21 Questions with ..... Shannon Delany

Shannon Delany
13 to Life

Shannon is a debut author this year. Her novel 13 to Life comes out in stores June 22!!!

I like to start my days out with a laugh. Soo... What makes you literally LOL?
My son. He's got a wicked steak, a great sense of humor and a stange sense of reality (by the way, we call *that* creativity in my household). He's in kindergarten and yesterday he flopped onto the floor in his dragon-hooded towel, his arm out, hand holding a foam sword. Looked like a warrior after battle---if warriors sported green terrycloth.

Has anything AMAZING happened to you as a writer? (other than getting published?)
Yep. Before the deal with St. Martin's Press (and after) we stared hearing movie producers asking to see the book. A couple small production companies and a really big one wanted a peek. I was thrilled. No idea where that interest will go, but it's always VERY flattering.

How about something EMBARASSING?
Trying to remember how to spell my earlier pseudonym. Yes, I should have known then that it wasn't a keeper. *sigh*

How would you describe your road to publication?
Three words: Bizarre and unexpected.

cute, i like that.

What/Who inspired you to become a writer?
I've always written and drawn. Although it wasn't a moment directly tied to writing, I have to say my mom inspired me when I was in kindergarten. I had homework and was supposed to draw a person. It totally intimidated me so I asked my mom to draw one for me. She shook her head. No. I was insistent. *I* couldn't do it. finally she picked up an envelope, flipped it over (this is a habit I got from her that makes my husband twitch) and explained she wasn't a good artist---that I could surely do better. She drew the most misshapen stick figure. Ever. I thought: *I* can do better than *that*! I went on to love art and writing because my mom did little things like that to bolster my confidence. The first book is dedicated to her.

that's really sweet--on both parts.

If not an author, what would you have been?
hmmm. That aptitude test I took in high school suggested forest ranger. Yeah. I've been a teacher (loved it), an artist (love it mostly), freelance author (which in a way I still am---crazy!), a tour guide for a well-known cave (cool except for the spooky guide crushing on me), a worker on Godiva's factory line (and Pepperidge Farms), the educational director for a privately owned zoo (Love. Giraffes), a counter of belts (Worst Job Ever), and a bunch of other things. I'm technically a farmer who also writes. so... I think one way or the other I'll always be a writer/author, artist, and teacher. I can't easitly separate them anymore anyhow. ;-)

wow, this reminds me of the "i've been everywhere" comercial. :)

Why did you decide to write a paranormal series?
The short answer? Life is weird. There is no normal to speak of. The longer answer? I've always been fascinated by the paranormal (and have had plenty of weird experiences of my own, thanks). I happened to be writing two stories (13 to life and another one I want to revisit eventually) for the Textnovel contest and although I *tried* to do one that was simply fiction I just couldn't. I mean, I *could* but the spooky stuff seems to be attracted to me. Just like that tour guide in my sixth answer. ;-) I studies stuff about the paranormal starting in middle school. My science fair projects were about fringe science. In high school I tested middle school kids for psychic abilities (and freaked them out when they tested me. ;-). There's stuff we can't easily explain. I'm cool with that. And it'll probably always show up in my writing and art in some way or other.

Can you in any way relate your life to your book title, 13 To Life?
That's an interesting question...Sure. For me, thirteen felt like the beginning of a new stage of life. I hated middle school---didn't fit in anywhere and was threatened and bullied. I think I was thirteen when my dad taught me how to throw a punch to protect myself. That was also around the time I started attending a local historical event regularly (one you got to dress up for and become someone else entriely). I realized life was really what you make it-- that *I* was whoever I wanted to be regardless of the way some kids treated me.

it took me longer than 13yrs to learn that. :) kudos to you for learning it so early.

How did you decide on 13 To Life being a series instead of a stand-alone?
I'd chatted with my husband about the possibitility briefly, them my agent called a day or so later. He said he felt pretty certain we could get a series deal if I felt I could do a series. I think I laughed. But then he wanted to know how many books we should push for (contracts can be so frikkin' scary). I said I thought I could get it to go to 4 or 5 but I only really knew how the first three would lay out. So we went for (and got) three.

What's your guilty pleasure?
Eating someonething delicious and ectravagant while wating an episode of Survivor. Yes. I'm twisted. ;-)

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your closet right now?
The blue and black top I wore to the Harlequin party at RWA in DC. Love it.

What coule you eat all day one and never grow tired of?
Nothing. I'm all about variety.

What's your favorite fairytale? Have you ever thought of re-doing it?
There are lots of fairytales I've thought of redoing (and one--Bab Yaga--that I did as a freelancer). I tend to like lesser known tales a lot (not necessarily Gimm or Andersen or Lang). There's a traditional legend that's been haunting my mind recently---a French tale that got retold as a poem a looong time ago (werewolf fans might know what I'm talking about). It's a book I have in Pietr's ownership in 13 To Life. I wouldn't mind re-envisioning it for a publisher.

When you get stuck writing, how do you unglue yourself?
Getting stuck isn't my problem, really. Staying focused is the more frequent issue. I get ideas for new novels and short stories pretty frequently. I have to sort of eorcise them before I can get back to the WiP I need to work on. If I do get stuck (in winter), I vacuum. There's something about that hum of the machine that kicks my brain into a different gear (probably a white noise thing). Otherwise I weed my garden. Getting my hands busy also frees my mind. However, if you ever see my garden, you'll know I don't frequently get stuck. ;-)

What's something you can't live without?
I could probably survive without almost anything, but I doubt I'd want to. Let's go with "Family" for the win. Note the capital "F"--blood relation is *not* a requirement of true Family to me.

Write a mnemonic, using your last name, which describes you.
Which last name to use....;-) Devilish Envisioner Loving All New (yetis? yams? yurts? yodelers? crap, I knew I shouldn't have gone with Delany...) Yarns.

Is there any moment in your life you'd like to relive?
A day at Cape May when my mother was alive and healthy--especially if Icould bring my son (at his current age) to meet her.

What's a random fact about you?
I didn't start off thinking 13 To Life would be anything but an experiment on the Textnovel.com website

Do you have any words of wisdom?
I'll steal Pietr's words (which Jess adds to later): "Live life fiercely."

How did you choose the title, 13 To Life?
It just came to me as a phrase and wouldn't stop rolling around in my head untill I used it.

Now it's time we put thinks in reverse. Do you have a question for me?
Do you have aspirations of becoming an author or are you absolutely happy reading and imagining the worlds others create?

I'd have to go with the latter. Although I love reading, I have zero creativity invested in me. I'm all sticks and figures. But I would love to be an editor or something of the sort. That, I could handle. :)

and here's an EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW of 13 to Life. ENJOY!!

13 To Life: Chapter 13, part N (used with the author's premission)

Sophia simply sucked on her straw, listening intently.
"I guess it itsn't," he admitted around a strip of beef jerky. "I just thought a male opinion..." He looked beyond me again.
"What? Because we can't figure this sort of thing out on our own?" I leaned across teh table, making it clear I could be the transgressor.