Interview with Anne Shaw, Author of Silver Bells

What can you tell us about your new release, Silver Bells?

Silver Bells combines three of my favorite things, Christmas, romance, and chocolate. Although the storyline deals with some heavy subject matter, the heart of the story is the message of hope and promise that Christmas brings. Miracles can happen if you just believe.

A series of coincidental events leave Alice with more questions than answers.

Could the sick little girl in need of a bone marrow transplant be the daughter she gave up for adoption ten years before? To become close to the girl without revealing her identity, Alice develops a plan to cast the girl’s uncle, a chocolatier, as a contestant on a live Christmas Eve show.

A television cooking competition was never in Niko’s plans, but when his sick niece expresses her wish for him to compete on the show, he reluctantly agrees. His past as an MMA fighter taught him to guard himself from punches being thrown his direction, but he wasn’t prepared for the fallout of letting his emotional guard down for Alice.

When sparks fly between Alice and Niko in and out of the kitchen, will the secrets Alice keeps shatter the budding relationship?

What or who inspired you to become an author?

I am an avid reader. When my best friend told me I should write my own book, I decided to give it a shot. I’ve been hooked ever since.

What’s on your top 5 list for the best books you’ve ever read?

To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
The Help – Kathryn Stockette
Slumdog Millionaire – Vikas Swarup
My Fair Godmother – Jannette Rallison
Practical Magic – Alice Hoffman

Say you’re the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

Stephen King. I would ask him how he came up with so many clever but sinister plots. I’d also ask him if he ever felt guilty when writing such complex yet evil characters. I tried to write a short story about a serial killer once and I felt like I needed to do penance.

What’s your favorite thing about writing?

I love taking a line from a magazine, or a hypothetical situation and developing it into a story. When I write, I see the story as a movie inside my head with each chapter a scene. The characters reveal themselves to me as the story starts to flow. Once I start, I have to keep writing so I can find out how it ends.

What is a typical day like for you?

I work from home when I am not traveling for my day job. After I am done with my eight hours of work, I go for a walk or to the gym. I use Natural Reader on my phone and I load my work in progress onto the app. During my workout, I listen to what I wrote the night before to determine if it flows. After coming home I wash up, make dinner, feed the cat and any family member that’s around. My muse usually arrives around 9pm and I write a minimum of one scene. Most nights, I write past midnight. I’m in bed by 2am and I am back to it the next day.

What scene from Silver Bells was your favorite to write?

My favorite scene was when Niko was teaching Alice how to make chocolate. I did a lot of research on chocolate and how it plays on your senses. It was the perfect opportunity to reveal Alice’s vulnerabilities and reveal Niko’s personality.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

My favorite quote is:  “The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth of the hole.” Ellen Glasglow. Translation: I can wait for other people to determine my destiny. I have to look out for my own best interests and make things happen. That’s why I decided to self-publish. I am very pleased that I did.

Anne Shaw is the author of the new book Silver Bells.

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