Shannon Delany may have gotten her big break when she won the 2008 contest on the first-ever Western cell phone novel site, Textnovel.com with her book 13 to Life, but this month the second volume in her YA paranormal novel series Secrets and Shadows will hit bookstores everywhere in a traditional novel format.
“I’m a Cyber Cinderella,” Delany confesses. “If it hadn’t been for Textnovel.com I’d probably still be just poking at my story ideas instead of seeing my second novel—the second now in a series of five books being published by a major NYC house—release February 15th.”
The original book in the series, 13 to Life, has been called “your next fiction addiction,” by bestselling author Ann Aguirre and “a new spin on an old legend,” by NYT bestseller Maria V. Snyder. It is already being enjoyed by readers of all ages. According to Delany, this exciting next book in the series, Secrets and Shadows, continues where the first book left off, and “friendships are formed, choices are made, and allies become enemies–as the supernatural stakes increase as werewolves and more prowl about the town of Junction.”
With the launching of the second book of the series, the Textnovel Team could not contain their excitement for Shannon and have asked her to join us for a brief interview!
Textnovel: We are very honored to have Shannon Delany with us today for a brief interview. As an author, what makes you passionate about writing? What does writing mean to you?
Shannon: In which I sound like a megalomaniac: Writing is one of the most amazing ways of creating something out of nothing--it is the ultimate method of creating, evolving and potentially destroying entire worlds and populations. It is an amazing catharsis and the cheapest therapy you can find. But what makes me passionate about writing is building worlds and characters I can share with others.
Textnovel: Where or what is your favourite place to write?
Shannon: I can write nearly anywhere once the ideas are flowing, but I especially love the pre-writing and visualization that tends to occur when I'm engaged in absolutely mundane farm chores like feeding the sheep or cattle. If I could stay warm long enough (and had an amazing extension cord) I'd probably love writing most in the hay tent down the hill from my house. My current favorite location is at my captain's desk in my home's den when no one else is around.
Textnovel: What is different in your life now that you are published?
Shannon: A lot! I spend more time on promoting, writing, connecting with readers and my editor and agent than I ever expected! I wish I could say my self-confidence as an author's improved, but that's something all authors seem to fight with.
Textnovel: How long have you been writing and what are the key steps that have gotten you where you are today?
Shannon: I've been writing since I was a kid and was first officially published in 8th grade. the steps that led to my success? Writing frequently, reading a wide variety of books (fiction and non-), and maintaining a faith in my own ability to hone my skills and eventually find the right opportunity to showcase them.
Textnovel: How did Textnovel impact your writing career?
Shannon: Winning the first Textnovel contest helped launch my career. It provided an important talking point in the press and yielded a great press release which caught the eye of a publishing house and movie producer.
Textnovel: What is your favourite author or book or greatest inspiration?
Shannon: I like different authors equally for different reasons. Mercedes Lackey and Anne McCaffrey for world-building and character construction, Orson Scott Card for creative recreating of history, but they're only the tip of the my-favorite-authors iceberg.
Textnovel: What advice would you give to an aspiring author to help them become a better writer?
Shannon: Read a lot and write even more. Indulge your creative side and stay strong in your desire to improve and your belief in your own abilities and story. Everyone has at least one amazing story to tell--you just need to discover yours.
Secrets and Shadows has a release date of February 15, 2011 from St. Martin’s Griffin. Shannon Delany can be found online at http://www.ShannonDelany.com and http://13toLife.us/blog and through Twitter at http://twitter.com/Shannon_Delany
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