Five Compelling Questions with Shawn

Shawn and Julia chat about mathing things out, reality TV, how we find ideas, mining our normal lives for entertainment content, statistics as it relates to fiction

Shawn and Chanel chat about choosing fiction writing as a career, Chanel’s Cuban-American experience and intergenerational family stories and how that influences her writing, choosing favorite characters, and not persevering through rejection in your writing career.

Shawn and Kate chat about her new novel, writing multiple books a year in different genres, how long it takes to write, family dynamics, sisters, being on a cleanse, and going viral on TikTok.

Shawn and Ramona chat about the concept of de-extinction, writing realistic youthful voices, grief and loss as it relates to hope, taking a while to write a novel, writing short vs. long fiction, and inspiring words from an expert crafter of words.

Shawn and Rocky chat about books for younger readers, writing YA vs writing for adults, the importance of reading, how being derivative isn't always a bad thing, not wanting to practice violin, and writing into the future.

Shawn and Nick chat about musicians who become writers, the past its impact on the present, content warnings in novels, working closely with editors, and debut author excitement.

Shawn and Anissa chat about the concept of someone disappearing and the resulting emotions for those left behind, following up a blockbuster novel with the next book, having goals at a young age to write, having to pay for rent and food, and a joyful rapid-fire quiz where we learn so much more than we thought we knew about Anissa.

Shawn and Colleen chat about her newest novel, grandmothers, gender-neutral names, how far we've come as women and how far we still need to go, Thelma and Louise, and having family members live on in our memories forever.

Shawn and Becky chat about what it’s like to be a quadruplet married to a twin, beach reads, high school sweethearts, the work that goes into life, how film development work has influenced Becky’s writing, weddings and wedding drama, and being extroverts in the writing community who found each other.

Shawn and Jenny chat about her debut novel, plotting with Post-It notes, being on the other side of the editorial desk, not tracking serial killers, life in Brooklyn, living in someone else's home, thinking in different ways to solve problems, and kind stalking.