Author Interview with Megan Shade

What inspired you to start writing?

I have always wanted to write a book. I took creative writing in high school, took every English class I could in college, but it felt unattainable. I had no clue HOW. One day I had an idea, and I just ran with it. I told my husband, “I’m going to write a book,” and he surprised me with a laptop the next day.

Do you draw from personal experiences in your writing? 

In some ways, for sure. In my contemporary romance, Poetry by Dead Men, there’s a storyline involving childhood cancer with a character named Michael, who was a friend of mine as a child. I always name characters after friends, beta readers, etc. I was a music major in college for a while with an emphasis in songwriting, so I actually used some of the songs I’d written in that book as well! In fantasy, there’s less of my life in them, but themes of friendship and kindness, two things that are very important to me, are always themes in my books.

What themes or messages do you hope readers take away from your books?

Kindness. Always. Being a good friend. Female friendships, in particular, are very important to me in my books. Some of my books deal with difficult topics like grief and death, but I always want readers to leave feeling a bit emotionally wrecked but with their hearts full, and with them wanting to call their best girlfriend and schedule a wine night. (This hasn’t happened yet in Washwoman, but it’s coming!)

What have you learned about yourself through writing?

That I am a masochist. Am I joking? Kind of? Not really? I feel like I open a lot of old wounds while writing, like with Michael’s story in Poetry by Dead Men. I feel the need to dive into that pain while writing, because it’s a universal emotion. As is joy and longing and fear. I find that whatever I’m experiencing in my own life, I funnel into my characters. Sometimes it hurts, but I LOVE it.

How would you describe your writing style?

Ever evolving. My first book, from a craft standpoint, is a bit rough. It’s something I’m now wildly aware of. Don’t get me wrong—if you like a vibey, tropey read, you should still go for it. But I’ve found that I really want my writing to evoke emotion, and to do that, it can’t be clunky or repetitive, because that pulls the reader from the scene. I’ve learned a lot, and am really proud of where I’ve gotten my craft to.

What does your writing process look like?

I dictate my entire first draft, and it has changed the game for me. I pop in an earbud and just speak out loud the movie playing out in my mind. A first draft usually takes me about 2 months, and then I spend 8 months to 1 year heavily editing it. I’ve found that my mind moves faster than my fingers, and by dictating I can catch more of the random thoughts that pop into my head. It also gives me the opportunity to do an early edit, because the dictation is messy and gets words wrong, so by the time I have a full first draft, I’ve also done one editing pass.

What part of writing do you find most challenging and how do you overcome those challenges?

For me, its not the writing that’s challenging. It’s time consuming, but I love it and the challenge of it. But the rest of it? Marketing and formatting and coming up with a release plan? So hard. You have to wear a lot of hats as a self published author, and I’m not so sure I look good in those hats.

How do you approach writing characters with experiences different from your own?

I ask for outside perspective, always. In Poetry by Dead Men, our FMC experiences domestic violence. I never have, so I spoke with a psychologist and had them read my book to help. I’m not Scottish, so I found some lovely willing Scots to read my book and give feedback. I’m very aware that people see themselves in characters and stories, and so I always try my best to make sure I’m portraying real life situations, triggers, etc with as much caution and care as I can.

Can you give us a brief summary of your book/series?

The Washwoman at the River’s End: When Brennen arrives at the river’s end with a blood-oath to kill the monster who lives there, he expects the wicked creature born from myth and legend. What he finds is far more dangerous: a beautiful, broken woman who ignites a desire he should not have, and a choice between fulfilling his vow to kill her or damning his soul to save her.

Where did the inspiration for your series come from?

I LOVE Outlander, and after I finished my trilogy I started researching Scottish folklore. I knew I had to write something that felt ancient and mythical and magical and Scottish.

Which character was the most difficult to write?

Bea. She’s in one location essentially the entire book, and I had the hardest time making sure it didn’t slow the pace down. It was probably the most challenging thing to write, having the majority of the book being in one location with limited characters, and still making the reader want to turn the page.

Did any characters surprise you or evolve in unexpected ways?

Bea evolved a lot. She started off very broken and timid. That quiet strength took a lot of time and love and beta feedback to get her exactly how I wanted her to come across.

Slow-burn or instant chemistry?

SLOW BURN FOR EVER.

Happily ever after or bittersweet ending?

HEA but make it bittersweet to get there.

Enemies-to-lovers or friends-to-lovers?

Enemies to lovers, hands down.

Describe your book in 3 tropes.

JUST THREE? Ok… Enemies to lovers, gothic, guard/prisoner.

What are you currently working on and what should readers keep an eye out for?

I’m working on book 2 of the series, as well as a Practical Magic meets Spells for Forgetting meets Variation magical realism romance.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Everyone says this, but it’s so true. GET THE DRAFT DOWN. Make it messy and imperfect and terrible. You can’t revise something that isn’t written. Editing and revising is 80% of my books creation. I would die if people saw my first (or second, or third) drafts.

My only other piece of advice is to listen to feedback, but protect yourself. Find beta readers who will be honest with you, but kind in that feedback. No one will think your book is amazing way before it’s ready to be published, and that’s normal. That’s why we get feedback. Tell the story you want to tell to the best of your ability!