Thursday, August 1, 2013

Interview With Author Shannon MacLeod




What type of books do you write?  I write in two different genres - paranormal romance and nonfiction, specifically reference books on Tarot. 

What is your newest book about? 
My newest release is a paranormal romance entitled The Celtic Knot: Suit of Cups, the first in the Arcana Love series. Set in contemporary Florida it tells the story of Ian and Lily, who meet and fall in love again and again throughout the centuries. 

What inspired you to write it?  I’ve always enjoyed telling stories and have an imagination that borders on distracting. I started writing during a dark period in my life as a cheap form of therapy, found that I really enjoyed it and just kept on doing it. The Arcana Love series is about a large Irish family living in the US – each book is the story of one of the siblings and how they met the love of their life. 

What is the writing process like for you?
  All encompassing – when I’m writing, everything I see or hear goes into the mental processor and is sorted as usable/not usable. I drink way too much caffeine, lay awake to work through plot lines and have to carry a notebook everywhere I go. Once I get the main story laid out, I can relax a little. 

What did you do before you became an author?  I worked in the insurance industry, which surprisingly isn’t as dull as you might think. I’ve always worked with the public in some capacity, from bartending to public relations. 

How does it feel to be a published author? I’m still amazed – The Celtic Knot: Suit of Cups is my second book with three more in production, but there’s still a sense of wonderment about it all. I doubt it will ever get old. 

Any advice for struggling writers? Write. Simply put, write. Make time to get your thoughts down, even if it’s only five minutes a day. Read as much as you can, learn as much as you can. Don’t be afraid to tackle subjects you don’t know anything about – Google Earth and the local library are your friends. Ask as many questions as it takes to understand. Allow yourself to make mistakes because that’s how you learn. And above all, have fun. 

Where do you see book publishing heading?
 I’ve heard people say that ebooks are going to replace print, but I hope that doesn’t happen. As much as I love my NOOK, there really isn’t anything like the feel of an actual book in my hands, the crispness of the pages, that new book smell. The reader makes traveling easier for sure, but no matter how many books I download, I’ll still have at least one print book tucked away in my suitcase. 

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Brian Feinblum’s views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog are his alone and not that of his employer, the nation’s largest book promoter. You can follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog © 2013

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