I began writing before self-publishing was a viable option, so it took awhile for me to take the leap. But I still have manuscripts on submission (via my agent) with traditional houses. Ideally, I’d like to be a hybrid author. I think it will provide the best exposure for my various projects.
Monica Shaughnessy – 25 January 2013
The Back Flap
Suspected of her brother’s murder, seventeen-year-old Robin Calloway uses her unique senses to track down the killer and unravel a lifetime of lies.
Following her brother’s grisly death, Robin is held in a mental institution for observation and forced to reveal a bizarre secret about herself: she hears voices, the voices of animals. Cursed with the ability to hear, see, and smell a world hidden to most humans, she learned long ago to cope by “sleepwalking”—or blanking out—for most of her day. So when she wakes up in the “crazy crib” with only hazy recollections of the crime, it comes as no surprise.
Desperate to clear her name, Robin escapes the institution, flees into the Texas Hill Country, and travels home to Calloway Ranch to jog her memory. By using her gift with a special herd of whitetail does, she learns who murdered her brother. But the information puts both her and the deer in the path of a hunter who’s desperate to hide the truth. Contains teen peril and some expletives.
Ages 15 and up.
About the book
What is the book about?
It’s a YA/Crossover thriller about a girl who’s desperate to find her brother’s murderer before she’s wrongly convicted of the crime. It takes place in the Texas Hill Country during hunting season and features plenty of twists, revelations, and “run for your life” action. I like to think of it as Bambi meets The Fugitive.
When did you start writing the book?
I wrote the book during the NaNoWriMo challenge of 2010. I drank a lot of coffee that November.
How long did it take you to write it?
Naturally, it took thirty days. But it took two more years to figure out how to make it good. The book is a far cry from what it was in 2010.
Where did you get the idea from?
I was inspired by the poem, An Evolving Course, by Rumi, a 13th century poet. In the last stanza, Rumi states that humankind is drifting through evolution in a dreamlike state, directed by an inner wakefulness. I read the poem and wondered what would happen if certain human beings “woke up” from the dream too early and possessed intelligences beyond current human capacity. That’s why my main character is gifted with super-senses, including the ability to hear and speak with animals.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
Getting the POV right. I began with omniscient, scrapped half the story, and reworked it into first person. It was a nightmare.
What came easily?
The dialect, hands down. I spent half my childhood in a small Texas town, and I’m fluent in redneck. Though I’ll admit that achieving consistency with the character’s dialogue quirks took a bit of work. That’s when a good editor comes in handy.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
Completely fictitious, but they do borrow. I construct characters using the Dr. Frankenstein method, stitching a little bit of this person to a little bit of that person.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
I read a lot of authors for fun, but the ones that have influenced me? Hemingway and Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald was a master of the metaphor, and no one could cut to the chase (and leave out the boring parts) like Hemingway.
Do you have a target reader?
My target reader craves a book that doesn’t travel the same old wagon ruts.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
I begin the day by tweaking pages I wrote the previous day. This warms up my typing fingers and oils my brain. A pot of coffee doesn’t hurt, either.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
I’m a firm believer in outlines. In my opinion, it takes fewer drafts to reach the final story that way. Some outlines are extensive; some are brief. It really depends on the book and how much of the story I can see in my head.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
I probably shouldn’t, as I’ve heard it stops the creative flow, but I edit as I go along. It drives me crazy to leave an ugly sentence on the page.
Did you hire a professional editor?
Yes, I hired a professional editor for both of my self-published books.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
Nothing but complete silence will do, otherwise it interrupts my thought process.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
I’m currently represented by Erzsi Deak of Hen & Ink Literary.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
For me, it was a gradual process. I began writing before self-publishing was a viable option, so it took awhile for me to take the leap. But I still have manuscripts on submission (via my agent) with traditional houses. Ideally, I’d like to be a hybrid author. I think it will provide the best exposure for my various projects.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did it you do it yourself?
I did it myself. It’s a real learning curve and one that I’m still on. I’ve received good feedback on it, but wouldn’t hesitate to change it if I thought something would work better.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
Of course I have a marketing plan! But are things going as planned? No. It’s been terribly difficult to find reviewers and most promotional sites are inundated by requests. That, and I underestimated how much runway I needed to achieve lift-off.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
The game changes daily.
About You
Where did you grow up?
I spent my half my childhood in Houston, the other half in the Hill Country. I’ve been a Texas girl all my life.
What would you like readers to know about you?
I’m a thinker. Even though my books follow a quick-paced plot, there’s always something more profound just under the surface.
What are you working on now?
I’m finishing up a middle grade novel for boys. After that, I’m going to begin a futuristic adult thriller. I have a hard time sticking to one genre. If you want to keep up with my current projects, visit my website.
End of Interview:
Get your copy of Season of Lies from Amazon US or Amazon UK.