An Interview with Author June Shaw

Deadly Ink nominated June Shaw’s first novel, Relative Danger, for their David Award for Best Mystery of the Year. After reading June’s books featuring amateur sleuth, Cealie Gunther, I wanted to interview June to find out if she planned to continue her series, how she assessed her publishing experience, and liked the life of a writer. June’s website can be found at http://juneshaw.com/index.html.

EBD: I read both of your books. When will the next book come out? Do you have a title or a working title yet?

JS: I’m so glad you read them, Elaine. DEADLY REUNION, the third book in the series, comes out in July. I can’t wait!

EBD: Your main character keeps running from a suitor. Why? What is Cealie’s back story?

JS: Widowed Cealie “thinks” she wants to avoid her hunky ex-lover so she can rediscover herself. But he opens Cajun restaurants wherever she travels, and she is so bad at avoiding tempting dishes and men.

EBD: Do events in your life end up in your books?

JS: Some events do end up in my books. I taught junior and senior high students, and much of Relative Danger takes place in a high school. I love visiting Gatlinburg, so Killer Cousins takes place there. At my last class reunion, I wondered what these former classmates were really like now and decided I’d have to write about a class reunion in a mystery. I also love to cruise, so my upcoming book is set on a cruise ship in Alaska. (Research sure was tough: )

EBD: Author Kaye George remarked that she can’t use where she lives as a setting for her books. You changed your setting in both novels. Why?

JS: My main character, Cealie, travels a lot. I need to go with her and see what trouble she gets into. Then I have to help her get out of it.

EBD: You feature Cajun food in your books. Are you of Cajun descent? Do you cook and like Cajun food?

JS: Yes, I’ve always lived in Cajun country. My mother and her mother spoke French. I love Cajun food. My squeeze Bob is a terrific cook. I like to cook if I have nothing else to do—but when does that happen?

EBD: Five Star published your first two novels. Will you continue with them?

JS: Yes, Five Star is great. They will publish the next book in my series. Harlequin bought reprint rights for one of my books. They are great, too.

EBD: Five Star targets libraries. Do you think gaining readership, especially at the beginning of your career as a novelist, through libraries was advantageous?

JS: It is important. Libraries buy mainly hardcover books, which Five Star publishes.

EBD: As I understand, (correct me if I’m wrong) Five Star only publishes print books. Since eBooks are gaining in sales, have you published your books at the electronic venues?

JS: Relative Danger is available as an e-book. Killer Cousins will come out that way next.

EBD: Why would a publisher not want electronic rights?

JS: I imagine Five Star found its niche and does not want to spend the time on fewer electronic sales, but I’m not certain.

EBD: If you were unpublished in today’s market, how would you go about getting published? Would you consider self-publishing?

JS: I would query and try to meet agents first. There are also some publishers that writers can query themselves. I would have to learn more about self-publishing before I’d decide.

EBD: What is your marketing plan for the next book?

JS: I hope to flood as many markets as possible with information about my upcoming book, DEADLY REUNION. Since it takes place on a cruise ship, I will try to get magazines geared toward cruises to write about it. I’ll give talks at many places, guest blog, and contact lots of libraries.

Thank you for inviting me. All my best, June

Thank you for joining us. June. We’ll be on the lookout for DEADLY REUNION, which is due for release this July. Maybe June will come back this summer for another visit on WWK.