The Bookshelf: Author Spotlight: Shawn Lamb

Published 8:00 am Sunday, February 23, 2025

Today’s author in the spotlight has quite the extensive oeuvre. She has written works of fantasy for young adults, Christian historical fiction and books for children. She honed her skill as a screenwriter for children’s television in Hollywood during the 1980s. Since 2010 she has appeared at homeschool and comic conventions and many book festivals. Please read below the question and answer session I recently conducted with her via email.

Prompt: Tell us about your writing process and the way you brainstorm story ideas.

Shawn Lamb: I’m what is called a “pantser,” meaning I keep everything in my head. The entire story is imagined from beginning to end. I don’t plot on paper. This often surprises people as I’ve written a 16-book fantasy series. It’s simply natural for me to let stories flow.

As for brainstorming, almost anything can get me to start a story. I sometimes like to sit in the mall with a cup of coffee and “people watch” while making up stories and descriptions in my head. This is an exercise I encourage young writers to try. The amount and type of research depends upon the story. However, even for fantasy, I researched various cultures, myths, legends, weapons and society classes. Fantasy needs to be grounded in the “ordinary” before leaping to the “extraordinary.”

Question: What is your inspiration for writing?

Lamb: It was my daughter’s request which launched the Allon series. She was 13 at the time. She’s now 37 — and back then there wasn’t the amount of Young Adult fantasy fiction there is today. Her favorite books were “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Chronicles of Narnia.” She asked me to write her a good, old-fashioned hero quest story. One book turned into 16.

Q: Do you believe in writer’s block?

Lamb: No, I don’t believe in writer’s block. In fact, I’ve never experienced a complete stoppage. However, there can be a slowdown in the flow due to life circumstances. A pause. When that happens, I “people watch,” which helps to reignite the story.

Q: How did you celebrate the publishing of your first book?

Lamb: We went out to dinner. It’s an achievement to publish a book. My first book was traditionally published, so I made it through the entire process of signing with an agent, who then landed me a contract with a publisher.

Q: What other authors are you friends with and how do they help you become a better writer?

Lamb: Not sure about name-dropping, but I’ll say that some of my author friends are nationally known and best-sellers. We keep in contact on Facebook, by email and often meet at book events where we are guests and sign copies of our work. Our best discussions are at events.

Q: If you were given the opportunity to form a book club with your favorite authors of all time, which legends or contemporary writers would you want to become a part of the club?

Lamb: Great question. The authors who inspired me were those I read as a teen: Taylor Caldwell, John Jakes, Alistair MacLean and Mary Stewart. Each of them made me feel as if I was living in the time and place of the story.  That immersion is what I try to achieve with my stories.

Q: How do you think the concepts such as Kindle and ebooks have changed the present or future of reading?

Lamb: Digital has made reading “convenient,” which some may prefer. Personally, it takes away the enjoyment of holding an actual book. Digital can’t match the artistry of old books found in antique stores. They can’t replicate the beautifully illustrated covers or stand the test of time. So yeah, I’m not a big fan of digital media.

Q: What marketing strategies do you find most helpful?

Lamb: Events. There is nothing in paid advertising or social media that comes close to meeting a reader or fan. Events help to forge a personal connection. I still hear from readers who bought my first book at a signing 15 years ago. They pass my books to their friends. A few are even married now.

Q: Can you tell us about your current projects?

Lamb: Currently, I’m in the research phase for a new middle grade fantasy story and possible historical fiction.

Q: Any advice you would like to give to aspiring writers?

Lamb: Don’t give up. My first book wasn’t published until I was 50 years old. Also, whether one seeks the traditional route or chooses self-publishing, make certain the story is properly edited and polished. Once that’s done, meet your readers. Start local and build from there.

• Lamb maintains the website https://allonbooks.com/. The site offers links to purchase her books, her upcoming touring schedule and multiple videos she has created with free tips for writers.

Brian Latour is the branch manager of the Chatsworth-Murray County Public Library.