First, let me thank you for taking the time to visit with me. As a writer, I want people to know about me but find I don’t have as much time as I thought I would. I appreciate Seriously Interviewed helping people get to know me.
What is your favorite thing about being a romance writer?
My readers. Of course, I love writing or I wouldn’t be doing it. But, I’ve discovered that the readers are what keep me going. I have made some incredible friends because of my writing. When someone reads The Shoppe of Spells or Pennyroyal Christmas and sends me a note, or post one on my website, Facebook page, or twitter, they are always so sweet and wonderful. It truly makes my day. It makes me want to be the best writer I can be—for them.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Time management. I am very fortunate. Writing comes easy to me. Managing everything else is nearly impossible. Like everyone else, the economy has hit us very hard. My husband works hourly when he’s at the top of his field. I spend a lot of days budgeting to survive, making ends meet and looking for outside work to tide us over. I took time off to raise my children and write so now I’m hitting an overfilled work force with gaps in my resume. Being a published author does not impress them. Well…that’s not true…they are very nice…and want an autograph, but that’s about it. So, I fit in writing every other moment. It’s my joy. My de-stressor. My characters are always there waiting patiently—not so much, sometimes—for me to get back to them. And when the book hits the market and I start getting those wonderful comments from my readers, I feel like I can do anything.
Are you a plotter or a pantser?
Oh, heavens, I am a pantser. I tried plotting once and nearly drove myself crazy. My stories are character driven and once I introduce them, they take over and tell me the story. I just hope my fingers move fast enough. I will dream about them. They will work out difficult scenes or give me ideas while I sleep. Like in real life, there are many twists and turns that arise while writing. I let those just happen. Sometimes my characters will totally surprise me. Sometimes a new character will jump in. I do try to have an idea of where I want to head, but once I start writing, it’s by the seat of my pants all the way.
How long have you been a writer?
Most of my life. Making money writing since college. I started editing articles and papers in college, then professors would give me outlines and data and I would write. I was offered a job as an Assistant Editor for a regional trade magazine, then went to work as a Technical Editor for government contractors. I wrote my first novel when I was in my twenties and was given a difficult time because it was too “out there.” It was paranormal romance. See how far we’ve come? I am so happy we have. I love writing paranormal romance. Mine is a little different in that my characters are pretty normal people trying to deal with these abilities. I hope to spend the rest of my life writing. In fact, they may have to pry my computer away to bury me. That’s how much I love doing what I do.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything on your road to publication?
If I got a “do over,” I would change two things. One, I would have finished college. I was on my own and trying to survive and the technical writing jobs were just too lucrative to pass up. I was lucky that I did research and all sorts of wonderful things, but I never got that degree. I really wish I had. In the larger view of things, that’s not that much time. The other is that I would have pushed to get my work out a whole lot sooner. I let life intervene. And, trust me, life can really do that. Then my original manuscript, which I had just finished editing, wouldn’t be at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico, where Katrina took it and all the computers along with everything else. So, I recommend two things. Get a degree and get your work out. Just do it!
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If you could be a paranormal creature, which one would you be?
I don’t think I’ve been invented yet because I want to be completely different. I’ve tried to give it some thought but I haven’t come up with it—yet. I am still working on it. It could do most anything and become invisible at will, yet be brilliant and compassionate—yet not be a god. I don’t know if it would be humanoid or not. I’ll let you know.
What’s a guilty pleasure you have?
Oriental food. Good—no, excellent—oriental food. I don’t know if that’s politically correct or not. Maybe Asian inspired before it definitely crosses a broad range of cuisines. But I could eat it every single day and never tire of it. Lobster Cantonese, Lomein, Rama, Egg Rolls, Gyosa, Lumpia. The list goes on and on. Geesh—now I’m hungry.
If you came with a warning label, what would it say?
Danger, curves ahead. Both physically and mentally. I lived my youth lean and mean, surfing (well, trying to anyway), eating what I wanted and never gaining an ounce. I had children and my thyroid stopped working, so I have curves that would have served me much better when I was younger. LOL. Mentally, I’m a dreamer. I am always thinking up my next story, sometimes to the concern of those around me. A discussion can turn rather strange when I inject a scenario out of a storyline into a normal conversation without warning. Fortunately, friends and family have learned to read between the lines.
Who’s more fun, bad boys or perfect gentlemen and why?
How about perfect gentlemen who are bad boys or bad boys who really are perfect gentlemen. There is nothing more exciting than to have a multi-layered man around. Someone who thinks outside the box yet respects you. Someone who’ll give you the lead, yet watch your back. Someone in a suit who can melt you with a smoldering stare. Someone in leather and body art who can whip up a gourmet meal. Yeow!
What’s number one on your list of things you hope to do before you die?
Celebrate my 150th birthday in great health with my 150th bestseller having just been released.
Seriously! That’s it. Actually, I have achieved it. I am a published author. I always wanted to do that. From way back when. One of my best friends told me I would. Unfortunately, she passed before it happened. The other things I also have—a loving husband and two incredible children. Now, I’ll work on that other thing.
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I want to thank all the readers who have taken the time to not only read my books, but also took the time to send a note, write a quick review (without spoilers) and be encouraging. Once our books are published, we are the most vulnerable of creatures, waiting, hoping, and praying for good results. Your words mean the world to us. They can make us or break us. No matter what anyone says, we write for you, our readers.At present I have a short story, “Glynda’s Dare” in the anthology, All Bets Are On!, a novella, “Pennyroyal Christmas,” and a novel, The Shoppe of Spells, part of the Gatekeeper Series, all available. Meadow’s Keep, the second in the series, is due out this spring. Since I’m a multitasker, I’m working on several other things for the upcoming months.
I love hearing from people. They can generally find me or reach me at the places below.
My website is full of writings and things about Ruthorford, my stories, and me. Please visit. http://shanongrey.wordpress.com/
I am on Facebook as well: https://www.facebook.com/ShanonGrey
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/ShanonGrey
If you want to write me, I would love hearing from you. I hope to have a newsletter out in a month or so. My email is. shanongreybooks@yahoo.com
I hope this gives you an idea of me as an author and a person. Thanks for letting me visit.
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