A Biola University Communications graduate with a minor in Bible, Sherry Kyle is the author of books for tween girls, including The Christian Girl’s Guide to Style, a Gold Mom’s Choice Award Winner; The Girl’s Guide to Your Dream Room; and upcoming releases The Girl’s Guide to Life and Love, Lexi: Letters to God. Sherry also writes women’s fiction set along the coast of California. Her latest release is her second historical romance.
Sherry, her husband, and their four children make their home in a beach house nestled into the coast of California.
Those who create usually tap into a personal toolbox of elements to define their style. For example, a painter might use color, light, and/or shadows in a certain way to “sign” his work. A musician might use syncopation, key changes, and/or vocal intonation to set herself apart. What two or three elements most define who you are as a storyteller?
Great question, Kathy! I was raised in a Christian home and my faith is part of who I am as a storyteller, whether it’s a novel for women or a book for kids. Reconnecting people together—whether it’s family members, friends, or long lost loves—is also an element I use in my books. And a symbolic object also plays a large role in my novels, such as a letter in Delivered with Love, a heart-shaped diamond ring in The Heart Stone, a watercolor painting in Watercolor Dreams, and a silver locket in my new release, Road to Harmony.
Let’s talk about Road to Harmony (May 2017). Please tell us about it.
Road to Harmony is a historical romance set in 1907 in Harmony Valley, California, about a young woman who is torn between her secret love and the shopkeeper her parents want her to marry.
Here is the back cover copy:
Torn between love and loyalty, will they choose the road to harmony?
A cattle thief is loose in the valley, and Elena Seifert wants to help her father guard his dairy farm, but everyone thinks that’s a man’s job. When her childhood sweetheart returns to Harmony, her heart is torn between Jonas Bollinger, her secret love, and Lars Rissler, the wealthy middle-aged storeowner her parents hope she marries.
Jonas Bollinger never imagined he’d be back in Harmony Valley, but his pa isn’t well. When Jonas makes a promise he wishes he didn’t have to keep, he is torn between loyalty to his family and the woman he has loved since he was a boy.
Will Elena and Jonas find the inner peace to choose love and still do what is best for their families?
This is your second historical romance. What inspired the story?
Harmony is a real town in California and Road to Harmony is based loosely on actual events. In 1907, rivalries and feuding among dairy farmers caused chaos in the valley. After one shooting death, a truce was called. From then on, all agreed to live in harmony, and named the town Harmony as a symbol of their truce.
The town name as well as the story title is a symbol for the inner journey and outer journey for my characters. Elena Seifert is torn between her secret love and loyalty to her family, and she struggles with whether or not to choose harmony and peace in her life. Harmony is also the name of the diary farming community where the story takes place, and if she chooses to marry for love, she stays in the valley, but if she marries the wealthy shopkeeper, the man her parents want her to marry, then she would move to the nearby shipping port town of Cayucos.
A few fun questions…
If you knew you couldn’t fail, what new goal or dream would you pursue?
I’ve had so many goals and dreams over the years that have actually come true—adopted a daughter after having three biological kids, purchased homes when the wait seemed unbearable, remodeled our home twice, walked 10K steps for a couple of years now, published in different genres—that right now I’m enjoying my almost grown children before they fly the coop. Once they do and I have an empty nest, I’ll create a new goal for myself, like have one of my books made into a movie. Wouldn’t that be amazing?
Stories and/or parables are an integral part of the Bible. What Bible passage or story best describes your personal journey of faith?
The Bible passage that describes my personal journey of faith is from Romans 15:13 which says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” I love this verse!
I know you’re also a dog lover. Any current canine members of your family?
A year ago we adopted a little Chihuahua Terrier puppy we named Bella from the SPCA. She was the runt of the litter and the only girl. I admit it was an emotional decision since our family was grieving over the decline of our precious black Lab, Sophie, who passed away six moths later after a battle with degenerative myelopathy. We also have a nine-year-old dog named Bandit, who is a mid-sized Terrier and super sweet. : )
Thanks, Sherry! It’s nice to have you back at Divine Detour.
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For more information about Sherry, visit her website and/or on Facebook or Twitter.
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