After a bit, I decided to write one myself. I disappeared into my room over a long Wisconsin winter and wrote my debut novel, Protecting Rose. I submitted my manuscript to a few publishing houses, and was offered a contract with Soul Mate Publishing, which I quickly accepted. Protecting Rose went on to win the 2012 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence in the romantic suspense category.
Well, I was hooked. Within a year I quit my job as a legal secretary and began writing full time. That was nine books and two anthologies ago. I’d like to say I was an instant success, but that’s not the case. Like any career, it takes hard work and patience. Although my books sell well, only since last summer have I felt I had my first real ‘success.’ The Notary, hit No. 4 on Amazon in the romantic suspense category. I sat on the top 100 bestselling author’s list for a month. So exciting.
But, success or not, writing is in my blood, and I live and breathe all things writing. After the first year with Soul Mate, Debby Gilbert, the owner and Senior Editor approached me and asked me to come onboard as an editor. Such a whirlwind couple of years. I have over 50 edited novels under my belt, and my inbox is jammed with more to edit. I’m lucky today if I get the chance to read one book a month. But sometimes I just say to heck with it, and stop everything I’m doing to just relax and recharge with a good story . . . on my Kindle of course. lol
I feel fortunate to have the chance to pursue my creative endeavors. It helps that I have such a supportive husband, and I couldn’t do this without him. He’s my rock and, other than my mother, my biggest fan.
Mostly, I write romantic suspense. Although I dabble in contemporary here and there, and recently began writing under the pen name CiCi Cordelia with my BFF, Char Chaffin. We are currently working on a dragon shifter romance for Soul Mate, and have plans for a paranormal series that we plan to self-publish. So much fun!
My newest release is with Soul Mate Publishing, Between Midnight and Dawn . A romantic suspense with a serial killer plot. This story is a bit darker than my other novels. I wanted to write a truly nasty villain, and spent a few days researching serial killers. Probably my toughest research yet. Even now, some of what I read still haunts me.
Here’s a promotional trailer I put together that tells about my writing journey in little over a minute
Between Midnight and Dawn
Kyle Wade has spent over half his life seeking justice for his mother’s brutal murder at the hands of the serial killer known as C.H.K. His efforts lead him to Nicole Chambers, a woman he quickly develops strong feelings for. Now he’s torn between keeping Nicole safe, or using her as bait to capture the monster stalking her.
Cheryl does her own book trailers and I am awed by her skill.
Excerpt:
Nicole paced nervously, waiting for Kyle to return. She’d thrown on her workout clothes; a black pair of Capris, a long purple T-shirt with large cut-out armholes, and a black sports bra peeking out from underneath. She was covered practically from head to foot, so why did she get so nervous thinking about Kyle seeing her in the outfit?
Because he’ll be touching me, that’s why. And though not as daring as what a lot of the women wore at the club, it still showed far more skin than Nicole was used to, except when she was working out. Did this qualify?
This is a bad idea.
Her doorbell rang.
She took a steadying breath. Too late to back out.
When she opened the door and Kyle saw her, his eyes lit with a smoldering fire. But all he said was, “Ready?” as he walked past her, greeting her dog, “Hey, Charlie.”
Taking a moment to close the door, and calm her jittery nerves, she turned back to him. The desire she’d so clearly recognized in his heated stare, had lessened to a more neutral expression.
He nodded toward the living room, where she’d pushed the furniture out of the way, clearing a large spot in the middle. “You should have waited for me to help.”
Nicole rolled her eyes. “Please. I do vacuum, you know. The furniture doesn’t move itself.”
A slightly crooked smile curved Kyle’s lips as Charlie headed over to his dog bed for a nap. “Suppose not.”
Her stomach fluttered. He was too charming for his own good. How in the hell was she supposed to resist him? No men rule, remember. Gah! What a dumb rule. What had she been thinking?
Maybe that your taste in men is crap, and you needed a good long break after the last guy you dated almost killed you.
Oh, yeah. That was it.
Kyle moved to the center of the room, looking all too fine in a pair of tight jeans. He waved her over with two crooked fingers. Her cheeks flamed, hoping he hadn’t caught her checking him out. But by the smirk on his face, she figured he had.
“Now,” he said as she approached, his tone shifting to all business. “If someone tries to grab you, whatcha gonna do?”
“Um. Run away?”
He nodded. “Might work. But, let’s say he manages to get a hold of you. What then?”
She licked her dry lips, nerves rolling around in her stomach. “Is this a trick question?”
The smile that split his face stole her breath. Gone was the serious tenant-slash-police officer from her backyard cottage. The man who stood before her now was a total, flat out, hands-down, no-question-about-it, hottie. His sex appeal exploded into the room like an atomic bomb filling up every nook and cranny.
And in just a minute or so, he was going to put his hands on her.
Ohmygod. Trouble. Seriously.
Maybe this really wasn’t such a good idea—
Nicole screamed when she was suddenly grabbed and her back brought up against Kyle’s chest. One arm clamped around her waist, the other across her throat.
Her natural instinct was to struggle, but he had one leg wrapped around her shins, totally immobilizing her. The heat from Kyle’s body burned her up, and she wasn’t unaware of the rising bulge against the small of her back. Excitement tickled through her.
Charlie let out a little bark, but only lazily watched them. She scowled at him. Some guard dog!
Mouth pressed against her ear, Kyle murmured in a seductive drawl, “If I were the bad guy, sweetheart, your pretty little ass would be mine right now.”
Sounds great. You can pick up Between Midnight and Dawn from Amazon for just 2.99 (Unless, of course, you are a Kindle member. Then it's free.) If Romantic Suspense is your read, click on over.
Cheryl’s Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Cheryl-Yeko/e/B006PFCREQ
Cheryl also writes under the pen name, CiCi Cordelia, with her BFF, Char Chaffin. Writing From The Heart. Find us on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Cici-Cordelia/e/B01AJ5EM90
Cheryl is also a Senior Acquisitions Editor for Soul Mate Publishing. As an Editor, she welcomes Romantic Suspense, Paranormal, Sci-Fi, and Erotica. You can reach her at Cheryl@SoulMatePublishing.com
Here are some fun trailers:
Book Trailer Playlist: http://tinyurl.com/mcqhuno
Audio book playlist: http://tinyurl.com/l4gzy6o
The Power of Three: http://www.thepowerof3cs.com/
Soul Mate Publishing: http://tinyurl.com/lav53p3
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Cheryl-Yeko/e/B006PFCREQ
The Power Of Three, BFFs: http://www.thepowerof3cs.com/
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/cheryl+yeko?_requestid=182597
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProtectingRose
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/threeBFFs
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cherylyeko
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/cyeko/boards/
About Me: http://about.me/cheryl.yeko
Thank you for having me over today, Susan. :)
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