A Quick One on The Side - Harry Shannon

A warm welcome to guest author Harry Shannon.

On his Twitter profile, Harry says he is a "Daddy, husband, friend, writer dude". He has also been an actor, singer, Emmy-nominated songwriter, recording artist in Europe, music publisher, a VP of Carolco Pictures (Terminator 2, Total Recall, Rambo), and a freelance music supervisor on films (Basic Instinct and Universal Soldier). He has an MA in Psychology and is a counsellor in private practice.
Harry is also a damn fine author. His novels include the Mick Callahan thrillers, CLAN, The Hungry 1 & 2, and the horror novel and movie 'Dead and Gone'. He has won a Tombstone and Black Quill and has been nominated for the Stoker. Harry lives in sunny California.

So here goes, ten quickies for Harry....

Who is your favourite author?
"I've tried to answer that one before and failed miserably. If you put a gun to my head and allow me one choice I would probably have to pick James Lee Burke. Having said that, there are so many others I idolise and/or read regularly from John D. MacDonald and Stephen King to Joe R. Lansdale and Cormac McCarthy, John Connolly, Michael Connelly, Mo Hayder or Robert Crais...Hell, that list goes on and on and on."

What would be your favourite book read?
"Ever? Wow. First, I've only read a few books more than once. 'Shogun' by James Clavell, 'The Source' by James Michener, 'Watership Down' by Richard Adams, 'Salem's Lot' by Stephen King, 'Red Dragon' by Thomas Harris, 'The Old Man and the Sea' by Ernest Hemingway and a few more. I don't know that I could pick one favourite book. I own thousands. Again, with a gun to my head, I will say Ray Bradbury's 'Something Wicked This Way Comes'. A masterpiece. I've read it three times, though not recently. My daughter and I read Bradbury's 'The Halloween Tree' together every October, a bit of it each night."

Who is your favourite band/group/musician?
"Dang, you keep doing this! Long list again from James Taylor and Jackson Browne and early Paul Simon to Joni Mitchell, Emmylou Harris and George Jones. If I had to pick one group only, probably the Eagles. I love their stuff."

What is your most listened to album?
" 'Hotel California' by the Eagles would be tied with a classical recording of 'Die Rosary Sonaten' by Hans Biber."

What has been the best gig/concert you have attended?
"In 1982 I opened a music festival in Zurich and got to watch Emmylou Harris live. Hard to beat that. A close second, Elvis Presley in Vegas in 1972. Oh, and George Jones at Universal Studios in the 80s."

What is your favourite food?
"Another tie, Indian with Northern Italian pasta a close second."

What would be your favourite holiday destination?
"Switzerland. Haven't been there in more than fifteen years now."

What would be the most autographs you've ever signed in one session?
"Back in my music days, playing a concert near Zurich with my ex-wife Suzanne Klee. It went on for a couple of hours. Have no idea how many CD's and photos we signed."

Have you ever been mistaken for someone else?
"Oh, yes! George Lucas, Kenny Rodgers, Kris Kristofferson. When I was younger, people thought I was Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys or Glen Campbell. I just look like someone folks think they should know."

How often do you get recognised?
"My daughter has seen a few people recognise me from the book or a movie cameo or two. We joke that if I'm famous, I'm the most anonymous famous person on the planet."



During this interview, I avoided putting a gun to Harry's head. Well, I had seen this...

My thanks to Harry for dropping by for a chat today.
As ever, many thanks for reading....