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Sharon M. Peterson is the author of The Do-Over, a charming rom-com that is available now.
Sharon M. Peterson is a former middle school teacher and has the personality to prove it. One of her favorite quotes is from Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. She lives in Washington with her husband, and four children, including two autistic sons. She has one cat, two dogs, one tattoo, and an intense fear of poodles (don’t ask)..
Sharon can usually be found hunched over her computer, creating characters and stories she hopes you’ll love as much as she does.
The Do-Over (Grand Central Publishing; 9/24/24) is a stand-out for readers looking for a light-hearted romance with important themes of finding your own path to happiness and body positivity. Perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez, as well as Ali Hazelwood and Sarah Adams.
Let’s get to know Sharon as she talks favorite novels, writing romances, story inspirations and more!
What are some of your favorite novels?
Oh, I have so many. My favorite classics are: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith, The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery, and I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith. I loved Maggie Osborne’s historical western romances from back in the day. I adore Kristan Higgins. She could write anything and I am there.
My go-to recommendations for almost anyone are the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs (urban fantasy), Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (memoir), and Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance by Ruth Emmie Lang (contemporary fiction with a touch of magic and romance and ALL THE THINGS).
When did you know you wanted to become an author?
I think a part of me has always made-up stories in my head. But as I grew up, life sort of got in the way of that. Writing seemed to become a secret dream. I tried to write a couple of books through the years but never finished and never told a soul I was doing it. I often say that life made me ruthlessly practical. Having four kids, two with autism, kept me busy and tired.
Then about nine years ago, some friends talked me into starting a blog, probably because they got tired of my rambling Facebook posts. So I gave it a try. I blogged regularly for a year and I learned two things: a) I hate blogging, and b) I loved telling stories.
When my laptop died and we couldn’t afford another one, I also learned that writing had become a real outlet for me, a free therapy kind of thing. It was a couple of months later that a friend invited me to meet up one afternoon. When I showed up, she presented me with a new laptop. It turned out that a local group of moms, many I didn’t even know, had been following along on my blog and didn’t want me to quit writing. So they pooled their money and bought me a laptop.
It was the most remarkable gift I’ve ever received.
I decided right then and there that I would write a book. How could I not? It felt like that laptop was permission to follow this big, huge, impossible dream.
So I set up that new laptop on my kitchen counter on top of an economy-sized box of wipes and I would write in bursts. Five minutes of work, then get someone a glass of water, ten minutes of work, then yell at a kid to get off the trampoline naked (yes, that happened!).
I wrote an entire book that way.
What are some aspects that you like best about the romance/romcom genre?
I am a lifelong romance reader. I love that swoony, kick-your-feet-in-the-air feeling when those two people you are so invested in finally realize they’re in love with each other. To me, a book or movie isn’t great if it doesn’t have at least a hint of romance. And you know I’m shipping people left and right.
As for the com part, one of my favorite quotes is from Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath: “It was her habit to build up laughter out of inadequate materials.” I like to say life has given me a lot of inadequate material. Humor has always been a huge part of me getting through hard stuff. It’s a natural part of my personality.
I’ve thought about this a lot. The thing romance and humor have in common is that they are ultimately based in hope. Romance gives a sense of hope about the future and laughter give us hope, too. If we can laugh in the face of really difficult things, then not all hope is lost. When you can combine the two, it’s pretty damn awesome.
Where do you draw your story inspirations from?
People watching, which should definitely be an Olympic sport, is a huge source of inspiration. People are fascinating. I love making up stories about them in my head. How did she meet him? Are they a couple? Is he secretly pining for her? Does she have a thing for her brother’s best friend?
But anything can be inspiration. The Do-Over started from a conversation I was having with a friend about how no one ever keeps their New Year’s resolutions. I got to thinking, hmm, what would be resolutions that would be easy to keep? And BAM! a whole story came from that one thing.
What can readers expect from The Do-Over?
Think Bridget Jones but set in Texas. Add in the single dad next door, a very sassy grandma, and an emotional support fish. I hope by the end of it, readers have huge smiles on their faces and feel like they’ve just met characters who feel relatable and real and, of course, who make them laugh.
What was your favorite chapter or part to write?
Ooo. I have a couple. When Perci goes to dinner at her parents’ house on her birthday and there is an incident… this might be my favorite scene. SPANX ON THE MEATLOAF. If you know, you know. If you don’t know, you should definitely read it!
I also love the scene at the end of Perci and Nate’s first date. I won’t say too much and spoil it but I think it’s pretty swoony.
Also, any scene with Mimi, Perci’s grandmother. Mimi is a reader favorite and she’s so fun to write. She does not care a whit about what anyone thinks of her. I never knew any of my grandparents, so I like to say she’s mostly from my imagination… and watching too many Golden Girl reruns.
What are you currently reading and what’s on your TBR (to be read) list?
I’m currently reading Wish I Were Here by Melissa Wiesner. It’s heartwarming and romantic all with found family and a touch of magic.
On my (dangerously large) TBR pile, I have waiting Goodbye, Again by Caitlin Moss, Bananapants by Penny Reid, and Runaway Bride and Prejudice by Emma St. Clair from the romance pile. From the thriller/suspense pile, I can’t wait to read T.J. Newman’s new one, Worst Case Scenario. (Warning: Do not read T.J. Newman books while on a plane. Or if the possibility of going on a plane is eminent. Or if you ever plan to fly again.)
I’ll stop there. Because if I don’t stop there, this is going to get very, very long.
