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Tell my fans a little bit about yourself and your book(s).

My name is Sylvia Stein and I live in Fuquay Varina, NC with my wonderful husband Jeremy and our three children Paul, Michael and Consuelo.   I am a published writer of several anthologies in the Giant Tales Series with my wonderful writers group 750 and I have recently published my own solo novella “Closure”.   I am also attending Southern New Hampshire University online where I will be obtaining my Master’s degree in Creative Writing and English with a concentration in Fiction. I will be graduating next year 2015.  

 Closure

Garrison James had it all.   He had a beautiful family and one loving home. Together, he and his wife Lila built a successful ranch and construction company. His world changed the day he lost his wife to cancer.  He turned to the bottle and became a monster. Sara, his daughter, tried everything to please him.

After years of abuse, Sara’s aunt visits. She recognizes the abuse and removes Sara. The frail girl begins the delicate journey of finding herself, while struggling to leave her father and the monster behind.

Despite the emotional and mental scars she carried, Sara manages to start a new life. She is finally happy.

A phone call changes everything.

Will Sara continue her new life? Can she face the monster, or will she find closure?

How would you introduce your book to someone that has yet to read it?

I would describe it as a journey between a young woman and her father and what happens when the monster alcohol takes over. 

How many books have you written? What are their titles?

Well counting the Giant Tales Anthologies and then my own book, “Closure”-  I have 8 books now.

Giant Tale Beyond The Mystic Doors, Giant Tales From the Misty Swamp, Giant Tales World of Pirates, Lava Storm In the Neighborhood, Giant Tales Dangerous Days: Tales of Climate Change & Crowns, Trash To Treasure, Violet Hopes (A good Tales) and Closure.

What genre have you not yet written, but would like to try?

I have not written romance but I would love to try one day.

What inspired you to start writing? What age did you start?

I have always loved writing especially since when I was growing up we really struggled and my saving grace was writing so I have loved it since I was 7 years old and actually my kindergarten teacher was the first one to encourage me. Ms. Torres was amazing.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?

I love music so when I am not writing I loved spending time with family and friends and doing Karaoke.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author?

To never stop writing and never let anyone or anything stop you from what you love. Work on it everyday and pave it forward for others always.

What’s your favorite scene/line from your works?

My favorite scene or line from my works is there are many but it is the Chapter one Diary entry. 

Dear Diary,

I will never forget the day my mother passed away. I can recall that moment as if it were yesterday.

My life changed forever.

 What’s the hardest thing about writing? The easiest?

The hardest thing about writing for me is trying to find the time since I have three children who require constant attention and trying to fit it in. The easiest thing about writing is once I begin I just feel so free and relax.

What are you currently reading?

I am currently reading several books for school as well as, “Shades of Green” by Andy Lake.

What are you currently working on?

I am working on my brand new novel “Chasing Clarity”, which I wrote for Nanowrimo last year.

What books did you read as a child?

I loved reading all kinds of books as a child but my favorite books were the Nancy Drew mysteries and the Laura Ingalls’s Wilder serious.

What genre is your favorite to read?

I love all kinds of genres by my favorites to read are the thriller suspense novels.

How has your life changed since you began writing? 

My life has changed so much since I began writing. Thanks to writing I have met some of the kindest and nicest writers, readers and authors who have supported me and have helped me to become even better with my craft. 

What’s been your favorite moment as an author? 

The proudest moment as an author, was when my Writers 750 group had our first Anthology, “Giant Tales Beyond The Mystic Doors” published. Wow.

Out of all of your characters, who is your favorite?

Oh I have so many favorite characters but my favorite is Sara James because part of her struggles was some of my own since I dealt with alcoholism in my own family.

What do you want readers to take away from your books?

I want to empower them and take my readers on a journey with my books and I want them to feel the connections to the characters that I create.

You’re stranded on a desert island. What books do you take with you?

Well that is hard. 

For one I love all books and right now I really want to read several books again but the main one is Stephen King’s “Reviva”l.   Then another one is Chrissie Parker’s “Among the Olive Groves”, and your own book “Butterflies Wake” because of the powerful message on domestic violence.

Favorite book character?

For me that would have to be Glinda The Good Witch because she was able to let Dorothy see she knew what she wanted all along and I love being able to do away with bad people like the wicked witch lol.

What is your dream vacation destination?

My dream vacation is to be able to go to Italy and visit the Vatican and if I am really lucky get to meet the Pope. My faith is a big part of who I am.

Do you have any interesting dreams or goals?

My dreams or goals is to be able to write books that will bring joy to readers and also be able to make them into film one day and also work on writing a musical since I love Broadway and also teach writing because I love it so much and want to give back to others.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Wow in five years I hope I am able to make my writing a career and see my books on the best sellers list and teaching at the collegiate level.

If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?

Never be afraid to go for it… I never did!

***

Author Sylvia Stein began her path to writing when she joined the LinkedIn Writer’s Group “Writers 750” in 2012. She continued her journey writing short stories, which were published, in the Giant Tales Anthology Series.

While obtaining her Masters degree at Southern New Hampshire University online, author Stein built a solid foundation with her colleagues who encouraged her to continue her writing. That’s when “Closure” was born.

With the help of her editor, “Closure” grew from a short story to a full novella that Author Stein is excited to share. “Closure” is her debut book as a solo writer. To quote author Stein,“This is the first of many to come.”