Interview with Author Sherri Smith (@SL_Smith_)

by Donna Huber

On Monday, I chatted with Sherri Smith about her new release FOLLOW ME DOWN which came out Tuesday, Learn about exciting release day parties when you have small children, Sherri's passion for vanities, her favorite HGTV shows and more.


Hi, Sherri. Thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hi! Well, I live in Winnipeg Manitoba with my family (and large extended family), where I question my sanity every winter. Moving never wins out, because I know where everything is, and not wanting to leave your house several months out of the year is a great way to keep you in your chair writing.


Tomorrow (Tuesday, March 21) is a big day for you as your new thriller FOLLOW ME DOWN comes out. Do you have any fun plans to mark the day?

Well, that all depends if we’re able to get another babysitter since ours just canceled. If not, we’ll be heading out to a place where the tables are decked out with coloring mats, three primary color crayons and picking out a toy at the end from a germy treasure chest is the main event.  I’m thinking Boston Pizza just before 5 pm? There better be a good drink special!

That sounds like fun, but then again I spent my weekend with my parents at a charity thrift sale. So I'm all into spending time with family.


I love stories with great characters. Who is your favorite character in FOLLOW ME DOWN? Why?

Well, I’d have to say Mia of course. I love how flawed she is, how her gummy brain works, how she can twist things to suit whatever she’s chasing down. I admire her loyalty and how she keeps her snarky humor going because I think it’s true of how a lot of people cope with their dark childhoods.


How did this story come about? What was your approach to writing FOLLOW ME DOWN? Do you have any writing rituals?

Follow Me Down started with an image of a semi-rundown apartment block with a rusty looking pool in the back. There’s a teen girl in the pool, floating on an air mattress. She has that look girls this age can have, a kind of mournful sadness. I kept wondering, who is this girl? Why is she so sad? Who did she lose? Does she belong there or not?

From there, a plot and characters eventually swirled together through sheer will.

My writing approach is to write out a thousand worthless drafts until I get something I am happy with. So y’know ‘efficient,’ is NOT a nickname I go by.

I don’t really have any writing rituals because I have small children and I’m no longer allowed that luxury (unless you want to call short, frantic bursts of writing while hiding from them, a ritual?)

Basically, I wanted to write a book I’d want to read. That’s it.


I've read that you enjoy restoring furniture. What is your favorite piece you've done or are you working on a piece now? Do you have a favorite DIY television show (I personally love Fixer Upper)?

I mainly restore bedroom vanities. I love these old pieces, and I am always surprised that they ever fell out of popularity. You get to have all of your make-up in one spot, a stool and mirror so you can sit and gaze at yourself (hey, they’re called vanities for a reason,) there’s room to enjoy a glass of wine or two (so you think you look better than you do.) You get to feel connected to all the other women who sat there before you, probably worrying about the same things. I love them. They’re such romantic pieces.

My favorite vanity that I worked on was this old ornate piece from the turn (of the last) century that once belonged to a professional clown. This red make-up just kept bleeding through the stain I was using. It was so creepy but it turned out beautifully.

I can watch HGTV all day long. I love Property Brothers, House Hunters International (it makes me daydream,) Leave It to Bryan. I could go on!

I'm so looking for a vanity for my bedroom. (I've wanted one since I watched Downton Abbey). I found a lovely vanity stool at last year's thrift sale, but so far no dice on a vanity to go with it. Too bad you're in Canada otherwise you might have been able to hook me up. I could go one about furniture projects, but let's get back to your writing projects.


Do you have any new writing projects in the works that you can share with us?

I am currently writing another suspense novel. I don’t want to say too much about it at this point other than it takes place at a wellness retreat, involves psychotropic tea and murder.


Thank you for taking the time to chat with me today and good luck with the release of FOLLOW ME DOWN tomorrow.

Thank you so much having me!


If haven't already, be sure to read MK French's review of FOLLOW ME DOWN. Buy your copy at Amazon or enter the giveaway below.


About Sherri Smith

When not writing SHERRI SMITH spends time with her family and two rescue dogs, and restores vintage furniture that would otherwise be destined for the dump. She lives in Winnipeg, Canada, where the long, cold winters nurture her dark side. FOLLOW ME DOWN is her first thriller. Visit her online at http://www.sherri-smith.com/, and on Twitter, @SL_Smith_.

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Review: Follow Me Down by Sherri Smith #MondayBlogs

by MK French

March 2017; Macmillan; 978-0765386700
ebook & print (352 pages); thriller
a free ARC was provided for this review

Mia Haas had moved far away from the small North Dakota town where she had grown up with her twin brother Lucas and alcoholic mother, Mimi. Her brother had returned to their hometown and became the high school English teacher. He went missing just as the body of one of his students was found, and the entire town was convinced he did it.

Though Mia hadn't been as close with her twin in recent years, she absolutely didn't believe him capable of murder. She arrived to be questioned by police and started to investigate for herself. It was a small town, after all. Everyone knew everyone else, and there were plenty of other secrets hiding in plain sight...

This is Sherri Smith's first thriller, but the pacing is terrific.

We're given flashbacks and background into relationships between all of the characters as Mia interacts with the police, other residents in Wyoata, as well as her own memories. The small town residents are narrow-minded and only too eager to paint Lucas as a killer. Having Mia upset the narrative brings out their prejudices, and we can feel her desperation in looking for an alternative explanation for the murder.

It's almost claustrophobic at times in Mia's head, her tangled thoughts and conflicted emotions. She goes pretty far in her investigation, even though she has no experience doing so, bungles a lot of it, and is in harm's way. There are lots of red herrings and little details that heighten the paranoia until you reach the end and discover the truth. It was quite the shock but isn't a cheap cop out. If anything, it's even more sad and pitiful for the poor murder victim and all of the other people left traumatized in her wake. No one is perfect here, and it feels as though you're right there with them, struggling.

This is a fantastic book and kept me in suspense until the last page.

Buy Follow Me Down at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and golden retriever.

Get even more book news in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/mHTVL. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.