and challenge beliefs—because as she learned in Northern Ireland, nothing is what it seems and you really should leave a saucer of milk with a slice of cake at the back gate every night if you want to keep in the good graces of the wee folk (and maybe banish the garden snakes).

What kind of stories do you write?

Once upon a time…the bulk of the stories I write are about real places, in contemporary settings with characters who have very human needs—except all of the characters are not quite human, some are killers, plus there is a sprinkling of enchantment or otherwise magical happenings and romance.



Can you describe your writing why?

I have stories to tell. They will not be quiet or stay hidden in my imagination for want of being told, shared with those who want to believe in something more than what they know or expect.

Share with us your favourite passage from the book you enjoyed writing the most

From These Are for Tears:

“Boy, I tell you this, if it were not for your mother, you would be dead and long gone for running that gobhole of yours. Every-fecking-thing you do concerns me. You would do best not to forget that.” 
“Because I am your loyal subject, d’ya mean?” Connor asked. 
“You watch your mouth!” The Erl leaned back in his chair. “It is more because I cared for your mother and less because you are a loyal subject.” He paused to consider his words. “And it is because of Morgan. She’s something in mind for you lads. To be sure, I truthfully can’t suss what it might be. That disturbs me a bit, it does.”
Connor snorted. “Well, that would make at least two of us.”
The Erl frowned. “Boy, you understand she continues to feel love for Tiernan, even as she is married to you. I don’t know if I like the dynamic of it. There’s more to it than what is on the surface. That is what’s of primary concern here. Morgan’s feelings for Tiernan might be what vexes me. It might be that I know you are keeping something from her. Or she is keeping something from you. Or that slowly and quite deliberately, she is teasing you away from Em—you and Tiernan, both. It creates an imbalance of power. I won’t have it. Do you hear me, boy?”
“You should have thought about that before you put the crazy twit on the throne, if you were so worried about the balance of power!” 
With a tolerant smile, the Erl pushed away from the table and stood. He leaned close to Connor. “Your wife, she is not to be trusted.”
“Not to worry,” Connor said. “Neither am I.” 



Tell us about your latest project

What started as notes I’d collected on a trip to Portrush in Northern Ireland quickly found itself a serialized telling of the adventures of an American student abroad, soon to graduate from the University of Ulster, who discovers—quite by accident—fairies do exist, and they are not the gossamer-winged, pixie-dust sprinkling beings she’d been told about as a child. No, faeries are complex beings with emotionally driven behaviour, a long memory, and an unforgiving code of conduction and behavioural expectations.

These Are for Tears is the newest release in the Will-o’-the-Wisp Stories, the third in the serialized tales about Morgan Patterson and the man of her dreams, Sgt. Tiernan Doherty. But he’s neither a man nor your typical sergeant in the PSNI; he’s a card-carrying faerie lord with a past that is catching up with him and Morgan.

And Morgan? Well, she’s not the innocent by-stander she seems to be…

What is your favourite cake?

I suppose my favourite is a Lady Baltimore cake or a good red velvet cake with pistachio cream cheese icing. 



I've never heard of that one before, looks good though. You can connect with Sherry here:


Join me next week when I will be having a slice of cake with Kim Kimber. 

If you would like to take part in A Slice of Cake With... please fill in the form found here. I'd be delighted to have you.

You can also support my writing endeavours and buy me tea & cake - it's what makes the world go round!


Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Find out more about her books on her website clairebuss.co.uk. Join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop.

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