Interview with Author Shelley Shepard Gray

Shelley Shepard Gray

T4JYM: Can you share details about your latest book with our readers? What can they expect from it?

SSG: I’d love to!  My latest release from Revell is called UNSHAKEN. It’s the third installment of a romantic suspense series set in Crittenden County, KY. Basically, it’s the story of a New Order Amish girl who witnesses a murder and has to go into hiding down in Kentucky.

T4JYM: What comes next? Are you working on something new?

SSG: I like to be busy, so I’m always working on something new. My next book release is titled C is for Courting, which is a sweet Amish romance set in Holmes County, OH. I’m currently working on two books that will be released in 2026. One is Amish for Revell, and one is a sweet contemporary romance for Harlequin Heartwarming.

T4JYM: What is it about the Amish that appeals to you so much that they become the main characters in your writing? 

SSG: Well, there are a lot of things that appeal to me about the Amish, but one of the main reasons I enjoy writing Amish-central books is because I feel that the possibilities are endless. It’s a very broad genre.

T4JYM: If you could pick any character from one of your books or another author’s, who would you want to spend an afternoon with?

SSG: I’m a big reader, so it would be almost impossible to name a specific character from another author. I will share that my favorite character in UNSHAKEN is the hero. His name is Hardy. He’s ex-military, a fix-it type of guy, and rough around the edges. He doesn’t know quite what to do with the Amish girl he was told to keep safe. I found him to be very entertaining.

T4JYM: What does the writing process look like for you, from idea to publication?

SSG: I’ve been writing for over 20 years, so my process probably looks a little different than a new author writing her first book. Basically, I usually come up with an idea from something I see or read in the paper, or chatted with someone about. If I think it might make a book, I write up a couple of paragraphs of what it’s about and then write a first chapter. Then it goes to my agent, who lets me know if she thinks it might sell or if it’s any good. If she gives me the green light, I’ll write a full proposal and send it to her. Eventually it goes out to see if any publishing house wants it. Once I get a contract, it’s time to write the book. It usually takes me a couple of months to write a novel and I turn it in to my editor about a year before it gets published.

LOL, I’m making this all sound very efficient and quick. It’s not! There’s lots of waiting involved.

I should also mention that even though I’ve published a lot of books, I still get quite a few rejections every year.

T4JYM: How many publishers have you submitted your works to in the past? How many rejections did you face before getting published?

SSG: I couldn’t even begin to name all the publishers I’ve submitted to over the years. I *think* I’ve written for about 10 or 12 different publishing houses. I’ve published about 135 books.  I’ve also gotten lots and lots of rejections. One historical western that I did eventually get to publish was first rejected 20 times. It was sold 8 years later. (Of course by then it had to get rewritten again!)

T4JYM: What goes into editing a work for publication? Do you do it all yourself or rely on others to help?

SSG: I do have a ‘Beta’ reader. She’s a friend of mine. When I think a book is just about ready to get turned in, I send it to her. She looks for minor problems, like mismatched names or eye color, etc.

T4JYM: Would you please share a short testimony of how you became a Christian?

SSG: I became a Christian when I was 22. I started attending a church when I was engaged to be married, basically so we could get married in a church. After meeting with the priest for about 8 months, I got baptized and eventually confirmed. It changed my life.

T4JYM: What do you like to do when you are not writing?

SSG: We like to adopt dogs from rescue organizations. So, I like to be with them. We go on lots of walks. I also like to travel with my husband.

T4JYM: What advice would you give to someone interested in publishing their work?

SSG: I would advise a beginning writer to first believe in their craft. It’s not easy to write a book and that should be celebrated. I might also remind that person that no one expects a pro athlete to be great without practicing, so don’t give up if you do get rejections. Keep trying.

T4JYM: Any final thoughts you want to share?

SSG: This has been so fun! Thank you for inviting me to visit!

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