MEMBER INTERVIEW

Please welcome Sleuths' member Shirley McCann. Not only is she a successful mystery writer, she is also one of the founding members of our group. Shirley has several books published and is a regular contributor to Woman's World Magazine's popular feature "solve it yourself" mysteries.

Be sure and follow her links at the end of this interview.

Where do you like to write - home or away?

Either is fine, but I prefer to write around 5 AM in the morning IF I can make myself get up. It's quiet in the house and outside at that time. And I love to watch the sun come up. As long as I have a never-ending supply of Earl Grey Tea, I’m good to go that early.

Wow, I can never get up that early.

Do you listen to music when you write?

Not always. Sometimes I just like listening to the noise around me. That’s assuming I’ve made it up early, of course. Otherwise, yes to the music. I have a Thunderstorm CD that I love.

Thunderstorm CD sounds intriguing - especially when writing mysteries.

What draws you to mystery writing? 

Solving the puzzle. I think that’s the case with a lot of mystery readers and writers. I like to try and find the clues (or plant them) and see if the reader can find them and solve the puzzle.

I must say, you are good at hiding those clues.

What hobbies do you enjoy?

Reading. A LOT.  And for the record, I always write reviews unless the book is so bad I won’t even finish it.  Crocheting is also a favorite pastime. There’s gotta be something else, but nothing comes to mind at the moment. 

It's so important as writers to read a lot. 

Favorite food? 

My mom’s enchiladas. She’s from Texas so that was always a favorite of ours growing up. And still today. Of course, chocolate is always on the list.

Oooh, I love enchiladas, especially if the person making them is from the southwest.

Thanks Shirley for sharing a bit of your life with us today!

LINKS

The Scarry Inn

http://tinyurl.com/mau6stp

Anonymously Yours

http://tinyurl.com/njzjd58

Guest Blogger, Shirley McCann

Anonymously Yours has gone through several rewrites over the years. What started out as a YA novel finally evolved into more of a cozy mystery for readers of all ages. Truth be known, it was actually the first book I ever wrote. I’d put it aside for many years, thinking it was time to move on and forget about it, but something wouldn’t let me do that. Every once in a while, I’d pull it back out and work on it a bit.

Then when I pitched the book to an Avalon editor who seemed very interested in it, my hopes of publishing it escalated. I sent in the first three chapters, and was soon asked for a full. But as most of us know, Avalon is no more, and the book didn’t make it to publication.

It was during a Savvy Authors pitch that I once again attracted the interest of two editors. I won’t mention the second one, but I’m so happy to be associated with The Wild Rose Press. I loved the experience of going through several editing phases to make the book as perfect as could be.  I’m enclosing an excerpt below. Please enjoy.

EXCERPT:  The blood drained from my face. My body numbed from the shock of Justin’s words. There had to be some mistake! How could the police have found nothing at Michael Black’s house this morning? I was there! I had witnessed a woman’s lifeless body slide onto the living room floor in a crumpled heap.

It didn’t make sense.

Despite the warmth of the day, a shiver shook my body. If Michael Black’s wife had died ten years earlier, then who did I see at that house?

Something was terribly wrong. But what could I do? How could I explain a missing corpse?

 

Here's the link if you'd like to purchase a copy.  Reviews are always welcome. 

 

 

Anonymously Yours

http://tinyurl.com/mg5t9te

 

Got Time? 13 Solve It Yourself Mysteries

http://tinyurl.com/np9hdjm

 A Collection - 13 Short Mysteries

http://tinyurl.com/okpavqk

 The Necklace - A Middle Grade Mystery

http://tinyurl.com/nk97u8v

 Facebook Page

http://tinyurl.com/lkhoyjm

Twitter

https://twitter.com/shirleymccann