Shannon Work's Blog

Publication Day (Finally!)

It's always an exciting day when one of my books is finally released into the world to be read. And the publication of ECHOES IN THE DARK...

How I Write

I often get asked if I plan my stories ahead of time or make them up as I write. Technically, the answer is both. But I always have the...

Another Mountain Murder Mystery

The body count in Telluride is going up! And Jack is back from Texas just in time to solve another murder in the mountains.

Last summer, I toured an old mine outside of Ouray, Colorado. And boy, what ideas it gave me! I'm having a lot of fun writing ECHOES IN THE DARK (Book 6 in the series).

I hope you've finished reading the first five books in the Mountain Resort Mystery Series and are ready for the next. I'm keeping my fingers crossed it's out by Christmas!

Happy Summer Again!

After a spring spent in Texas and a brief vacation to Nicaragua with friends, we're finally back in Colorado for the summer. And like last summer, I'll spend a lot of time hiking with my dogs and writing.

I've finished outlining Book 6 in the Mountain Resort Mystery Series and will be busy the next few months writing it.

Jack and Crockett are back in the Rockies. And, as you might have guessed, are knee-deep in solving another murder (or two). Follow me on Facebook for periodic updates. The title and synopsis are coming soon!

Happy summer!

A Visit With My Audiobook Narrator

Producing an audiobook was well above my pay grade! So I was thrilled when Boyd Barrett contacted me and offered to narrate Now I See You (my first novel).

Boyd and I sat down and had a quick chat last night about my books and our collaboration process. I hope you'll have a quick listen!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1z_2qm3v_4&t=17s

Happy Summer: Am Writing

I hope you're all having a great summer so far. The weather in Colorado has been gorgeous. I feel for my family and friends back in Texas who have been under a heat dome for weeks. I hope it lifts soon!

I'm in the throes of writing DEATH IN A HARSH LAND (Book 5). Jack is headed to my hometown of Del Rio, Texas, and I'm super excited about it! There has been a murder on the ranch of his longtime friend and college football teammate, Jordan Rose.

Along with writing, I've been jotting down ideas for Book 6. Jack and Crockett's escapades in the Colorado Rockies will continue!

DEATH IN A HARSH LAND should be out this fall. I'll keep you posted. I hope you'll read about Jack's dangerous adventure into West Texas (and enjoy it)!

Audiobook now available!

After numerous requests, the audio version of Now I See You is now available. You can get it through Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. I hope you will listen to it and enjoy it!

Murder in the San Juans

Murder in the San Juans, Book 4 in the Mountain Resort Mystery Series, will be out in time for Christmas. As with all of my books, it will be available in a Large Print version as well as eBook and paperback.

Jack and Crockett find themselves knee-deep in another deadly adventure set in Telluride, Colorado. I had so much fun writing this book. I hope you will read it and enjoy it!

Here's a synopsis:

Life in the mountains isn’t as peaceful as Detective Jack Martin expected. Just as things settle down after his last case, a congressman’s plane is blown out of the sky and comes to rest in the snowy peaks high above town.

Jack’s gut tells him it wasn’t an accident. But while unraveling the mystery, he gets caught in the crossfire between deception and greed. And the deeper he digs, the more he puts his own life in danger. It’s a grueling investigation that has him wondering how well we really know those we trust.

Can Jack untangle the murderous web of lies and solve the case before he gets trapped in the killer’s deadly scheme?

Murder in the San Juans is a gripping tale of betrayal in the formidable San Juan Mountains around Telluride, Colorado, and the fourth book in the suspenseful Mountain Resort Mystery Series.

Art with Words

I recently posted this picture on social media. This is the newest addition to our Native American-inspired art collection that we display at home in Telluride. I mentioned in the post that I have always been in awe of artists since I have no artistic ability myself. Well, two friends of mine were so kind to suggest that I create art with words. What a nice compliment!

But I think of myself as more of a tactician with words, than an artist with them. I would never claim to write beautiful prose. Instead, I struggle with finding just the right words to tell a (hopefully) good mystery story.

But who am I to argue with friends? I have some great ones! I also have the kindest readers who've sent me so many nice messages. I appreciate each one more than they know!

Q&A: Characters I Love and Love to Hate

I had the most enjoyable interview with author Brett Nelson that was published on his blog today. One of the questions he asked (that I've never been asked before) is which of my characters I would like in real life and which ones I wouldn't. What a great question!

The answer is included in the Q&A, along with answers to other intriguing questions that had me thinking! I hope you'll read it!

Here's the link: https://brettnelson-author.com/2022/03/17/author-spotlight-shannon-work-mystery-suspense-writer/