The Writer’s Desk with Shawna Coleing

Born and raised in Western NY State, Shawna never expected to move too far from home. She craved adventure, but that adventure pretty much stayed in her head.

Then, after finishing college, she had the opportunity to spend a year in Australia, and she took it. She met her husband while there and now, two decades later, she lives in the middle of tropical Far North Queensland, about a kilometer from croc-infested waters.

She and her husband have three kids and Shawna still loves nothing more than staring out the window daydreaming and making up a good story.

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More about Hidden Trial:

Charlotte, seeking solace in a quiet town after a harrowing overseas trip, discovers that a life of safety no longer satisfies her longing for adventure. So, when her sister, an undercover agent, sustains an injury that halts her operation, Charlotte seizes the opportunity to step into her sister’s role, taking on what appears to be a simple assignment.

Meanwhile, Will has spent years tirelessly searching for a kidnapped friend, desperately clinging to hope despite a trail that has long gone cold. When his undercover partner is injured and she proposes training her twin as a replacement, Will is torn by the ghosts of his past. The idea of involving a civilian weighs heavily on his heart, but the urgency of their mission persuades him to take the risk.

Little do they know that Charlotte’s involvement will lead them down a perilous path when the operation takes an unforeseen turn and they find themselves in a life-and-death struggle they never could have imagined. Now, they must surrender to God’s guiding hand and trust that He can lead them through the darkest of trials. But will it be enough to save them in this lifetime? Or will their enemy be the one to send them into eternity?

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Q&A with Shawna Coleing

TG: Everyone always asks for an interesting fact, we’re going to flip the question. What is one boring fact about yourself?

SC: I’m addicted to playing with my hair.

TG: Where did you get the inspiration for Hidden Trial?

SC: I’ve always been a big daydreamer and that’s usually where ideas spring from. I get the seed of something — in the case of this book it was how to get a small-town
girl mixed up in an international crime — then I stare at the wall or go for a walk and let my imagination run away with itself.

TG: Do you have any habits or rituals as a writer?

SC: Nope. Just the discipline of sitting in front of my computer and getting words on the page.

TG: What habits would you encourage others to take up to be a more productive writer?

SC: Same as the above. But also, don’t let feelings of self-doubt or inadequacy stop you from putting words on the page. Most writers feel that way, especially at the beginning. You won’t know how good you are until you put yourself out there. And chances are you’re better than you think (we’re usually our own worst critics)

TG: What do you snack on or drink while writing?

SC: Water, water, water, and coffee. I try not to snack if I can help it.

TG: How do you overcome writer’s block?

SC: Going for a walk always helps me find ideas. Other than that, I sit my butt in the chair and write even if I don’t think it’s very good. That usually gets things moving.

TG: Are you an “edit-as-you-go” writer or do you wait until the very end before you do any editing?

SC: I do three drafts so each draft has a certain amount of edits along with adding to the story. I also do a final edit for grammar and punctuation followed by a final read-through before sending my manuscript off to my editor.

TG: What would you say is the most common mistake new writers make?

SC: Spending too much time second-guessing themselves and their writing.

TG: What is the best piece of writing advice you’re ever received?

SC: If you want to be a successful author, you have to work hard, and get the books written. It sounds obvious and it’s something I knew going in, but needed to remind myself of when things were moving slower than I wanted.

TG: What is coming up next for you?

SC: I’m continuing my Hidden Alliance series which will probably end up with four books, and I already have ideas for the next series brewing.

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