Please tell us about your latest book.
So, SPOILERS
ahead. If you
haven’t read Savage Spells Book 1, “Everyone Leaves This Place,” and
Savage Spells Book 2, “Love’s Heavy Spell,” then you should STOP reading this
interview and read those two books. Book 1 has received rave reviews. Book 2
also has been well-received.
For those who’ve
read Book 1 and Book 2, let me tell you about Savage Spells Book 3, entitled, “Still
Running Deep.” The book picks up the same day Book 2 left off, March 8,
2020, with Evee Salazar and Mark Perrino split up but still thinking about each
other.
Evee’s life is
back on track: She’s assumed control of her powers and shined in her new
internship. She steps into a loving relationship, but I won’t say any more
about that.
But a blizzard of
trouble is about to blow into town. Three evil witches surface, still
conspiring to control the AI technology that will shape their dark vision of
the future.
To complicate
matters, the mystical force that guides Evee’s coven instructs her to perform
what seems like an unthinkably wicked act. If she can’t follow
this gut-wrenching path, Evee may not be able to stave off the dark-magic
witches’ plans for world domination.
What can we expect from you in the future?
I’m working on two new projects/ series:
I’m scrubbing and enhancing an unpublished fantasy novel I wrote from
2013-2018 called “Dark Water and the Maiden.” It’s set in 1973, and it’s
got a “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” meets “A Wrinkle in Time”
meets James Bond vibe. Beta readers love this work, and it’s a very personal
story inspired by my childhood and the first school I attended in Bethesda,
Maryland. This novel is part of a four-book series, “Seams Along the Near
World,” which I intend to publish in the next couple of years.
I’m also about twenty to twenty-five percent into drafting a new, Upper
Middle Grade/Lower Young Adult (12-15 years old) science fiction/horror novel
in a new series. I’m withholding nearly everything about this story. I just had
a beta reader tell me it’s the best thing I’ve ever written. I’m writing it in
the first-person present, which is new for me, from the perspective of a
thirteen-year-old boy who’s just had his life turned upside down (but he doesn’t
know he’s in for a bunch more trouble). I’m super excited about the story. It’s
high concept (easily explained). It’ll probably be part of a series of 3-4
novels. I’m at the stage we’re I’ve taken a break from writing to research
certain things.
How do we find out about you and your books?
and
and
and
How much of your personality and life experiences are in
your writing?
Let’s
say enough of my life experience is in my work to make my wife mildly
uncomfortable.
As
I finish a series, I look back, and I can always see my subconscious mind was
trying to teach me a lesson in real life. In Savage Spells Book 3, which just
got published, it’s about how to deal with failure.
When did you first think about writing and what prompted
you to submit your first ms?
I wrote some stuff
in my early teens, but I truly began writing with a passion when I hit my
mid-thirties in 2002. At this time, I felt compelled to write a novel that
harkened to the nostalgia of my childhood – “Riverwood: Remembrance,”
which is part of my “Seams Along the Near World” series. I wrote four
books in that urban fantasy series from 2002-2018. I’m proud of “Dark Water
& the Maiden,” which I wrote last, from 2013-2018; this story is a
prequel. This book, set mainly in 1973, could be the most emotionally resonant
work I’ve ever created. As I noted, I’m cleaning up this work now.
Do you have a set schedule for writing, or do you just go
with the flow?
I
try to write in the morning, for a few hours, at least a few times a week. I do
work a contract job, where the work is variable, so I often need to adjust my
schedule. With COVID-19, I’ve had some added time to write, as my hours have
been greatly reduced. But I’ve also been looking for work—so there’s that.
What about your family, do they know not to bother you
when you are writing - or are there constant interruptions?
People
leave me alone. Mostly.
What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?
I
work out. I walk because I have a bad knee and can’t run anymore. I listen to
music. And, last but not least, I chill with my wife, Sheri, watching TV or
hanging out around Doylestown (not lately, but we hope to get back there when
things open up).
Where do your ideas come from?
The
ether. Seriously, sometimes it feels like my ideas come from another dimension.
Probably from my dreams. Who knows?
Do you feel humor is important in books and why?
Yes.
It keeps people engaged and makes characters likable. I’ve never understood
people in real life who are humorless, as they seem to take themselves too
seriously. A certain amount of humor keeps the ball rolling so to speak, moving
that narrative forward.
What kind of research do you do?
There’s almost always research involved. For “Still Running Deep,”
I spoke with Rick Mitchell, who is the Chief Meteorologist for NBC affiliate in
Dallas-Fort Worth. We discussed the weather, but that’s all I want to say.
For my new SciFi/Horror WIP, there are a couple different settings about
which I need to understand more. So, I’m in the process of doing that online
and through phone interviews.
Please tell us about yourself.
God
is the most important, guiding force in my life. Without God I truly believe
nothing else in my life would fall into place. Doesn’t mean God always makes
things perfect for me, but because of God, my wife and I have a close, loving
relationship, and I learn more every day about my purpose here on earth.
My
family is important to me, including my wife, son (21) and daughter (18). My
daughter is transgender, and LGBTQ rights are important to me (these rights
were important to me before I knew she was transgender; they’re human rights).
I’m
a writer by nature. I wrote an awful book when I was fourteen on a typewriter.
I’ve worked as a market researcher, but a writer is what I am.
What are some of your favorite things to do?
If
you want to know about my interests, outside of hanging with my wife—I like
dancing to DJ Earworm when nobody is watching, reading all sorts of stuff (from
bestsellers like “All the Light We Cannot See” to YA like “We Are
Okay,” to fantasy like “The Vine Witch”), working out/walking (I was
a wrestler in high school and a coach for youth wrestling many years), and
watching University of Miami Football. I do like a good Netflix series. We just
finished Season 3 of ‘Ozark,’ and I’m such a huge Laura Linney fan. I like to
teach; since I published Savage Spells, I’ve taught a couple of high school
classes about Creative Writing.
I’d
like to travel abroad someday.
Who are some of your other favorite authors to read?
Lately,
I’ve been getting into Charlie N. Holmberg, Luanne Smith, and Rhys Bowen.
Another
Solstice author, Kari R. Joyner, has the best, ‘book club’ type story out
called “Bloom Where You’re Planted.” Love it!
What do you think of critique groups in general?
I
[still] don’t know much about them. I’ve got my little group of people who beat
up my work in private.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
If
things proceed as I desire, writing full time. We’ll see. I do like market
research contracting, but if I could make a full-time living by writing, I
would.
How many books have you written, how many have been
published?
My
Seams series has four books. And there’s the Savage Spells trilogy. So, seven
total and one on the way in my new SciFi/horror series.
After you've written your book and it's been published, do
you ever buy it and/or read it?
Yes.
Writing a trilogy, I had to reread my work to ensure I didn’t forget details.
It’s essential to maintain cross-novel consistency.
Among your own books, have you a favorite book? Favorite
hero or heroine?
Evee
Salazar is near and dear to my heart.
After
this, Paul Branch from “Dark Water & the Maiden.”
What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?
When
somebody says your book touched their heart. If you write from the heart, you
tap into this universal need for connection and permanence, which I believe is
Divine. If a book makes you shed a tear, that’s where it’s coming from. My
debut series, at first, seems very light-hearted (sort of like the reader’s
first impression of Evee), but I believe it taps into some deep emotional
territory. I hope it resonates with people, which is most rewarding.
Also,
when you write something, and you know it’s super-hot (well crafted, sharp,
highly readable, engaging, etc.). That’s a GREAT feeling because it only
happens, for me, about 30% of the time.
If you weren't writing, what would you be doing?
I
honestly don’t know.
What is your greatest desire?
To
see my wife and children thrive and to serve a higher purpose here on earth. I
know that’s two things. I believe these two things are connected though.
After
that, I’d take a film deal for one of my books/series. I’ve said this before, I’d
like to see actress, Isabela Merced play Evee Salazar.
Are there any words of encouragement for unpublished
writers?
Sixteen
years. That’s how long it took me between writing my first novel and
publishing. Also, keep your mind open to advice and learning new things to
improve your writing. It helped me for sure. I’m still learning.
![Still Running Deep: Savage Spells Book 3 by [R.B. Shifman]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51sorjtIS0L._SY346_.jpg)
