Writer’s Desk with Shelley Shepard Gray
Writer’s Desk with Shelley Shepard GrayNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray has published over a hundred novels for a variety of publishers. She currently writes Amish and Inspirational romances for Revell, Kensington, and Harlequin. With over two million books in print, and translated into more than a dozen languages, her novels have been Holt Medallion winners and Christy, Inspirational Readers Choice, and Carol finalists.
Shelley has been featured in the Philadelphia Enquirer, Washington Post, Time Magazine, Woman’s World Magazine, First for Women, and USA Today.
She currently lives in northern Ohio, walks her dogs, bakes too much, and writes full time.
Connect with Shelley on her website, Instagram, Facebook, and X, and subscribe to her newsletter.
More about UnshakenHe helps her hide until danger has passed. She hopes her cover lasts long enough.
When Stephanie Miller planned her visit to a dollar store in southern Ohio, she was expecting to pick up a few items she couldn’t find in her Amish community. She was not expecting to find herself an innocent bystander as a drug deal went horribly wrong. The sole witness to a murder, now Stephanie is targeted by the gunman.
Hardy Anderson is always ready to help his social worker sister, Bev–which now includes hiding an Amish woman until a killer can be brought to justice. Surely if they dress her in English clothing, Hardy can hide her at the sprawling ranch where he works. But the killer is desperate–and there’s no telling what lengths he will go.
ARCF: What inspired you to write Unshaken? Was there a moment or idea that sparked the story?
SSG: I’ve always been a fan of the movie WITNESS and wanted to one day write a novel that begins with an Amish character witnessing a murder. That was the inspiration. I loved writing a romantic suspense featuring an Amish woman on the run.
ARCF: Can you give us a spoiler-free glimpse of what readers can expect from the plot?
SSG: When a sheltered Amish woman witnesses a murder, a social worker asks her brother-a former military sergeant-to keep her safe on a sprawling ranch in Crittenden County, KY.
ARCF: Who is the heart of this story—and what makes them unforgettable?
SSG: I think Stephanie, the heroine, is the heart of this story. Her emotional journey is almost as tumultuous as the scary situation she finds herself in. She really grows and becomes stronger as the novel continues.
ARCF: Which character’s journey was the most emotional or personal for you to write?
SSG: The antagonist has a point of view in this book, and his journey was by far the most emotional for me to write, mainly because I knew it wasn’t possible for his ending to be a happy one.
ARCF: Did any of the characters surprise you by taking the story in a different direction than you planned?
SSG: LOL, all of the characters took different directions than I planned! At times, I felt like I was herding cats. As I wrote in my letter to the readers at the back of the book, I ended up getting writer’s block and had to ask some neighbors for advice. That was certainly a first!
ARCF: If you could spend a day with one of the characters, who would it be—and why?
SSG: The character I really admired in the novel was Bev. She’s a social worker and has devoted her life to working with kids in foster care. She was so admirable yet didn’t see her strengths. I was a fan of hers.
ARCF: Was there a particular Bible verse or spiritual truth that guided your storytelling in this book?
SSG: I used a verse from 2 Corinthians to guide me. ‘Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone, a new life has begun!’ One character’s journey in the book echoes this verse.
ARCF: How do you balance storytelling and spiritual encouragement in your novels?
SSG: I write fiction and feel strongly that my job as an author is to provide entertainment. So, I always focus on the story. My goal is always for the reader to want to read the next page. That said, the spiritual journeys of each character drove the plot forward.
ARCF: What’s your favorite scene from the book (that you can share without spoilers)?
SSG: My favorite scene is the epilogue. I don’t often add an epilogue, but I wanted to be sure to tie up all the loose ends and make sure the reader was happy with the ending. So, that is my favorite scene. I wrote it before the book was even half way done~and it was what motivated me to keep working on this book.
ARCF: Can you share a small, spoiler-free secret or Easter egg that readers should watch for in the story?
SSG: Stephanie is stuck in a fancy cabin and becomes addicted to a certain 1980s popular series. She ends up watching it with the hero. I think readers will love it.
ARCF: And finally, can you share what’s coming up next for you?
SSG: I’m currently working on the second book in a new series with Revell, The Amish Widows Club.
Save, Pin, Share
The post Writer’s Desk with Shelley Shepard Gray appeared first on Tricia Goyer.
