This morning I have the privilege of speaking to Sharon DeVita. Hello Sharon and welcome to Fallen Angel Reviews. Please come in and grab a cozy chair, and share some conversation with us.

Sharon, you have a new release, Estrogen Posse. Why not share something about this delightful story with your readers?

The Estrogen Posse is a very special book to me. It was the first book I wrote after the sudden and unexpected death of my 21 yr. old son. I couldn't write for 5 years after my son passed away. After 31 published books, I found I simply couldn't write. I was too devastated and grief stricken, and thought my career was over. But then one night, after 5 long years of truly miserable grief, I was lying in bed reading, and I heard a woman's voice say: "You know, a woman's life would be a lot easier if she could rent a man by the hour-like bowling shoes, instead of this 'till death do us part' stuff." Well, the moment I 'heard' Ellie's voice I knew I had to write her story. And that night, in the middle of the night I got up and started writing again. After five years, the long draught was over. And I was thrilled. Now, I'm working on The Ditzy Chix for Musapublishing, it's another comedic mystery, like Posse, and it should be out hopefully in March or April. For more on me 'hearing my characters' go to my website. And I just learned that The Estrogen Posse has been nominated as Best Novel of 2011 by Predators and Editors, so I'm thrilled.

Was there a particular character in this story that grabbed you more than any other?

Ellie, the main character, and her son Joey. First of all my son's name was Joey, second, I love writing about kids. Kids and old people because they're naturally funny because of their honesty. But, this was Ellie's story all the way. A woman who loses everything she values in one day, and then has to rebuild her life and her self-esteem and she does, with a little help from her own Estrogen Posse.

Did it take you long to write the story?

I would guess it probably took a good solid six months to write Posse. I write full time, every single day.

Do you get along well with your editors?

OMG, I love my editor! Celina Summers is the most professional, courteous, most knowledgeable editor I've ever had in 30 years in this business. She and her staff have turned Musapublishing into a powerhouse in six short months. I hope Celina will be my editor for the rest of my career. That's how much I value her, and her talent. She's wonderful!

What would you say is your biggest challenge as a writer?

The biggest challenge for me as a writer is keeping things fresh; the storyline, the characters, the settings. I don't want to write the same book over and over again. That would stifle creativity. So for me, keeping things fresh and new for the reader, and of course with a heavy dose of humor, since that's my forte, is of primary importance to me.

Can you describe your workstation for us?

My workstation. Well, my office is in the back of our house, overlooking the mountains and the pool right through the palladium windows in my office. I have bookcases on every solid wall and they're full.(I have a personal library of more than 6,000 books, and also have floor to ceiling bookcases in my living room as well) I have a 28 in monitor screen which looks like an HD TV on steroids in the middle of my desk. On my desk, on either side of my monitor are two smaller bookshelves, one is for style books, characterization books, etc. and of course The Manual of Style. The other little bookshelf on my desk holds only dictionaries, numerous ones, and a synonym finder which I use every day. I have two small tray tables on either side of me to hold typical office stuff, pens, pencils, scented candles-ˆ love scented candles in my office when I'm writing. And then of course, there's my dog, Murphy, a pure-bred Blue Merle Sheltie we rescued from Arizona Sheltie Rescue. Murphy's like my shadow. I talk to him during the day-he doesn't respond, but hey, I'm always hopeful! And I adore him.

On the flip side, what is the one thing that gets you most excited as a writer?

Several things. I love writing and watching the plot and character's unfold on the page. To me that's. . . pure magic. And I love pleasing readers, which also excites me. This is a very solitary job, I'm always alone with my thoughts in my office, all day, every day. This is not what I consider a glamorous job, (I work in my pajamas) so knowing that readers have liked and enjoyed my book, or it's made them smile is the biggest thrill I can ever imagine. It's wonderful.

What can we look forward to reading from you in the future?

Well, I pretty much love to write comedic mysteries with female protagonists. I know erotica and paranormal have been big for a while, but neither hold any interest for me. I like writing about normal, everyday people, like you or me, who have unusual things happen to them, and then they must work their way out and around all of these problems and go on and build a new life. I'm working on The Ditzy Chix now, and having tons of fun with it. It's also a comedic mystery. After Ditzy Chix comes The Dolly-Mamas which should be out in the fall and yes that's the real title. Will I branch off into something else? I don't know, but I know I love comedic mysteries because you have lots of avenues for humor, character growth and change, and to me that's what makes reading so wonderful.

Do you work on a time limit when composing, or just go with the flow?

I don't believe in writer's block. I work 5 days a week from about 9:30 until about 7:00.All day, every day. This is my full-time job and you must give writing the same time and respect you would any other position. I don't work on the week-ends anymore unless I'm on a killer deadline-like right now.

What do you find most fascinating about writing? Most absorbing about reading a book?

The most fascinating thing for me as a writer is creating wonderful characters and worlds where my readers feel comfortable. As a reader, again it goes back to good characterization and a good world-building ability to make 'your' fictional world seem 'real' to people.

If you could have a superpower, for 24 hours, what would it be and would you use it for good or evil?

If I could have one superpower for 24 hours, I'd want to be able to change hearts and minds so that there was no more evil in this world. Naive? Of course, but evil has always confounded and perplexed me. I don't understand the need to hurt someone else. It's a totally foreign concept to me, one that just doesn't make sense. Cruelty never does.

When you were growing up at the age of 7? 15? 20? Even Now? What had you considered to be or do?

Well, even though I spent a decade as a college professor teaching all levels of writing, since I was about 8 I knew I was going to be a writer. It's all I ever wanted to do. Sometimes your passion finds you early in life, as mine did. Never wanted to do or be anything else. And yes, I love-love what I do.

If they made a movie of your life, who would you want to play you? Would you consider your TV movie to be more of a comedy or a tragedy?

A movie of my life? It would have to be a comedy, of course. To play me? It's not something I've ever thought about, but for years everyone has told me that I look exactly like Stephanie Powers, so she'd be my choice. But, I can't imagine that anyone would be interested in a movie of my life!

Can you share your website and any other links to your books you would like to share?

I love having readers go to my website, where you can learn more about me and all my books, and Musapublishing.com which is where you can find my books for sale. Musa is republishing some of my older books this year so I'm thrilled. And I love to hear from readers.

If you had to cook a meal for 100 guests and could have a chef to come and help with the menu, what TV Cook would you choose?

If I had to cook for 100 guests (and have) I wouldn't hire a chef, I'd cook myself. I absolutely love-love to cook, make everything from scratch because I have food allergies, and find cooking to be wonderfully relaxing. I read cookbooks like other people read novels. All the recipes in all my books are my own. I specialize in Italian food, which my husband doesn't eat, but I love. I make homemade pizza at least once a week, make spaghetti sauce from scratch every Sunday, and cook dinner almost every night. And in spite of my last name-it was my married name, I'm not Italian, but Irish. But, I was married to a first generation Sicilian for 25 years and I learned a ton from my late m-i-l. I plan out my meals for the entire month on the 1st of the month, then post them on my fridge so I don't have to get up every morning and wonder what's for dinner. It also helps me make out my weekly grocery list. When you work full time like I do, it's essential to be organized, and I'm the Organizational Queen, believe me.I drive my friends and kids nuts about this stuff. My fridge, cabinets, closets, drawers, even my desk and my bookshelves are all organized, I can't be searching through 6,000 books when I need to look something up, I want the answer right at my fingertips. If something isn't organized to my liking I won't be able to concentrate! My world has to be organized and then I'm happy.

Thank you so much for sharing time with us, Sharon. It has been a delight. I wish you the best with all your publishing works.

This was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed answering all these questions.

Interviewed by: Linda L.