Interview With Author Shelby Hailstone Law
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been writing books since I was a kid! Ask anyone who knew me growing up, and they’ll tell you I’d carry around notebooks and scribble stories in them. In fact, my first published book was one I wrote at age 14 during Biology. Since then, I’ve published 16 books, and I’m proud of every single one of them. I feel like I’m only getting better and better!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My most recent book is called “Death Flirts Back,” and it came directly out of a dream I had about a girl falling in love with the physical embodiment of a family curse.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m a little neuro-spicy, so my writing process involves writing a paragraph or two and then doing a dish or two, then writing a bit and then sweeping a room, etc. It gets the house clean AND the writing done!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m a huge fan of Agatha Christie. I love that her stories are rooted in understanding people. I also grew up reading the Alex Rider spy series, and I think that style of adventure story speaks to a lot of the fast-paced adventures I like to write now.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on the next book in my “Scaleshifter” series, which is about two kids who were forcibly turned into dragons trying to navigate new bodies and new worlds. That should come out in August 2025. I’m also trying my hand at scifi, writing a story called “The Mermaids of Europa” about a fictional NASA mission to make first contact with intelligent life on one of Jupiter’s moons. I’m SO excited about both of these!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I love to do local author events, and I’ve gone to schools and libraries to teach aspiring writers about the publishing world. I’ve tried Facebook and Amazon ads, but really, nothing beats word of mouth!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t talk yourself into giving up! No one can write the book you can. Even if you don’t find immediate financial success (it took me about five years of publishing before I got real traction), your art is out there. Your soul is bared. That’s worth it.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If you’ve got a made up language, always check to make sure you aren’t accidentally pushing letters together to make up a word that exists in a real language. You might be insulting without meaning to be!
What are you reading now?
I’m rereading the Alex Rider series and reading American Girl books with my daughter, who is learning to pay attention to longer books.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m going to keep creating and chasing plot bunnies wherever they take me. Once my kids are both in school, I plan to get out in the community even more, too!
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
My Lord of the Rings combination book, my Agatha Christie Hercules Poirot short story collection, and my scriptures.
Author Websites and Profiles
Shelby Hailstone Law Amazon Profile
Shelby Hailstone Law’s Social Media Links
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