Ask the Author: Shenandoah Chefalo
Answered Questions (9)
Shenandoah Chefalo
There are 4,600 children missing this year from the foster care system. No one seems to care. #4600andcounting
Shenandoah Chefalo
For me, there are so many to choose from both from my personal life and my professional life (20 years in Criminal Defense). Obviously the biggest mystery of my life (and for the longest) was the identity of my father. That isn't an uncommon one, but I would love for that mystery to be tied in with a bit of time traveling. One of my hobbies is genealogy, and I would love to see plot that is trying to solve a modern day mystery by exploring (time traveling) and a look back at family history/mystery!
Shenandoah Chefalo
What a great questions! And frankly this one made me think. I typically don't read fiction, and so I had to go back quite a ways to think of a fictional couple. All the way back to 7th grade when a Librarian handed me a copy of the Princess Bride because she thought I would appreciate the humor . . . there in those pages, my favorite all time couple, and a couple I still strive to be Wesley and Buttercup!
Shenandoah Chefalo
Hike! If I can't figure it out, I have to get outside and hike. I'm lucky enough to be surrounded my some of the best trails in Michigan, so it doesn't take much to find inspiration.
Shenandoah Chefalo
Do exactly what I wanted to be doing. It is flexible and allows me to do the necessary travel to do speaking and advocacy work surrounding foster care, while spreading the message!
Shenandoah Chefalo
Write! I am often asked about how to get started, and the answer really is, just start writing. I didn't worry about what I was writing, or in what order. I just started writing and then worried about the rest when I got around to my first edits. (2 years after I started writing!)
Shenandoah Chefalo
There is no easy answer for this. Before I write, I typically like to play out the scenes in my head as if they were a movie. Once I can see the movie, the writing become easy! I also try to do it after a 5 mile hike, I seem to see clearer after getting fresh air!
Shenandoah Chefalo
I am working on my second book, which is about understanding trauma and toxic stress and how it can be healed.
Shenandoah Chefalo
I am an unintentional author. I had a chance encounter with a former journalist who, after countless emails and meetings, encouraged me to write this book. Although the book took nearly 4 1/2 years to complete it became ultimately about changing the lives of children still in foster care.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more