Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Lifeboat is my debut novel, but I have another work in progress titled The Beacon which I expect to release in time for Christmas 2013.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My debut novel is called Lifeboat – It is a story of a young woman who is in a bad place in her life. She lost her husband and son in a car crash a few years ago and she’s had trouble moving forward with her life. She lives in a rural area and walks at night when she can’t sleep. One night while out walking she sees a UFO, that UFO becomes an obsession for her. She meets up with a couple of Ufologists and starts to feel a sense of hope that there is something to live for, but then the Earth is destroyed by natural disaster and she is abducted – or rescued – by the UFO she’d seen before, and taken to a new world where she and other survivors can start over. But things start to go wrong and survivors start disappearing without a trace. Cass, the young woman, has to try to figure out what is happening before it is too late.
Have you ever seen the TV show UFO Chasers? Its not a very good show, but Cass was inspired by it – she was originally going to be a woman who runs all over the world having adventures chasing information on UFO sightings. But once I sat down and started writing Cass took over and told her own story. It was less fun-filled adventure, and a bit more mysterious and maybe a little bit sinister.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really – I tend to be a procrastinator. My husband has to nag me with reminders of, “Shouldn’t you be writing?”
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m an avid reader and have been for many years, probably since before you were born. I have so many favorite authors that I can’t name just a few and even more whose books I loved but I couldn’t tell you their name. If a book touches me emotionally, or makes me think about something in a different way, it has influenced me. There are soooooo many of those out there I couldn’t begin to name them all.
What are you working on now?
My work in progress is called The Beacon. It is a suspense novel without a science fiction element, so it is a bit different from Lifeboat.
In The Beacon a young woman has shipped-wrecked on a tiny island and wakes up in a primitive lighthouse being cared for by the keeper’s wife. The keeper is abusive and during an incident of domestic violence the young woman steps in to defend the keeper’s wife, accidentally killing the keeper. She is unable to call the police or an ambulance for help, so she drags the body outside and does her best to tend the wife’s injuries, but when she wakes up in the morning, the body, the wife and all signs of habitation are gone.
You can read the first three (unedited) chapters on my website.
http://www.abshepherd.net/p/coming-soon-beacon.html
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m not really sure yet. My book has only been available for about six weeks now. I’m just trying to get the word out there. I’ve gotten a few wonderful reviews and I’m hoping for more reviews whether people love it or hate it.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write. Just write. Don’t worry about whether it is good or bad. Don’t edit as you go along. Don’t worry about whether it is good enough to publish. All of that can come later. Get your story on paper from start to finish. If you’ve got a story to tell write it.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
For aspiring authors? I saw something on Facebook the other day. It said the worst thing you write is better than the best thing you never write. That made a whole lot of sense to me.
What are you reading now?
I’m in between books at the moment, having just finished one of J.C. Andrijewski’s novels. I have so many books on my to-read list that I’m having trouble picking what is next.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Right now Lifeboat is only available as an ebook. I’m working on making it available in paperback via Amazon. I hope to have that accomplished by July 2013. I write book reviews on my website of books that I read. I’ve written a fairly entertaining bio of myself for Girl Who Reads. Also working on The Beacon.
What is your favorite book of all time?
Oh boy – so tough. The Tomorrow series by James Marsden, The Hunger Games series. Sooooo many. Too many to name.
Author Websites and Profiles
A.B. Shepherd Website
A.B. Shepherd Amazon Profile
A.B. Shepherd Author Profile on Smashwords
A.B. Shepherd’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
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