Heather’s Bookshelf: Author Interview with Shannon Lawrence
Book Title: Myth Stalker: Wendigo Nights
Released: 03/26/24
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Interview by Heather L. Barksdale
What inspired you to write “Myth Stalker: Wendigo Nights”?
Lawrence: I was frustrated with non-indigenous authors taking our stories and making them unrecognizable. Wendigo is one of those creatures that became popular in mainstream genre films, but the story was repeatedly twisted to be nothing like the stories passed down in indigenous communities. I liked the thought of a character whose job it was to know about these creatures and be a go-to for hunting them down and dealing with them.
How did you come up with the names of your main characters?
Lawrence: For Selina, I just liked that name and felt it fit her. For the Cree characters, I researched common names in Cree communities and went with a combination of names that made sense for the characters. Others were chosen by names that I felt fit their personalities.
Is there anything that you want readers to know about you, your writing process or your book?
Lawrence: This book became closer to my heart than I expected when I started writing it. About a third of the way through writing it, my dad was diagnosed with ALS. To my horror, I found that the way the disease progressed in him had similarities with the progression of the Wendigo spirit overtaking an important character in the book, and I had to set the book aside for a couple years because it was too hard to be writing about that progression as I watched my dad's ALS progression and helped care for him. After his death, I reached a place where I felt I could go back to it, and I was determined to get through it and take it back, because I cared about the story and the characters. In its own way, it ended up being a tribute to my dad.
If "Myth Stalker: Wendigo Nights" was adapted into a movie, who would you like to see cast to play your lead characters?
Lawrence: I think Amber Midthunder would be a great Selina. There are several people I could think of who could play Nathan, Selina's mentor, but I'd love to see Zahn McClarnon in the role. And I sure wouldn't mind Jensen Ackles playing Oliver, Selina's love interest.
When you encounter writer’s block, what do you do to break yourself out of it?
Lawrence: My biggest problem is time and mental energy. I haven't really encountered writer's block outside of those two things. If I'm too exhausted to write, I don't write that day. Forcing yourself to write works for some folks, but not for me. Luckily, I'm a "sprint writer," meaning that when I do sit down to write, as sporadic as it might be, I can be incredibly productive. I try not to tear myself apart about it if it's simply not a good writing day. If I'm having an issue where I don't know how to proceed with a story, a walk and/or a bath is often a great way to let my brain do its work and untangle the knots to figure out where to go.
Are there any tips that you would like to share with other aspiring authors?
Lawrence: Really, I'd just say to write! The more you write, the better you get. To learn more about the dynamics of the writing life, I highly recommend attending a writer's conference or finding a writer's group they can attend. Being around other creatives can be inspiring and give you an energy boost. Plus, you can learn a lot from other writers, whether in formal or informal settings. If you don't have anything local, look online and see if you can find anything there.
I'd also say to be true to yourself. It can be so easy to sink under the weight ot others' expectations and rules. Don't forget why you wanted to write in the first place, and never take advice from others as 100% required.
What is your favorite genre, book, and/or author?
Lawrence: I switch around a lot, but horror has long been a favorite genre that I return to time after time. I also enjoy mysteries, thrillers, humorous books, memoirs, and, of course, urban fantasy. Favorite authors include Stephen Graham Jones, Jeff Strand, Janet Evanovich, Kelley Armstrong, Stephen King, and Kim Harrison. A favorite book of mine is "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, by Ken Kesey. The writing is just amazing, and it's always inspiring.
What are you working on next?
Lawrence: I'm juggling a few things right now: final edits on a horror comedy; writing the sequel to Wendigo Nights; planning an amateur sleuth mystery; and researching a memoir about my dad and the things he accomplished for the ALS community after his diagnosis. I'm never short of ideas!
Learn More About the Author and Myth Stalker: Wendigo Nights:
Instagram: @thewarriormuse
Threads: @thewarriormuse
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewarriormuse/
Website: www.thewarriormuse.com
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