Shirley McCann’s fiction has appeared in
Woman’s World, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, and many other fiction
publications. She has two short story collections on Amazon. Anonymously Yours
is her first contracted novel. The Scarry Inn, YA suspense, will be released by
Black Opal Books in early 2015.
Woman’s World, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, and many other fiction
publications. She has two short story collections on Amazon. Anonymously Yours
is her first contracted novel. The Scarry Inn, YA suspense, will be released by
Black Opal Books in early 2015.
You are one busy lady these days so thank you for stopping by to
chat.
chat.
How did you come up with this unique setting in your novel?
Honestly, I have no idea. It just came to me. I used
the setting from a neighborhood I lived in at the time, but the diner was a
complete fabrication. I guess it just seemed like a good idea.
the setting from a neighborhood I lived in at the time, but the diner was a
complete fabrication. I guess it just seemed like a good idea.
When
you started this project did you intend for the main characters to be so young?
you started this project did you intend for the main characters to be so young?
Actually, it
started out as a YA, so they were even younger in the original version. It just
kind of evolved from there. It’s gone through a lot of changes over the years.
Most people probably would have given up on it by the time it was actually
published, but I couldn’t let it go.
started out as a YA, so they were even younger in the original version. It just
kind of evolved from there. It’s gone through a lot of changes over the years.
Most people probably would have given up on it by the time it was actually
published, but I couldn’t let it go.
You
are currently working on something for Black Opal Books. Can you give us a
taste of what we can look forward to?
are currently working on something for Black Opal Books. Can you give us a
taste of what we can look forward to?
The Scarry Inn is YA suspense. The idea evolved from
a time when my husband and I were making a trip from California to Missouri.
Our car broke down and we ended up staying in a ratty motel for a few days
until we got a rental. The story just started with a lot of “what ifs”. In the
novel, four teenagers end up in the same position as us, only the owners are
not happy to see them. With a name like the Scarry Inn, they decided the owners
are just trying to make the inn live up to its name. At least until one of them
is murdered. Then they are in a fight for their lives.
a time when my husband and I were making a trip from California to Missouri.
Our car broke down and we ended up staying in a ratty motel for a few days
until we got a rental. The story just started with a lot of “what ifs”. In the
novel, four teenagers end up in the same position as us, only the owners are
not happy to see them. With a name like the Scarry Inn, they decided the owners
are just trying to make the inn live up to its name. At least until one of them
is murdered. Then they are in a fight for their lives.
How do
you start a new project?
you start a new project?
I’ve got so many projects started; I’ll never get
them all done. I enjoy mystery and romance, so sometimes it’s a toss-up which
one I want to work on. Currently I’m working on a sequel to The Scarry Inn, so
that takes up most of my time now. I’m finding I’m not good with deadlines, so
I’ll have to force myself to finish it. But I usually do not know who the
killer is when I start. I learn as I go.
them all done. I enjoy mystery and romance, so sometimes it’s a toss-up which
one I want to work on. Currently I’m working on a sequel to The Scarry Inn, so
that takes up most of my time now. I’m finding I’m not good with deadlines, so
I’ll have to force myself to finish it. But I usually do not know who the
killer is when I start. I learn as I go.
Is
there a genre besides mysteries you’d like to try?
there a genre besides mysteries you’d like to try?
As I mentioned above, I also enjoy easy-read
romances. They’re just a fun, relaxing read.
romances. They’re just a fun, relaxing read.
I love
hearing about how a writer makes the magic happen when they create. Do you have
a routine, good luck charm or special place that helps you plow through a
project?
hearing about how a writer makes the magic happen when they create. Do you have
a routine, good luck charm or special place that helps you plow through a
project?
HA! I babysit
three kids, two under two years of age during the week. I also work part time.
And I also take care of my paraplegic husband. So I can’t wait for the magic to
happen. I write whenever I can. What this means is I have to make myself be in
the mood to write because when I’m in the mood, I have no time.
three kids, two under two years of age during the week. I also work part time.
And I also take care of my paraplegic husband. So I can’t wait for the magic to
happen. I write whenever I can. What this means is I have to make myself be in
the mood to write because when I’m in the mood, I have no time.
Give
us a taste of Anonymously Yours:
us a taste of Anonymously Yours:
Uneventful is the word Denise would
have expected to describe her job at Winslow’s Diner. But after the discovery
of a dead body during an attempt to return a lost wallet, Denise is suddenly
thrust into a danger she hadn’t bargained for. And to top it off,
not only does her boyfriend, Justin, inform her that the police
never found a body at the house she’d sent them to, she also realizes that she
is being stalked by someone driving a red Toyota – the same car she’d seen at
the house where she’d discovered the body.
have expected to describe her job at Winslow’s Diner. But after the discovery
of a dead body during an attempt to return a lost wallet, Denise is suddenly
thrust into a danger she hadn’t bargained for. And to top it off,
not only does her boyfriend, Justin, inform her that the police
never found a body at the house she’d sent them to, she also realizes that she
is being stalked by someone driving a red Toyota – the same car she’d seen at
the house where she’d discovered the body.
In a fight
for their lives, Denise and Justin are forced to seek the help of her Private
Investigator, Uncle Bob. Unfortunately, she soon learns that her
uncle is not the successful person she’d always believed him to be. Now, not
only does she need to solve the mystery of the missing corpse in order to save
her life, she also realizes that doing so would help to boost the confidence of
her favorite uncle.
for their lives, Denise and Justin are forced to seek the help of her Private
Investigator, Uncle Bob. Unfortunately, she soon learns that her
uncle is not the successful person she’d always believed him to be. Now, not
only does she need to solve the mystery of the missing corpse in order to save
her life, she also realizes that doing so would help to boost the confidence of
her favorite uncle.
Denise
realizes their newly devised plan must go as clockwork, or someone else could
end up dead.
realizes their newly devised plan must go as clockwork, or someone else could
end up dead.
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0 Responses
Thanks for having me, Tierney.
I really enjoyed your book Shirley and what a fun interview!
Thanks Wanda. Glad you stopped by.
You girls were so much fun to talk to this week. Thanks for letting me steal some of your time and creative brain cells.
I love how you go back and forth between mystery and romance, that's such a gift! And to be able to write YA books … oh, if I only felt young enough. LOL Great interview!
Thanks for stopping by Hebby.