We recently asked Kathryn Shanahan some questions about her background and her writing. If you have other questions or just want to listen to Kate's brief talk and other people's questions, come down to the Merchantville Reading Center, 130 S. Centre Street on Monday evening, November 12th, 7:00-9:00 PM. There will be cheese and crackers, cookies and coffee...

How long have you lived in Merchantville and where did you attend school?

I've lived in Merchantville since 1983, attending 7th and 8th grades and Merchantville Elementary School. We made frequent visits to my grandparents, the Dohertys, and I enjoyed walking to the local parks and stores. My grandad, Philip, was born on Park Avenue in 1915 when Maple Avenue was a dirt road with a horse drawn trolley! The Shanahans rented a house for the summer at Park and Cove that same year to escape the heat of Philadelphia. My dad, Terrence, was also born here and went to MES. I graduated from Pennsauken High School in 1989.

How long did it take you to write "Brianna's Escape"? Why did you decide to write romance novels?

I wrote the first draft of Brianna's Escape in a month, but had been dreaming and thinking about the story for 7 years. At age 19, I had a life-threatening bout of Lyme Disease. I was treated for 2 1/2 years, which makes you a pariah in the job market even after recovery. I lost my ablilty to draw and my short-term memory and concentration were affected. I started reading easy romances and kept complaining to my mother about the limited storylines and characters. When I told her about the story I dreamed, she said "Write it just the way you told me."

What's your writing schedule like?

On a normal day, I work between 6 and 8 hours. I love writing and don't consider it a "chore" as many authors do. We didn't have a TV in the house until I was 8, so reading and visits to the library were a bit adventure for me. I still hunt for unusual reference books at the library sales.

We understand you just finished another book. What's the new novel about? Have you thought about writing a romance novel based in Merchantville?

I wanted to be an archaeologist or a forensic pathologist. Health issues made that impossible, but I'm still fascinated by the subjects. Future books will contain murder mysteries in addition to romance. My stories are the "real lives" of the authors in a fictional publishing house. They will eventually meet and interact. In my dreams, they somhow cook and bake things from our personal recipe collection! I usually set my books in places I have either lived or visited. My new Internet romance takes place partially in Australia. Local flavor is supplied by some Internet friends of mine who live there. These characters are based on some real people with their active participation. I am using the "small" town setting in future books-one is called Sellerburg and is located between Trenton and Cape May.

I finished "Liane's Lessons" (the Internet romance) on October 25 and began writing "Melora's Messages" the next day. It involves family secrets, international corporate espoinage, murder, and of course, romance. It was a thrill taking an autographed copy of my book to Mrs. Maureen Holt to thank her for all of her years of devoted teaching. We donated a copy to the Merchantville Reading Center in honor of Mrs. Olga Henderson, the former librarian.

Where can someone buy your book?

You may order Brianna's Escape from the publisher at 1-877-333-7422 or from your favorite bookstore. You may also order from one of the following Internet addresses:
www.publishamerica.com
www.Amazon.com
www.BN.com