Interview with Shawn McGuire

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?

Here’s the back cover blurb and yes, BREAK MY BONES is the second in The Wish Makers series.

Everyone makes mistakes. Crissy’s just might kill her.

Seventeen-year-old Crissy Sheets was so sure Brad was the one, she believed him when he swore the first bruise was an accident. She believed him when he told her he loved her after the second. Now trapped in an abusive relationship with no idea of how to get out, she’s all but given up on ever having the life she dreams of. With little to lose, Crissy wishes for a better future.

She’s told her wish has been granted, but nothing has changed. Her house is still a dump, her mother is still drinking, and Brad still wants to control her every move. Then Lance moves into the house across the yard. He’s hot, chivalrous, and wants to help Crissy break free. Will standing up for herself push Brad too far?

Do you have a favorite character?

I assume you mean one of my characters. J I love all of my characters, especially the main characters but Desiree, the genie/wish granter throughout the series, has a special place in my heart. First, she’ a hippie and hippies are always fun, but she’s also a really complicated character. The more I write about her the more depth I find.

Have you ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Did that change the direction of the novel at all?

That’s what happened with Desiree. She was originally just the genie. She had an important role but only showed up in a few scenes. Then that thing that writers talk about happening happened to me. She started talking to me. She insisted that she had a bigger role and demanded more screen time. If not for her this series most likely would’ve ended after STICKS AND STONES. Maybe BREAK MY BONES would still have happened too because Crissy has an amazing story too. But now I’ve got at least five books in this series and it could go on to more.

Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?

I tried to break into the traditional publishing world for many years and would still welcome the opportunity at a hybrid career if it ever presents itself. I have a very specific vision for The Wish Makers however and the first thing every agent and editor said to me was, “Would you be willing to cut the genie?” Um, no.

Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?

Oh my, yes. I’ve got a number of critique partners in my world and I lover every one of them. I moved to Colorado from Wisconsin three years ago so my original group is still there, scattered across the state. There are six of us in the group – we call ourselves the Newberries – and have been together for over ten years. We each bring different strengths to the group which makes us really solid.

When I moved to Colorado, my writing friends circle grew and now there are two more women who help me immeasurably with this writing thing. They’re excellent at brainstorming and come up with story options I’d never considered.

What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?

I listen to music but only instrumentals, lyrics distract me. I turn on Pandora, pop on my headphones, and shut the world out. Or rather enter my characters’ world.

I prefer mornings. Many authors do a certain number of hours or words per day. I write until I feel my brain shut off. The time that I really push myself is during the first draft. If I don’t just blast through it and get words of some kind on the page, it would take me forever to get through a first draft. I’m a great procrastinator.

Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?

I loosely outline, I need to know what my ending is. But in that muddy middle part, if the characters find a better path that the one I laid out, awesome!

Besides writing, do you have any other passions?

My family. They are always, always first for me. I do have hobbies. I love to bake and cook. I enjoy crocheting and am trying to learn how to knit. Sometimes I quilt. One of my favorite things about living in Colorado is the mountains. Nothing inspires and grounds me like being in nature.

Some fun facts about you, which do you prefer – dogs or cats? Chocolate or vanilla? Coffee or Tea? Talk or Text? Day or Night?

There are two cats, Meg and Cleo, wandering my house although I do love dogs too. Chocolate! Preferably a nice bitter dark kind covering almonds. I drink coffee in the morning and then switch to tea – iced in the summer, hot in the winter. Earl Grey is my favorite. I love the peace of early morning. My brain is clearest then and the words really flow.

What’s next for you?

I still have these three other Wish Makers books to write. I’m nearly done with a good, solid draft of number 3 and will be sending it off to my CPs soon. Number four is starting to form in the back of my head and I have a pretty decent idea of what will happen in number five. Past that I’ve got some ideas for a serial and a New Adult trilogy.

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Book & Author details:

Break My Bones by Shawn McGuire
(The Wish Makers #2)
Publication date: September 1st 2014
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Everyone makes mistakes. Crissy’s just might kill her. 

Seventeen-year-old Crissy Sheets was so sure Brad was the one, she believed him when he swore the first bruise was an accident. She believed him when he told her he loved her after the second. Now trapped in an abusive relationship with no idea of how to get out, she’s all but given up on ever having the life she dreams of. With little to lose, Crissy wishes for a better future.

She’s told her wish has been granted, but nothing has changed. Her house is still a dump, her mother is still drinking, and Brad still wants to control her every move. Then Lance moves into the house across the yard. He’s hot, chivalrous, and wants to help Crissy break free. Will standing up for herself push Brad too far?

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22571053-break-my-bones

Purchase:

--Kobo - http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/break-my-bones-1

--Barnes & Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/break-my-bones-shawn-mcguire/1120079566?ean=2940046086584

--iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewGrouping?cc=us&id=27820 

--Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Break-Bones-Wish-Makers-Book-ebook/dp/B00MQJMEXY/ref=twoen-20

--Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/464993

AUTHOR BIO

Shawn McGuire is the author of young adult, coming-of-age novels that blend contemporary settings with a touch of fantasy and magic. She started writing after seeing the first Star Wars movie (that’s episode IV) as a kid: she couldn’t wait for the next one so wrote her own episodes. Sadly, those notebooks are long lost, but her desire to write is as strong now as it was then. She grew up in the beautiful Mississippi River town of Winona, Minnesota, the small town that inspired the setting for Sticks and Stones and the upcoming Break My Bones. After graduating college she moved to the Milwaukee area of Wisconsin (Go Pack Go!) where she lived for many years. She and her family now call Colorado home and when not writing or reading, Shawn enjoys cooking and baking, crafts, interior decorating, and spending time hiking and camping in the spectacular Rocky Mountains.

Author links:
Website: www.Shawn-McGuire.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/ShawnMcGuireAuthor
Twitter: @Shawn_McGuire
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/shawnmcguire1/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3231214.Shawn_McGuire

Giveaway:

Tour-wide giveaway (INTL)

--A handmade bracelet and BREAK MY BONES swag

a Rafflecopter giveaway