Using Her Own Paintbrush
- Liz Flaherty
- 40 minutes ago
- 5 min read
by Sheila Hansberger, Artist & Author
Welcome Sheila Hansberger to the Window today. I'm sure you'll find her interview as interesting as I did! - Liz
1. What is your favorite thing about yourself? And your least favorite. I’m proud to say I’m not a quitter. I may struggle to get a project done, but I refuse to stop until I see results. Sadly, that’s also my least favorite trait, because in the past, I have pushed so hard to finish, I risked endangering my health. And recuperating always takes days!
2. Is there a particular line you won’t cross in writing, even to satisfy a trend? I don’t believe in writing to trends, even if the trend seems to be the topic of conversations and everyone hungers for more. Trends vanish. I want my writing to endure.
3. What do you do on those days when you’re pretty sure the muse has died and you’ll never again write a publishable word? Experience has shown me those feelings will pass. Meanwhile, I fumble along and continue to write—good or bad—knowing rewrites are possible when the muse returns, and I can again refer to myself as a true author.
4. What would you want to be if you weren’t a writer? I already have an option. I am a professional artist, as well as an author. I’ve dealt with galleries, and my paintings hang in prestigious public and private collections across America. (check out my website: s-hansberger.com) When my husband died, and I couldn’t seem to paint, I still needed a way to satisfy my creative bent. Writing filled that void. Now I teeter between the two occupations, somedays painting stories with watercolor, and somedays inventing stories with words in a novel.
5. Looking back, what do know now that you wish you’d known the first time you opened a file and typed “Chapter One”? I knew books about writing existed, so I bought a bunch to study. But I wish I’d known about all the blogs, podcasts, classes, and organizations dedicated to teaching the art of writing. I’m often approached by newbies who want to publish. Here’s what I know: no beginning writer starts out at the top. Something in their background earns them the journey to a best-seller’s list...and it’s usually education. Education, whether from an institution or gained by being self-taught, will help. And don’t discount the fact that being a reader is a vital step along the learning path. Oh, and by all means, make sure you have beta readers who offer honest opinions.
6. What do you look for when choosing a book to read? I belong to a book club, so many of the choices are not mine, but I try to be a good sport and read various genres. However, if I’m browsing solo in a book store, the suspense shelves call to me. I prefer stories with a little romance on the side, but without is okay. The cover must grab my attention, but the blurb on the back is crucial to sealing the deal. I thumb to the first chapter and read a bit. I don’t need a “hook” up front, yet the author must pull me in with her words. I roll my eyes at “purple prose,” yet I’m intrigued by poetic writing that creates a visual. Does the author use simple phrases, or does she toss in an occasional fifty-cent word that catches my attention? My impatience usually won’t allow me to choose plump books over 400 pages, which sometimes contain needlessly inflated passages, but I have enjoyed some wordy tomes.
7. As to book covers, what type of artwork do you prefer? For serious subjects, I like photographs. For lighthearted works, paintings fit well. The publisher of my debut novel was The Wild Rose Press, and they allowed my input. Since tulips were an integral part of The Gardener’s Secret, I wanted a single red tulip set against a black background to suggest suspense. For Runaway Artist, I chose to shoot my own cover but hoped to tie it together with my previous book in the interest of “branding.” I lined a small closet with black fabric, pushed a footstool inside, and atop a piece of black matboard, I set a red backpack stuffed with paint brushes and paint tubes. Circling the scene with a handheld light allowed shadows to fall in various places. Thirty or so shots later, I downloaded them to my computer and deleted all but one, tweaked the exposure a bit, and voila, my cover artwork was born...thanks to technology and a little creativity on my part.
8. What writer would you like to spend the afternoon with? So many good authors...choosing only one is unthinkable. I admire Jody Picoult for the in-depth research she tackles before writing each new novel. Dean Koontz is a master of suspense and grabs me by the throat when I dive into one of his books. I’ve probably read more John Grisham than any other author. And Charlaine Harris’ Aurora Teagarten mirrors the way I write. My bucket list would have to include a panel with all four.
9. Character-driven or plot-driven? Where does your writer’s heart lie? Hard to choose. Is it possible to throw both into a blender and discover the results? If so, that’s what I will read and write.
Do you have a quote that inspires you? Yes, two. Famous author Stephen King says:
"Write. Rewrite. When not rewriting, read. I know of no shortcuts.” And here’s another gem, attributed to several people: “You are the artist of your life. Don’t give the paintbrush to anyone else.”
Talented artist Brooke Arnelletta knows she’s going places.
She just never dreamed her journey would include running away. Behind the upscale gallery where she serves as a summer intern, she’s the lone witness to a stabbing. When police can’t find evidence to support the crime, Brooke begins to wonder if her creative imagination was working overtime. Days later, clues finally emerge, turning the alleged murder into a reality. Brooke must face a decision—risk the killer returning to silence her...or disappear into thin air. Can she remain hidden until an arrest is made? Or will evil find her first?
EXCERPT:
My mind kept replaying the previous night’s happenings on a continuous loop, urging me to re-examine the crime. As soon as I gathered enough courage to go home…a sketch pad would be my therapist, and I’d draw every detail. My sketches might not solve the murder, but they might point the police in the right direction.
BUY LINK for e-book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FMGY5ZV6/
BUY LINK for paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FN48MJVH/
Sheila Hansberger is an award-winning artist and author who resides in California. For the past 40+ years, commercial artwork and original watercolors have kept her busy with galleries, private clients, and classes designed for advanced students. Her paintings can be found in private homes and public collections within corporations, museums, and various institutions across the USA. Other than an occasional magazine article or press release, Hansberger’s writings took a back seat to her artwork. In 2004, she began a five-year stint as Newsletter Editor for the National Watercolor Society. The job reminded her how much she loved writing. She then joined two national writer’s groups and attended meetings, podcasts, and conferences to hone her skills. A First-Place win in a national writing contest brought her to the attention of a publisher. In 2024, The Wild Rose Press published her debut suspense, The Gardener’s Secret. Sheila followed that with another suspense, Runaway Artist, which was released in 2025 and is available in digital and paperback formats on Amazon.
Website: www.s-hansberger.com
Facebook: Sheila Hansberger, Artist and Author
