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Shelley Burbank
131 ratings | 46 reviews | avg rating:4.42

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Shelley’s Year In Books

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Shelley’s 2024 Year in Books
Take a look at Shelley’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
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Shelley Burbank’s Followers (56)

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Shelley’s Bookshelves

to-read (97)
currently-reading (11)
read (162)
chick-lit (24)
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Shelley’s Friends (564)

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Jan
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563 books | 1,165 friends

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225 books | 55 friends

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Shelley Burbank

Goodreads Author


Website

Genre
Contemporary, Mystery

Member Since
May 2022


Shelley Burbank grew up in a little city called Bangor, Maine (where a couple good writers we all know wrote some really excellent books.) Now a mystery and women’s fiction author and journalist based in Maine and San Diego, Shelley hopes to delight readers with stories featuring complex characters, suspense & dramedy, and romantic entanglements.

Shelley's debut chick lit mystery novel, FINAL DRAFT: An Olivia Lively Mystery was published by Encircle Publications in March 2023. The second book in the series, NIGHT MOVES came out in August 2024.

Her short fiction has been published in True Story Magazine, San Diego Woman Magazine, and The Maine Review.
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PRAISE...

Shelley Burbank's Portland, Maine P.I., Liv Lively, is a memorable ...more

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Ask the Author

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Popular Answered Questions

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?
Shelley Burbank Okay, you've heard it before but I'll say it: Good writers are great readers. You have to read all the time.

But here is my spin on it: You sort of ab…moreOkay, you've heard it before but I'll say it: Good writers are great readers. You have to read all the time.

But here is my spin on it: You sort of absorb what you read, so be mindful of what you are putting into your brain. Definitely read widely--experience many different genres--but be aware that the type of books on which you focus will make connections in your brain and inform your style. If you want to be a genre writer, read that genre. If you want to be a literary writer, read not only classics but also modern literary authors--the kind that win the prizes and publish short stories in The New Yorker.

When you start out, it's also perfectly normal and good to copy your favorite authors' styles. If you keep writing, you'll develop your own voice.

Last, it takes as long as it takes. I'm in my fifties. I've been writing with an eye toward publication since I was 13 or so. There are more options now, and you might break in much sooner than I did, but if you really love this work, don't fret about how long it's taking. The whole process is fulfilling. Okay, frustrating, too. But fulfilling. Enjoy the journey. (less)
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What are you currently working on?
Shelley Burbank I am currently working on a the next book in the Olivia Lively series. This new story called Night Moves and is a murder mystery. Night Moves was supp…moreI am currently working on a the next book in the Olivia Lively series. This new story called Night Moves and is a murder mystery. Night Moves was supposed to be a novella, but it's took on a life of its own.

Because Olivia Lively is a private investigator, I don't intend all the books in the series to be about a murder. Final Draft is about plagiarism and proving a client's claim that his mentor stole his work. For book 3 in the series, I've been researching the idea of a case involving a stolen piece of Hollywood memorabilia. There may or may not be a dead body. I kind of have this desire to subvert the expectations of the genre and write non-murder mysteries. Readers: Let me know what you think about that. Would a mystery without a dead body, um, fall flat? (less)
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Combine Editions

Average rating: 4.38 · 122 ratings · 60 reviews · 3 distinct works • Similar authors
Final Draft (Olivia Lively ...
4.37 avg rating — 83 ratings — published 2023 — 3 editions
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Night Moves (An Olivia Live...
4.52 avg rating — 29 ratings — 3 editions
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The Last Ten Days - Academi...
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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 15 ratings — 5 editions
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* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

Series by Shelley Burbank

Final Draft
(1 book)
by
4.37 avg rating — 83 ratings

Shelley is Currently Reading

The Residence: In...
Shelley Burbank is currently reading
by Kate Andersen Brower (Goodreads Author)
bookshelves: currently-reading
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Oct 30, 2025 03:14PM
Sex and the Singl...
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bookshelves: currently-reading
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Sep 29, 2025 08:17AM
Complications
Shelley Burbank is currently reading
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Aug 23, 2025 06:24AM

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Shelley’s Recent Updates

Shelley Burbank wants to read
Summerland Cove by Ellen Baker
Summerland Cove: A Novel
by Ellen Baker (Goodreads Author)
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Nov 18, 2025 08:04AM  · 
Shelley Burbank is currently reading
The Residence by Kate Andersen Brower
The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House
by Kate Andersen Brower (Goodreads Author)
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Oct 30, 2025 03:14PM  · 
Shelley Burbank rated a book it was amazing
The Bookshop on the Shore by Jenny Colgan
The Bookshop on the Shore
by Jenny Colgan
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Oct 27, 2025 01:31AM  · 1 like ·   ·  preview book
Shelley Burbank wants to read
In Every Life by Rea Frey
In Every Life: A Novel
by Rea Frey (Goodreads Author)
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Oct 14, 2025 10:26AM  ·   ·  preview book
Shelley Burbank is currently reading
Sex and the Single Girl by Helen Gurley Brown
Sex and the Single Girl: The Unmarried Woman's Guide to Men (Cult Classics)
by Helen Gurley Brown
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Sep 29, 2025 08:17AM  · 1 like ·   ·  preview book
Shelley Burbank entered a giveaway
Clementine Crane Prefers Not To by Kristin Bair O'Keeffe
Clementine Crane Prefers Not To: A Novel
by Kristin Bair O'Keeffe (Goodreads Author)
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Sep 18, 2025 09:14AM  ·   · see giveaway ·  preview book
Shelley Burbank wants to read
Heart the Lover by Lily King
Heart the Lover
by Lily King (Goodreads Author)
Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee in Readers' Favorite Fiction
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Sep 09, 2025 05:16AM  ·   ·  preview book
Shelley Burbank finished reading
Almost French by Sarah Turnbull
Almost French: Love and a new life in Paris
by Sarah Turnbull
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Sep 03, 2025 06:33PM  ·   ·  preview book
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Almost French by Sarah Turnbull
Almost French: Love and a new life in Paris
by Sarah Turnbull
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Aug 27, 2025 08:45PM  ·   ·  preview book
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Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou
Disorientation
by Elaine Hsieh Chou
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Aug 27, 2025 02:41AM  ·   ·  preview book
More of Shelley's books…

Polls

July 2023 Cozy Mystery Poll

We ask that you only vote if you are planning on participating in our discussion should your choice win.

Which Cozy Mystery would you like to read in July?

Final Draft (Olivia Lively Mystery #1) by Shelley Burbank
 
  18 votes, 51.4%

 
  10 votes, 28.6%

The Art of the Decoy (Scandal Mountain Antiques #1) by Trish Esden
 
  7 votes, 20.0%

35 total votes
More...

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics posts views last activity  
Crime, Mysteries ...: COZY: Final Draft (Olivia Lively Mystery #1) by Shelley Burbank - July 2023 10 145 Aug 12, 2023 12:12PM  

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Shelley’s Groups

1151266 swifties who also read — 46357 members — last activity 12 minutes ago
join this if you love taylor swift and books -- Welcome to the group! This is your mod, Neena. The creator of this group's account sadly does not exis ...more
1065 Chick Lit Book Club — 3042 members — last activity 7 hours, 15 min ago
Our group is for people who like to read Chick Lit books for fun, relaxation, humor, and/or entertaining characters. We like to share the good books w ...more
84674 Crime, Mysteries & Thrillers — 25433 members — last activity 8 minutes ago
Welcome! Join us for our monthly group reads. We read Crime stories, Mysteries, & Thrillers. ...more
345436 Reese's Book Club x Hello Sunshine — 169474 members — last activity 1 hour, 4 min ago
Hey Y’all, We’ve been reading together for awhile and we don’t know about you, but we’re ready to hear your thoughts and opinions. This group is a pl ...more
988700 Read With Jenna (Official) — 29532 members — last activity Nov 10, 2025 05:22PM
When anyone on the TODAY team is looking for a book recommendation, there is only one person to turn to: Jenna Bush Hager. Jenna will select a book a ...more
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Shelley’s Friend Comments

Comments (showing 1-2)    post a comment »
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message 2: by Shelley
May 18, 2023 06:33AM

Shelley Burbank Hello, Friends! Has anyone else read this one? I'm still in the beginning of it, but it's cool how the author re-imagined Jane Eyre for modern life. The Wife Upstairs

What other "updated classics" have you loved? Need recommendations!


message 1: by Shelley
Dec 06, 2022 11:46AM

Shelley Burbank Four Blondes

I've been reading this collection of novellas here and there the past few weeks. I know I'm dipping into the oldies but goodies lately. But there's something timeless about them for me.


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