Interview with Shaen Layle: Meet the Author Monday

Interview with Shaen Layle: Meet the Author Monday

Welcome to an interview with Shaen Layle on this Meet the Author Monday. Shaen is a new to me author. So, I’m looking forward to this interview as much as all of you. Shaen is a USA Today Bestselling Author, and she’s featuring her book, Borrowed Trouble. Be sure to stick around after the interview for more on her book. Plus, there is a great giveaway opportunity! Now, let’s get to know Shaen Layle.

Interview with Shaen Layl

I’ve mentioned you are a new to me author, and I’m sure there are some of my readers out there who you’re new to as well. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

​Sure, I’d love to. I live in the Midwest, homeschool my two boys, and have been writing cozy mysteries for the past six years. Prior to writing, I was a children’s librarian for ten years, and connecting readers with good books is a passion of mine. In my spare time, I enjoy running, cooking, organizing, serving in church nursery, and learning new languages, though my favorite thing is spending time with friends and family.

I can relate to a couple of those interest. However, running is not one of them. About your writing life, do you have any writing routines or habits you follow for a productive writing day?

I joke that writing while homeschooling my two sons has been like writer bootcamp! I can write with headphones or without, at a desk or on the couch, in the morning or in the evening. If I hit my daily word count, I consider it a productive day. That said, if I could choose my ideal routine, it would be a quiet morning tucked away in an office with a big picture window, a cozy blanket, and a cup of Lady Grey tea!

Your ideal day sounds wonderful. Your real day sounds a bit like a Dr. Seuss book (I do not like them here or there or do not like them anywhere!). But as an author who began writing when my nest wasn’t  empty, I can totally relate.  What prompted you to write Borrowed Trouble?

I have always enjoyed romances and Victorian history. When I got the green light from my editors to write both in my new book, I was ecstatic. I spent the next few months researching Prince Albert’s Crystal Palace and coming up with a twisty mystery for my sleuth couple, honeymooners Will and Harriet Knight, to solve. One of the highest compliments I’ve received from early readers is that they had trouble pinpointing the guilty suspect—mission accomplished!

For a mystery writer, that is a great compliment. And it’s always great when an author can mix in the things they enjoy into a story. Borrowed Trouble isn’t your first book. You’ve been writing for a few years. Will you share what you believe are the most fun, most feared, and most tedious parts of being an author?

The most fun part of being an author is definitely connecting with readers. A wonderful basis for relationship is having Jesus and books in common! The most feared part is trying to override that critical internal voice that all authors face at some point. The most tedious part is definitely edits!

I have to agree with you on these answers. Sometimes new authors don’t realize just how strong that negative internal voice can be. Knowing we’ve all been there can be an encouragement. So can great recommendations on materials for writers. What resources (books, podcasts, conferences, etc.) would you recommend to someone just starting their writing journey?

I love this question because one of my favorite things is to support aspiring authors. So many wonderful resources exist out there, but here are a few of the best:

Books: Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell, the Outlining Your Novel/Structuring Your Novel books and workbooks by K.M. Weiland, and Called to Create by Jordan Raynor

Podcasts: The Christian Publishing Show with Thomas Umstattd Jr. (because he’s amazing at staying ahead of the trends in publishing and passing along helpful info), Helping Writers Become Authors with K.M. Weiland (because nobody is better at breaking down the intricacies of story structure), and the Daily Bible Podcast with Tricia Goyer and Michelle Hill (because these ladies know their Bible and they help you get filled with the Word too)

Conferences: If you’re starting out as a Christian fiction author, the best conference to attend is the annual ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) conference. The conference offers opportunities to connect with other authors, as well as make appointments to pitch your work to various agents, editors, and publishers. When you add in the amazing worship and classes/panels from top CF talent, this conference is a no-brainer! Another great event to attend would be Read Write Rendezvous, which connects Christian Fiction authors with readers. It’s a wonderful chance to build community with your prospective reader base and geek out over the written word together!

We’ve talked about your writing day and your reasons for writing. We’ve talked about your passion to encourage up and coming authors. But let’s take a minute and find out more about your books specifically. What can readers expect when they pick up one of your books?

A reader of my books can always expect a clean, faith-affirming read, an engaging, multi-layered story, and characters who deal with real-world emotions, like love, fear, doubt, and grief. However, even though I don’t shy away from complex situations in my books, I always make sure to point toward the ultimate hope and comfort that we have in Christ.

Those are my kind of books! Thank you for joining me today. I look forward to reading Borrowed Trouble. Readers, keep reading. This interview with Shaen Layle may be over, but there’s more about Shaen and her book, Borrowed Trouble, including where you can purchase your copy.

More About Shaen Layl

Shaen is a USA Today Bestselling author and a Carol Award semi-finalist who writes
inspirational cozy mystery from her home in the Midwest, where she homeschools her two
sons and cares for a menagerie of pets. Trained as a literary novelist and with a decade of
librarianship under her belt, Shaen loves discussing all things bookish with her readers on her
website and on social media.

Website and Social Media Links – Shaen Layle:
Website: www.shaenlayle.com
Newsletter Signup: www.shaenlayle.com/newsletter
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorShaenLayle
Twitter: www.twitter.com/shaenlayle
Instagram: www.instagram.com/shaen_layle
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/shaenlayle
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/user/show/69552794shaen-layle

More About Borrowed Trouble

The wedding of Harriet Bailey and Will Knight has finally arrived. Friends and family of the bride and groom have gathered, and the celebration couldn’t be more perfect—until the power goes out during the reception. When the lights come back on, Harriet’s family heirloom is missing!

Could one of their friends really have taken such a special item? Determined to prove that couldn’t be true, Harriet and Will pause their honeymoon plans to search for the missing antique brooch. As they interview witnesses and possible suspects, they realize there is more history to the jewelry than they ever imagined. And what happens when other valuable items disappear?

Harriet and Will must map out the truth before their honeymoon road trip takes another detour.

Purchase Links:

-Guideposts: https://guideposts.org/shop/product/mysteries-cobble-hill-farm-borrowed-trouble/

-Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/5fyc8hrd

THE GIVEAWAY:

We covered a lot in this interview with Shaen Layle. However, you may still have a question or two for today’s guest. Everyone who leaves a question or comment by midnight (CT) on Monday, May 26th will be entered into a drawing for a signed, hardback copy of Borrowed Trouble. (US entrants only please). I’ll announce the winner right here in the comments, and we will also email the winner.