Interview with Sheila Horgan, author of The Tea Series

1.) Sheila, you are the creator of The Tea Series. Can you explain to our readers a little about The Tea Series, its characters, the plots, the antics?

The Tea Series is a hybrid of a traditional novel and a serial novel. I find that people read very differently these days. The vast majority of my readers do not want everything from the past rehashed at the beginning of each novel. Sweet Tea begins right where Hot Tea ends. Iced Tea begins right where Sweet Tea ended. Each book is full-length.

The series is centered around two Irish American sisters. Cara and Teagan are part of a large family (which enables endless story possibilities) that has one foot firmly planted in Irish tradition and the other stepping out in a very American world.

The books are fun and funny. I've been asked why I write 'fluff'. Simple. I get emails all the time from readers. When a reader says -- "I laughed all the way through chemo..." or "Your book helped me through a terrible time..." or "Your books remind me so much of my mother, she died when I was a child, you brought all her love back to me." -- fluff is good.

2.) Many of your e-books are priced at 99 cents. Noting that, what are your thoughts concerning e-book prices? Do you find the lower price works best for the writer and reader?

When I first published Hot Tea, I had it priced higher. My sales were pretty sad. I lowered the price as an experiment. The first month that I had a sale every single day, I couldn't believe it. By the time I was selling several hundred books a day, I was doing the happy dance enough to make my neighbors worry. I've decided that 99 cents is appropriate for The Tea Series, as the books are all dependent on each other. For books that are more self-contained, I charge a bit more. Many of my readers have told me that I should charge more for The Tea Series but I have decided that the books will remain 99 cents each as long as that price point is available.

3.) What are some of your favorite books?

Early Janet Evanovich. The Giving Tree. The Prophet. Many of the long running series. I've just found Bob Mayer and am really surprised that I can't put his books down.

4.) Where do you find inspiration as a writer?

Life. It really is that simple.

5.) Dark chocolate or milk chocolate?

Hershey's milk chocolate. Copious amounts.

6.) You wake in the deep, dark woods where there is no cell phone service, not knowing how you got there. The weather is moderate, spring. You are wearing and have on you exactly what you do at the moment of reading this. What do you do?

First I thank God I got dressed this morning. Then I regret the whole 'no shoes in the house' thing I started when the kids were young. I'd take a little time to notice what is going on around me. All things inspire a writer and this particular pickle I've gotten myself into might make a great book. I'd be sure to pinch myself a couple of times to make sure I was really awake. Probably do a little hunting around. It would be very embarrassing to find that I sat on my rear and waited for help when there was a lovely resort twenty feet away. Remind myself not to venture too far. It would be equally embarrassing to find out that there was a search party looking for me within moments but I'd wandered off. I think I would then have a conversation with myself, not the first one, that pointed out that my sister watching all those reality TV shows was smarter than I thought.

Sheila Horgan's books can be found through all major online distributors:
For the Kindle
For the Nook
At Smashwords
And don't forget to check out her website.

Extra bonus

Sheila actually had a surprise question for me!

What is your least favorite word and how often do you use it?

My least favorite word begins with the letter "F" and I prefer not to publish it on my blog, though I might have once or twice and forgotten about it. How often do I use this word? Probably several times a day.