Ask the Author: Scott Shinberg
Answered Questions (4)
Scott Shinberg
Over the past few decades, I’ve traveled frequently for both work and pleasure. Michelle Reagan’s story—her life, if you will—occurs in many of those locales and has been percolating through my mind for the past seven or eight years. This book is a blend of places I’ve been, people I’ve worked with, and my own experiences in the field. They say you can only write what you know, so that’s what I did. I wanted to tell the story of Michelle’s journey so readers can get to know this strong, brave, loving woman who’s unlike any they’ve read before.
Scott Shinberg
The writing bug bit me rather suddenly a few years ago while I was driving along Interstate 95, south of Washington, DC. I realized in that moment that I wanted other people to get to know Michelle Reagan and to like her as much as I did. It was a rather simple thought but led me down the complex path to shepherd her story from ethereal concept to a series of novels.
I can only hope I’ve translated her essence onto paper well enough for readers to appreciate her complexity, empathize with her about the difficulty of the personal and professional decisions she’s had to make, and understand how it changed her over time. Throughout the process of writing Confessions of Eden, it was Michelle who told me what to put down on paper and what to leave out!
I can only hope I’ve translated her essence onto paper well enough for readers to appreciate her complexity, empathize with her about the difficulty of the personal and professional decisions she’s had to make, and understand how it changed her over time. Throughout the process of writing Confessions of Eden, it was Michelle who told me what to put down on paper and what to leave out!
Scott Shinberg
Right now, I'm in the middle of final edits for the second book in the Michelle Reagan series (Directive One), making significant changes to the third book, and outlining the fourth in the series.
Keeping all of the story lines in my mind at the same time is the oddest combination of fun an torture I can imagine.
Keeping all of the story lines in my mind at the same time is the oddest combination of fun an torture I can imagine.
Scott Shinberg
First and foremost, get it on paper. It doesn't have to be perfect -- in fact, it's not going to be and that's FINE! Get it down first, organize it second, and ask people you trust to give you frank, if sometimes painful, feedback to critique it.
You can't make progress in writing, develop your storytelling voice, or evolve your art form if you don't get it down on paper first.
You can't make progress in writing, develop your storytelling voice, or evolve your art form if you don't get it down on paper first.
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