Tell us about yourself.
I've been working to establish myself as an author who creates New England-focused historical fiction. (While exploring universal themes and human foibles). I’ve published a well-received historical fiction series called The Puzzle Box Chronicles. My books tend to contain very vivid settings and descriptions.
I’ve been a writer for nearly 40 years, I've sold two nonfiction books, including the one to John Wiley and Sons. I've also published six novels and one collection of short stories.
I started my writing career as a journalist, and my articles have appeared in The Washington Post, Associated Press, United Press International, and publications produced by The Smithsonian Institution, the National Geographic Society and Time-Life books. I have a bachelors degree in Journalism from Saint. Bonaventure University and a masters degree in education from the George Washington University.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I was raised in the Finger Lakes area of Central New York. That gave me a window into small-town America, but I also saw many people from other places, which help me realize I realize I also wanted to travel and live in other places too.
It also inspired a fascination with history and historical fiction. For a couple of years, I worked at the Smithsonian Institution. So that was a historian’s dream.
During my twelve years in Washington, DC, I managed to keep my hand in with other writing, including a few articles that I wrote for The Washington Post. But I never gave up on my dream to write books. First non-fiction business books, and then historical fiction. My new book, Local Honey, is my tenth book.
What was your journey to getting published like?
I started with newspaper articles. As a full-time daily newspaper reporter for several years I wrote literally thousands of news stories – both short and long. From their I graduated to magazines. During that time I also wrote short stories and fledgling attempts at novels. I did write a couple of successful non-fiction books, including one that was published by John Wiley & Sons. The I made a concentrated effort to publish a novel, starting about fifteen years ago. My new book, Local Honey, is my tenth.
What’s the best piece of feedback you’ve ever received?
I really like "the law of the farm." That means the reward only comes after a long stretch of hard work where you may not see any day-to-day gains. Farmers toil every day, but they only see the reward when harvest time rolls around. Writing a book takes a similar level of commitment. You don't see the end result for a long time, but it comes with a great reward.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
I'd start with "write what you know," but I'd also tell writers not to be penned in by that. In my case, I'm writing about eras that existed before I was born, so I don't have first-hand experience with them, but I'm still able to tell the story. And you can always tap into the human emotions, or little experiences you had in your life that can still be relevant to your story, if you change them a bit.
Finally, just keep writing. Be willing to toss out the stuff that doesn't work. Keep refining until it does work.
What’s a fun fact about you that your readers might not know?
In my early 20s I hitchhiked through Scotland and Ireland. When I came back home, I also hitchhiked from California to Upstate New York.
What’s your guilty pleasure book or genre?
Besides historical fiction, I also like cyberpunk science fiction, such as William Gibson or Bruce Sterling.
What’s your favorite quote about writing?
{"Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words." — Mark Twain
When you’re not writing, how do you like to spend your time?
I live on a lake, so most of my time is spend on boats or kayaks, or with family.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
I don't. It was probably some kid's book that was read to me and made an impression. And it got me in the habit of going to the library.
What has inspired you and your writing style?
This is a tough question to pin down. My early work as a report taught me to be accurate and succinct. My later fiction work taught me to let a scene unwind and to be descriptive in a way that stoked both senses and emotion. I think many things influenced my style over the years.
How do you deal with negative reviews?
I just remind myself that people like different things. Some people like abstract art and others like realism. Some people like fantasy and others like nonfiction. So if someone doesn't like what I'm writing, it may say as much about their interests as my writing style.
How do you connect with your readers?
Mostly through my books and occasional live events. While I am moderately active on social media sites, I find they can be superficial at times.
What’s next for you as a writer?
My next book, after Local Honey," will be set in the 1960s and explore the various cultures that emerged around drugs, music, racial tensions and political upheavals. I also have a blog where I track disinformation issues and how to recognize and combat false information.
Are there any Easter eggs or hidden messages in your work?
Now why would I admit to that? 😉
How do you approach writing dialogue for your characters?
I try to make it sound as natural as possible. But on the second read-through, I often make adjustments. For example, in real life, people use phrases like "you know" or "so anyway." But in written dialog, those types of comments just get in the way and take up the reader's valuable time.
If you could share one thing with your fans, what would that be?
Be willing to step out of your comfort zone and try new things.
If you only read bestsellers, try reading books from smaller independent presses. If most of the books you read focus on a specific culture, mix it up a bit and read something from a different culture. You don't have to finish every book. But when you give new things a try, you can make amazing discoveries.
Shawn McCarthy’s Author Websites and Profiles
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Amazon Profile
Goodreads Profile
Shawn McCarthy’s Social Media Links
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All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.