Welcome Killarney Sheffield to DIO...

 Today, I welcome a friend and fellow Muse It Up author.  Killarney, one of many I've met from Canada, has added so much personality and charm to our author's loop, and even in the toughest times, has a great sense of humor.  I witnessed all the work she went through to secure just the right song for her first video trailer, and I'm so pleased to feature her and "Gowan's" talent here on Dishin' It Out. She's definitely someone who gets what she sets her sites on.  Without further ado, I introduce you to my friend:

 A Journey Worth Taking

    Hello, my name is Killarney Sheffield pronounced  key-lar-knee. Some pretty amazing things have happened to me since July 2010 that I would like to share with you today. In July 2010 I signed my first ever writing contract with Canadian publishing house Muse It Up Publishing, Ltd. No, I didn't struggle for years to make my dream happen, I just stumbled onto it.

As a former horse trainer, farrier, riding coach and breeder the dilemma of horse slaughter in Canada became a real threat to my livelihood. With the ban on horse slaughter in place in the USA this meant a huge influx of cheap horses flooding the Canadian market and making it tougher for my fellow breeders and I to afford to do what we love so I wrote an article to my local newspaper. That is what started all the wonderful events that have happened since then into motion.

 The editor loved the article and asked for more. He also asked if I had ever considered publishing a book someday. Well, I giggled long and hard over that one as I had a number of manuscripts in my computer just then. Armed with some courage I sent the first one off to historical romance mass paperback giant Avon and received a generic rejection letter. I joined a critique group and soon discovered that 'mother of five' was not what publishers were looking for under author bio, LOL! I was offered some very good advice from a fellow writer who suggested I should send to a smaller publishing house as those are more likely to be interested in a newbie author like myself. I did and the rest as they say is history.

Currently I have 6 historical romances, 1 steampunk/historical romance My adventure didn't end there though. After taking the Muse Online Writer's Conference I discovered book trailers. I love music and building trailers was right up my creative alley so to speak. I set about designing my first trailer for Guilty Kisses but could not find just the right piece of music until I was reminded of an 80's song by fellow Canadian singer/song writer and Juno winner Gowan.

 I set about to track him down and found he was still performing as the lead singer in a 70's band called STYX. I asked for the use of one of his songs and luckily for me he said yes. That little song launched me into another exciting adventure interviewing some long forgotten and up and coming stars for the local paper like Susan Powter and Jason Escape.

 This opened up doors for me talking to stars like Paul Brant and Heart. So much fun! What is next around the corner you ask? I have no idea but I am willing to bet it will be exciting! Someone asked me recently why I write historical romance and although the answer my mother claims in in the stars, (ie I am a Libra and they are romantic fools who think life should be fair), I think Gowan's song title sums it up better. Yes, I write romance because, 'Love Makes You Believe.' Thanks so much for joining me here today.

 Listen to Gowan's Song

Killarney's 2011 Releases