GERI IMLER
Storyteller. Wordsmith. Bibliophile.
I graduated from Miami University in Ohio in Secondary Education in English and Language Arts, becoming a high school English teacher. After having my three daughters, I helped in a different fashion in the school arena, serving on their Co-Op School Board, on various PTOs, and as a Middle School Administrative Assistant. I volunteer in multiple non-profits and spend a lot of time giving back to the community with my girls. As a writer, I’m a member of several writing groups, SCBWI, and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. I was a staff writer for Sophisticated Living magazine, publishing over a dozen articles. I’ve worked on picture books, three middle grade manuscripts, two adult historical fiction novels, and am exploring my voice in historical thrillers (cross-genre).
I am currently seeking literary representation.
ADULT FICTION
I’ve always been fascinated with the intersection of history and fiction, especially if there’s an element of mystery to what most likely happened. Looking at historical people and places, we can derive as much as possible from what we know but there’s always space to imagine a life led in a time long gone. As a woman, I focus on the roles played by females history has forgotten, offering their voices a chance to be heard in order to not just guide our present, but connect us all.
MIDDLE GRADE FICTION
I first dipped my toe into middle grade fiction when my daughters were young, imagining worlds with them full of vibrant characters who not only entertained but taught them important lessons. Sometimes deep in the humor of funny creatures or magical secrets, kids can find a connection far deeper than the simple words, paragraphs, and chapters of a book. By exploring this genre, I was able to learn not only what pulls at a heart, but what keeps readers turning the pages.
Magazine Articles
I was honored to be a staff writer for the Indianapolis magazine Sophisticated Living. Through it, I was exposed to interviewing techniques, editing guidance, and writing deadlines. My articles often focused on an artist in their own right, be it an interior designer, painter, or volunteer. Each person I worked with had a unique story to be told, a weaving of art into the lives of another, and I was privileged to connect and share in their worlds briefly during my time working for this magazine.
MY BLOG
A blog…so old fashioned! But truly, to be a writer is to write, or as my fellow writers know, it means “butt in the chair” each day. This element of my writing is here to strengthen my creativity and structure, to spill words on the page and make sense of an idea, to compose snippets of thoughts into coherent and comprehensive lessons on life. Ranging from deeply personal issues to broader topics of debate and debacle, this blog is here to test not only my discipline as a writer, but empty out some of the craziness that flows in my brain daily. Hope you enjoy it or at least can find a spark of a connection or a chuckle in my escapades.
As a writer, I am always on the hunt for valuable resources to keep growing and learning how to hone this craft.
Listed and linked below are ones I’ve gone back to time and time again on this publishing journey.
Podcasts:
The Shit No One Tells You Podcast
Books:
Save the Cat
Understanding Show, Don’t Tell (And Really Get It)
The First Five Pages
Story Trumps Structure
Creating Character Arcs
Before and After the Book Deal
Story Genius
Writing the Breakout Novel
People:
CeCe Lyra
Carly Walters
