Danielle E. Shipley, author of the new book Inspired, wrote the book because she wanted to share a glimpse into her experience as a caretaker of characters, scribe of their stories, and – yes, sometimes – their friend. It’s been too incredible to keep to herself!

Wouldn’t it be fun to chuck it all and go live on a sailboat?
Oh, yes! I adore ships – all those big, white sails billowing against the blue of the sky, the creak of rigging in a duet with the cry of gulls, the great expanse of the sparkling sea rolling away in all directions… It calls to a piece of my soul. I answer by letting some of my characters turn pirate, or near enough to it. Just wait ‘til that one National Novel Writing Month project hits the presses!

If that doesn’t get you interested in this brand new author, check her out at all these other places:

Do you prefer the people in your life to be simple or complex?
Depends on the people. In real life, simple is simpler, and anything more leaves me socially confused. Whereas with fictional characters… well, simple would still be simpler and freer of confusion, but come on, where would be the fun in that? I get the biggest kick out of delving into a character’s mind, trying to navigate all their inner twists, turns, and layers. There’s usually a greater sense of safety, nosing around in a mind shared with mine. Yet there’s a risk, too. After all, most everything I imagine has to have come from some part of me. I never know when unearthing a character’s issue will mean digging up one of my own. And I, for better or worse, am by no means uncomplicated.

Do spelling and grammer mistakes annoy you?
No. They murder me slowly. Especially when the typo is mine – me, a supposed word wizard! – and it’s too late to fix it. The shame!

What is the most annoying thing that someone could do to you?
Broken promises annoy me, because I have close to zero patience for habitual unreliability. Oh, and people who ignore my clearly-stated preferences in favor of what they consider funny; come on, how disrespectful is that? So if, say, I told someone that no, seriously, I do not want him to lick me (because, gross!), and he promises he won’t, but then he goes ahead and licks me anyway? That guy has just made an enemy for life. (This specific example has been purely hypothetical, and it had better stay that way.)

If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?
Billionaire author by day, a member of Sherwood’s merry outlaw band by night. So, kind of a time-bending, literary Batman kind of gig – complete with a Robin in tights!

Now, before we get to the last question, let’s look at Danielle E. Shipley’s book …

For a muse like Lucianíel, one story’s end is another’s beginning.

In the wake of his author’s sudden death, Luc takes ownership of her surviving creations—four fantastical characters with tales yet to be told—saving them from unwritten lives crumbling around them and giving them a second chance at a literary future.

Luc finds that chance in the unsuspecting mind of Annabelle Iole Gray, a quirky teen with her head in the clouds, nose in a book, and imagination ripe for a brilliant muse’s inspiration.

Or so he hopes.

Neither Luc nor Annabelle, however, realize all they’ve undertaken. Even with a to-write list including accounts of a shape-shifting cat creature, gentle knight-in-training, vigilante skater girl, and a mystery boy smothering in unspoken fear, the most remarkable saga created between author and muse just may turn out to be one stranger than fiction.

Their own.

Favorite one-line review about the book:
“Creative as all get-out.” I take that as a huge, smile-making compliment.

Favorite 6 sentences from the book

“And who will remember you as you were?” he asked, with a moan of mourning. “This piece of stone is no fitting monument. I would have made you immortal, Jean. And I will.” His eyes burned like the shrouded sun. “This shall not be your end—not while I exist to make it your beginning.”

Buy it now …

But before you go, one last question …

What Would You Do Right Now If You Had A Million Bucks?
Scream a lot. Or did you mean right after the celebratory freak-out? In that case, first I’d set aside a percentage that I wouldn’t allow myself to touch for a while; we’ll call it my “Hey, Surprise, It’s Later and You’ve Still Got Money!” fund. I’d give a chunk to my parents and tell them to do whatever grownup things they do with money. A couple of my close friends would get a cut of the cash, too. Then I’d buy a new piano and some quality recording equipment (which I doubt I’ll know how to use until my sister shows me seven times), spend a stupid amount of dollars on stylish hats and “Lord of the Rings” paraphernalia, and if there’s anything left after my shopping spree at the bookstore, maybe I’ll fund a missionary or support an orphan or something; I’d have to check out my charitable options.

Congratulations, Danielle! Good luck with Inspired!

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