Do you prefer ebooks, printed books, or audiobooks most of the time?
I’m 100 percent a reader of printed books. I like to hold a book in my hands to experience its texture and appreciate the cover and interior design. And because I consult on Public Relations, I’m online a lot and welcome a break from digital screens.
Does writing energize or exhaust you? Or both?
Writing energizes me, especially when I’m focused on a passion project – a fiction novel – versus for example writing a press release for a technology-related announcement. I’m a dedicated communicator in any instance, but I particularly feel energized when writing fiction.
Have you ever traveled as research for your writing?
Yes for sure. I wrote the initial draft of my novel in the winter of 2021 during the pandemic, so I described Toronto venues based on memory. Just over a year ago, a friend and I went to Toronto to fact-check locations like ONE Restaurant in Yorkville, a downtown bank, and the King Edward Hotel and had a blast doing so. Over the years I’ve been to all the sites mentioned in my book – from North Carolina to Honey Harbour in Georgian Bay.
How did you come up with the title for your book?
That’s such a good question because picking a title can be torturous! Discovering that many titles were already ‘taken’ in the mystery genre, I used an AI site (ChatGPT) to source ideas. After many iterations, when I first chose ‘Devious Web’ I had trouble remembering the title of my own book! But now I love the title and it has been well received.
How do you come up with character names for your stories?
Name choices can be subliminal, like my choice of Tom as my lead character’s name which likely came to mind because of a mentor at Nortel, and an executive I enjoyed consulting for at OpenText Corp. I was more deliberate for surnames, using Wilson and Armstrong from my own family tree.
If you could spend a day with another popular author, whom would you choose?
I would choose Toronto author Nita Prose. She has done a great job establishing her identity with readers not only in Canada, but in many other countries where people resonate both with her main character, Molly the Maid, and with Nita’s own down-to-earth style.
If you were to write a spin-off about a side character, which would you pick?
One of my characters is a homicide detective named Jason Liu and pre-readers are drawn to him. His appeal is having an understated manner and strong work ethic, while still being empathetic to people. When I write the sequel, Liu will have a role.
What is a significant way your book has changed since the first draft?
I was keen to get the book in front of publishers when I finished the first draft, so I approached a few agents. A well-known agent in New York read the first 50 pages and provided the feedback that she couldn’t get into the book as much as she would like and, as they say on Shark Tank, for that reason she was ‘out’. With the realization that the front-end of my book was not sufficiently compelling, I reordered some chapters and took a different approach to delving into the plot line. I’m pleased that my early readers say they got hooked immediately, and I’m grateful to that agent in NY.
What would you say to an author who wanted to design their own cover?
It’s OK to have your own ideas on cover design but for execution of their vision, authors need professional design support. In my case, I had a specific preference for a Mad Men style and I enlisted the help of a Toronto designer to make it a reality.
Have pets ever gotten in the way of your writing?
Yes, but it’s probably a good thing to ensure I leave my desk and get moving! Husky dog Luka, cat Otto, and two horses boarded at a nearby riding stable demand priority attention. Luka interrupts with one massive ‘woof’ if it’s his time for a meal or play. Otto sits on top of manuscripts, so perhaps the cat can claim credit for hatching the plot!
Author website: www.shelleygrandy.com
LinkedIn: Shelley Grandy | LinkedIn
Instagram: Shelley Grandy – Author (@grandyshelley) • Instagram photos and videos
Simon & Schuster: Devious Web | Book by Shelley Grandy | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster Canada (simonandschuster.ca)
Amazon.ca: Available for pre-order and launching October 15th! Devious Web: A Novel : Grandy, Shelley: Amazon.ca: Books