Author Interview: Shannon Redmon
I had the honor of meeting Shannon Redmon during an interview with the Suspense Squad, an awesome YouTube channel where a group of suspense authors for Love Inspired Suspense interviews other suspense authors. Not only was it fun to get to know her, I happen to enjoy her LIS stories. Allow me to introduce you to her properly:
Shannon Redmon remembers the first grown-up book she checked out from the neighborhood bookmobile. A Victoria Holt novel with romance, intrigue, dashing gentlemen and ballroom parties captivated her attention. For her mother, the silence must have been a pleasant break from non-stop chatter, but for Shannon, those stories whipped up a desire and passion for writing.
Shannon is a Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author and her greatest hope is to immerse readers into a world of suspense and escape while encouraging faith, hope, and love in Christ. She has two books published by Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line—Cave of Secrets and Secrets Left Behind with a third and fourth on the way—Mistaken Mountain Abduction and Christmas Murder Coverup.
She is also one of the Managing Editors for Acquisitions of Spark Flash Fiction Magazine, where she received her first official published byline. She won first place in the Foundation awards, was a runner-up in the Genesis contest, and is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency.
You can connect with her through:
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube | GoodReads
Now for the fun stuff! I have to admit I am partial to my Fast Five. 🙂 So settle in as I hit Shannon with rapid-fire.
CC: Sweet or Salty?
SR: Salty – I love a good potato chip!
CC: Print, E-book, or Audiobook?
SR: I prefer Print because I love beautiful covers but often I read ebooks on my phone because I can get more on there.
CC: Coffee, Tea, or Other?
SR: Both – I love a morning coffee with creamer and then drink tea the rest of the day
Morning Person or Night Owl?
SR: Neither – I get up around 7am and often go to bed by 11pm
CC: Favorite Holiday?
SR: Thanksgiving – I love having a big meal with my loved ones without the stress of buying gifts!
I’m definitely a fan of Thanksgiving. I love cooking and baking, and yes to without the stress of buying gifts!!! Let’s move into some of the more in-depth questions.Â
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
SR: I’ve always been a writer – writing poems, breakup letters for my schoolmates, and short stories that never got picked up by any teenage magazine. As I got older, I would start writing a story, get about ten chapters in and stop. In 2015, my husband told me I needed to finish one. I took his advice and finished my first book in 2016, which will never see the light of day. By the time I’d written my fourth book in 2020, I signed with Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line.
CC: It’s amazing what perseverance will teach you, and what it can lead to!
What does your writing process look like from beginning to end?
SR: Typically, I come up with my characters first and flesh out who they are, what they look like, and what they do, then I create a plot around those characters with what I hope lines up with market needs.
CC: So you are definitely a character-first writer. Interesting to know!
What is your writing Kryptonite?
SR: I always go through a phase during my first draft of my books where I think the story is just stupid! LOL! I question if anyone will ever read anything I ever write again after this, but God always encourages me, and I keep going. Usually in the editing phase, I start to see the beauty in the story God gave me to write.
I’m so glad I am not the only one who faces this. It’s such a challenge to keep writing when the stories feel like they won’t be worth reading.
What has been the biggest challenge for you on your writing journey?
SR: I’ve had to learn to wait well. Not everything comes together according to my timetable and God has taught me many lessons through waiting even though I struggle to this day with waiting.
CC: Man, do you feel you on this one! Learning to wait well is so hard.
How have you seen God working through your writing journey?
SR: My readers and writer friends have been such a blessing to me since I started this journey. They keep me encouraged when I want to quit and provide so much love for the stories God gives me to write. I love coming up with new ideas to share with them.
CC:The people God has brought into our lives through writing is probably one of the greatest gifts we can receive. Truly, they are amazing.
Do you have any advice for those who want to write their own stories?
SR: Don’t write to be published. Write stories because you love to weave together a tale that entertains and takes readers on a fantastic journey. That passion will keep you moving forward when the road gets tough.
Wise advice. If your only goal is to get published, you’ll wonder why you wanted it eventually. It’s a hard road.
Now I’m excited to talk about your newest release, Mistaken Mountain Abduction.
Tracking a kidnapper
leads to a deadly pursuit
After her twin is abducted and mistaken for her, former army helicopter pilot Aggie Newton must move fast. She has to find her sister and figure out why she’s become a target—even if it means working with her ex. But Detective Bronson Young knows these criminals will do anything to stop their investigation. Can they dodge deadly attacks long enough to save Aggie’s sister and expose the kidnappers?
Purchase your copy at AmazonÂ
CC: Where did you get the idea for Mistaken Mountain Abduction?
SR: I researched hostage extractions and how the military completes these, which was very different than what I expected. I was able to interview military personnel and get first hand knowledge (at least what they were allowed to share) about how army units and military operations work.Â