By Emily Groff
You may be wondering, “What is the best way to write a book?” The answer is simple: by doing. How do those two add up, you may ask? Inspiration. Doing is the inspiration– there is a setting, there is a plot, and there is an adventure. ‘Doing’ is the most impactful way to write a convincing story. Even if we know it’s fiction, we always live in that make-believe world, pretending it’s our own. So, do ‘it’, whatever ‘it’ is, and convince us that we are living ‘it’ too.
Doing for Reed takes multiple forms. S.E. Reed has lived in all five regions of the United States and has used her adventures to help her write, to help her craft. She does multiple jobs–cooking, teaching art, being a seamstress, being a swim coach, a healthcare administrator, and a wife and mother. Reed has lived multiple adventures in all the places and jobs she’s done. Can we say that these adventures, the truth she’s shared, are how she became a multi-award-winning author? Let’s find out in this interview with Wild Ink author Shelby (S.E.) Reed.
When did you first know you wanted to start writing? What got you interested?
I started writing stories in elementary school. I think my first “book” was about a cat. I’ve always been an avi reader and had a big imagination. So it makes sense that I use creative writing as a major outlet in my life.
Tell me about each of your books: My Heart is Hurting, Old Palmetto Drive, and Ask Grace.
All three books feature a young, female protagonist facing a major hurdle in her life that she has to overcome.
- In My Heart is Hurting, Jinny is brilliant, lonely, and looking for friends. It’s in the school bookclub that she finds her friends and a boyfriend she never knew she needed. But when her Mama spirals out of control and threatens her entire existence, it’s Jinny’s Everglade ancestors who arrive in a mist of magic, bringing the swamp and hope with them.
- In Old Palmetto Drive, Rian is fierce, spoiled, and learning how to fit into a new place. While Rian spends time in the Everglades with her cousins, Travis and Sam, and falls head over heels for vintage-loving Justine, she learns it isn’t just her mom keeping secrets. They’ve all got secrets too. Until one fateful night, the dark, murky waters of the swamp decide to tell the story about what really happened on Old Palmetto Drive.
- In Ask Grace, Grace is scared, angry, and wants to understand what is happening inside her mind. Her next-door neighbor, and enemy, Gloria, goes missing, and the only clue leads back to Grace. Seth, Grace’s boyfriend, goes missing, putting an even bigger target on her, and she starts experiencing stress-induced flashbacks of a kidnapping scene right out of some campy horror flick. The kind her and her friends spoof on their weekly podcast. Armed with new clues. Grace and her friends race against time to find Gloria and Seth, before the rotten-face man from her memories turns Richmond Hill into a real life horror movie. One they can’t spoof on their podcast.
How do you find the ideas for your books?
I have teenage kids, so many of my YA novels have been inspired by my kids or things they’ve said or situations they’ve described. Usually my ideas start as a seed (someone says something or I see something and it sticks in my brain) and from there it starts growing, taking shape, developing and expanding until there’s enough that I can flesh out a plot for a book. I used to sit down at that point and start writing the MC and see what they were doing. Now I sit down and write out a high-level outline for the entire book from start to finish.
Why should readers read your book? What is your target reader for each book?
I think I write books that are highly readable with characters that you can’t help but cheer for. My novels with Wild Ink are intended for readers aged 13-18, however, I believe they can be enjoyed by adult readers as well. A great coming-of-age story generally transcends age and gender, because as humans we can all relate to those kinds of growing-up feelings.
What are you most excited for with your release of Ask Grace?
It’s always exciting to have a new book released–because maybe it will help me find new readers who will come back to read some of my other novels. I experimented with breaking the 4th wall in this novel, which is new for me. (That’s when the main character speaks directly to the reader). I thought it might be interesting in this book because Grace (the MC) is an unreliable narrator, so when she talks to the reader it creates a sense of trust or maybe mistrust for her. You decide!
You have won a series of awards for your books. What did this feel like for you? Do you have an award you are most proud of?
Writing and publishing can be a very solitary activity. People read my books and maybe (if I’m lucky) will leave a short little review, and that’s my only temperature gauge to know “how I’m doing” so to speak. So winning awards is exciting, because it’s a boost, it’s someone (or a group of people) saying my writing is good! Worthy! I feel seen and heard as an author. And no, I’m not sure I’m more proud of one award over any other. Each award has provided different opportunities– I’ve been invited to the Florida state capital to receive an award in front of a huge audience, I’ve been given prize money, my book has been sent on a world-wide book blog tour, and other opportunities.
You are a multi-genre author. How do you change your writing for each genre style? Do you have a favorite genre to write in?
I’m a character-driven author, so when I come up with an idea and a main character, they usually dictate the type of story I write. Whether it’s young adult contemporary or adult romance or new adult science fiction. I change my style to conform to the characters and the story they are telling or participating in. I can see it in my head and hear them, so I just tell it. No, I don’t have a favorite genre. I’m currently in my thriller era.
You have lived in all five regions of the United States. Do you have a favorite region? Does each region you have lived in have any influence on your writing or setting?
Yes, I’ve lived all over and driven all over the country. It’s so interesting to see the regional difference in things like architecture, food/restaurants, people, music and more. The south is my favorite. I’m a big fan of the weather, landscape, food, and designs. All of my Wild Ink books are set in the south, in either Florida or Georgia. So yeah, I’d definitely say that my writing has been influenced where I live.
What is your writing process like? Do you have any particular tips, methods, or writing strategies that help you?
My novel writing process starts with an idea. Over the years I’ve learned to heavily outline and draft the novel from start to finish before I start writing. My first few published books were written without an outline. Another strategy I use is word count tracking. Probably because I’m a bit of a numbers and data nerd. So I like to use a spreadsheet and track my daily word count, it is motivating to me.
Tell me a fun fact about yourself.
When I was in college I was a DJ. I had turntables, a mixer, records, the whole nine-yards. My club name was DJ Barbie, and I used to go to parties and play, and travel around the PNW to go to raves.
To learn more about Shelby (S.E.) Reed, visit her website, https://www.writingwithreed.com/ and sign up for her newsletter https://www.writingwithreed.com/subscribe.
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