Author Interview with T.R. Sherring

Author Interview with T.R. Sherring

What inspired you to start writing?

I’ve wanted to write a novel for as long as I can remember. It’s always been my dream, but I could never think of an idea that got me so excited that even my ADHD and chronic procrastination wouldn’t stop me from doing it. Then, three years ago, I was reading The Little Mermaid to my children and the idea just came to me and it would not leave me alone. It felt special and I knew I had to put the story out into the world.

Do you draw from personal experiences in your writing? 

Absolutely. I draw from my own experiences when writing about emotions and the complexities of being human. Real people are flawed, and so are my characters, so even though my books are set in fantasy worlds, I’m always drawing on what I know about people – what they fear, what motivates them, and how those things shape the way they respond to the world around them.

What themes or messages do you hope readers take away from your books?

At its core, A Tale of Cursed Tides and the entire series is about love. How it enters our lives and refuses to leave us unchanged. It’s not always convenient – it can be disruptive and destabilising. But whether we are willing to accept it or not, it irrevocably reshapes us.

I chose to explore this because I’m fascinated by how deeply it can change a person and how that transformation can either be beautiful or destructive.

The series is also about the price you’re willing to pay for the greater good. What lines are you willing to cross and what is the cost to others? What is the cost to yourself?

This is a theme because I’m interested in the morally grey areas and in what happens when doing the “right” thing still hurts someone else. And also, what happens when the greatest cost isn’t external at all?

Finally, another central theme is identity. Who we become when we are no longer bound by the people, places, and expectations that shaped us. When we’re free to finally choose who we are, the question becomes: who do we choose to be?

What have you learned about yourself through writing?

Writing has taught me that I’m far more persistent than I ever gave myself credit for and, if it’s something I truly want, I will move mountains to make it happen.

How would you describe your writing style?

My writing style is character-driven and immersive, injected with my sense of humour and just a dash of lyricism when I think the story calls for it. I’m also big on set-up and payoff, and I love planting little details that may seem insignificant the first time around, but take on new meaning when you reread the story. There are readers who like to go back to find all the little breadcrumbs they missed the first time. I love to write with those readers in mind.

What does your writing process look like?

I don’t have a strict process but I definitely have my routine.

I wake up at 4.30am every morning to write when everyone else is still sleeping.

Then I’ll get in a few more hours while the kids are at school.

I don’t put any pressure or expectations on myself before I start writing. I don’t do word counting at all. I think the worst thing for my writing would be to try get as many words out in a day as possible. I’m a really slow writer, but I’m okay with it because I’m genuinely having the best time while I’m doing it (well on most days).

I finish every day knowing what I want to work on the next day, but that’s about it.

What part of writing do you find most challenging and how do you overcome those challenges?

The biggest challenge is mental. Mostly the fact that I am a perfectionist which makes it really difficult to give myself permission to write terrible first drafts. I still struggle with this, so I have to keep reminding myself that the early drafts are just for me to tell myself the story.

How do you approach writing characters with experiences different from your own?

I start by delving into their fears, internal wounds and the lies they tell themselves. Their life experiences may be different to my own, but I look for something emotional I can connect to. Understanding what drives them makes it much easier to step into their shoes.

Can you give us a brief summary of your book/series?

A Tale of Cursed Tides is my debut novel released earlier this year. It’s book one in a planned four book series, called The Lore of Orradon.

A Tale of Cursed Tides imagines what would happen if the little mermaid went back to the prince’s castle, then bodies began to appear, each one a murder. The story explores dangerous bargains, morally grey choices and a flawed FMC navigating love and betrayal in a mortal court. It’s for readers who enjoy mermaids, witches, curses and lush, immersive worldbuilding.

As for the series, you can expect all the things you would want in a romantasy series – tropes, worldbuilding, raising stakes and (of course) romance with slow-burn spice.

Where did the inspiration for your series come from?

The series began with The Little Mermaid, which inspired the idea for the first book. Then, Taylor Swift’s, …Ready For It? Sparked the inspiration for book two, A Legend of Charmed Land. From there, the rest of the series just seemed to grow and unfold.

Which character was the most difficult to write?

Alara, the FMC, was definitely the most challenging for me. To begin with, she was an innocent, virginal character who didn’t know her place in the world and struggled with her magic. I found it extremely difficult to connect with her and get her voice right. Then one day, on a whim, I had this thought – what if she was self-centred, manipulative and arrogant? How would a person like that respond to being offered the chance to break the curse on her kingdom, in exchange for breaking a mortal prince’s heart? That decision completely unlocked the character for me.

After that, her voice came very clearly. I understood her so much better, and as a result, it was so much easier to spend time in her head. It also made her a lot of fun to write!

Did any characters surprise you or evolve in unexpected ways?

There’s a character in book two, A Legend of Charmed Land, called Cacia. Just when I thought I knew her and her backstory, something totally unexpected came up in one of the later drafts. It added a whole new dimension to her character, which I’m absolutely dying to explore.

Slow-burn or instant chemistry?

Both! I love instant chemistry, but make the path to them acting on their feelings torturously slow.

Happily ever after or bittersweet ending?

Happily ever after.

Enemies-to-lovers or friends-to-lovers?

Enemies-to-lovers.

Describe your book in 3 tropes.

Morally grey FMC, fake seduction and he falls first.

What are you currently working on and what should readers keep an eye out for?

I’ve written book two, A Legend of Charmed Land and it will be releasing on 22 April 2027. I’m so unbelievably excited to share it. Book one introduces you to the world, book two expands on it in really fun, thrilling and (hopefully) unexpected ways.

I’m going to be starting on books three and four very soon. I’m approaching them as the same book, but I’m splitting them up as it would be impossibly long if I actually published them as one.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

There will never be an “ideal” time to start writing. Just start.

And read your work out loud. Trust me on this. I use the Read Aloud function in Word and it has been a complete game changer.