Ask the Author: Shannon MacLeod
Answered Questions (9)
Shannon MacLeod
Hi William!
I read all kinds of different things - my email is Shannon@shannonmacleod.com. I'd be happy to give it a look!
I read all kinds of different things - my email is Shannon@shannonmacleod.com. I'd be happy to give it a look!
Shannon MacLeod
Thank you very much, Ellis! Check your email :-)
Shannon MacLeod
Thank you so much, Margaret! Check your email :-)
Shannon MacLeod
I would love to say the best thing is having absolute control over the worlds you create. This is true for me - up until about 20k to 30k words. At that point, my characters take over like "go sit down, we got this" and I just struggle to keep up with their story.
Shannon MacLeod
Write. Every. Single. Day. Even if you only put down one sentence on the back of a cocktail napkin, write. Get your thoughts down as they come, because you won't remember that amazing plot line in a few hours. I have little notebooks and pens scattered all over my house, in my purse and car, and even stashed away at friends homes (just in case). Write for yourself, things that you like reading about. Don't worry about what "people" think. I've talked to so many people who are planning to write the next great novel, but haven't put so much as one word to start. It's not going to be perfect. It might not even be good, but it'll be a start. Don't worry about editing; that comes later. Read as much as you can, in different genres, and take notes.
Shannon MacLeod
That answer changes weekly, but the very first world that came to mind was Dublin in Karen Marie Monings' Fever series to help Mac, Barrons and the Nine battle it out with Cruce. Second up would be Empis in Stephen King's Fairy Tale, tied with Middle Earth and maybe Christmasland (but only if the kids had already been fed).
Shannon MacLeod
Every day, I get an email with the new book releases. I always read through the blurbs/plot lines, making mental notes. I always look for a story that hasn't been told yet. In most time travel romances, someone in the relationship is desperately trying to return home, hence the conflict. In my newest book, Embrace the Lace, I decided to turn that around. Not only is Van not trying to get back home to her own time, she's perfectly delighted to stay right where she is and "improve" everyone's day to day life - much to Andrew's consternation.
Shannon MacLeod
I've always heard it said that writers have the cleanest closets. I tend to clean when I'm stuck. I once caught myself crawling around with a scrub brush cleaning the tops of the baseboards to avoid sitting and staring at a blank screen. That has a two fold benefit - it gives me time to think or resolve whatever plot bunny has me twisted up, AND my baseboards are clean.
Shannon MacLeod
ADHD is me - I usually have at least two (or more) going at any given time. Now that my writing schedule is back on track, my current WIP is about a K-9 officer working what he thinks is a basic trafficking case. He soon realizes how over his head he is when he learns the traffickers are ancient Druids and they're dealing in fae.
I still have The French Twist: Suit of Swords (Arcana Love Vol 3.) to finish; that's Renaud and Heather's story. Then there's the ghost story that I can only work on during daylight hours...
I still have The French Twist: Suit of Swords (Arcana Love Vol 3.) to finish; that's Renaud and Heather's story. Then there's the ghost story that I can only work on during daylight hours...
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