An interrogation…Interview with Shelly Jones

A few months ago, we got to review the first book in Author Shelly Jones ‘ A Wren Winters Mystery Series, Player Elimination. Our reviewer absolutely loved it, so I needed to know more about the author behind this raving review. Enter the interrogation interview with Author Shelly Jones.

About Shelly Jones

*Affiliate links are used in this article. The Mystery Review Crew is an Amazon Affiliate and, as such, earns from qualifying purchases. See our privacy policy and disclosures for more information.

Our Interrogation of Shelly Jones

If you had to describe your main character using only board game rules, would she be the player who always wins fairly or the one who hides a spare clue under the table?

Wren is definitely lawful good. She might be clever and use her wit to catch others out, but she hates to lie and would definitely never cheat. That’s not to say that Pip, her cat, probably hasn’t knocked over the occasional gamepiece, altering the endgame… 

Out of all your characters, who would you never want to sit across from in a real board game—and who would flip the table first?

Geoffrey at the local bookstore, the Book Nook, is probably the character I wouldn’t want to sit across from. He’s unctuous and disingenuous, and that’s a big turn off to me in real life.  Esther (undoubtedly hopped up on too much caffeine) would probably be the one to flip the table first and then immediately get red faced and say “oops” before helping to clean up. 

If the loser in every board game faced “elimination,” how many of your friends would still be around to play?

Depends on the game and on the day. I have a few gaming circles, and what’s wonderful is we always play different games. (So. many. games.) I often play with my spouse, and there is at least one game that we’ve played five or six times, and I’ve always won. It’s gotten to the point where I don’t want to play that game again just so I can keep my legacy strong.  

Finally—when readers finish Player Elimination, do you hope they’ll reach for the next book… or lock away all their game pieces just to be safe?

Hopefully, folks will feel cozy and safe at the end, and reach for the next in the series, Murder, She Rolled. As a teaser, the second book starts with the gaming group livestreaming an indie role-playing game when their new friend and game-master falls dead on screen. And when another one of the friends falls ill with the same symptoms, Wren is determined to solve the puzzle before her friend’s game is over for good. 

Did you always know you wanted to be a writer, or did your passion for storytelling develop over time?

I have wanted to be a writer since I was a child. I always wrote stories, I devoured books, and I really had little interest in anything else. I have vivid memories of reading Cam Jansen mysteries as a kid, writing in journals while sitting in trees, or reading The Isle of the Blue Dolphins while walking around my yard as my cat followed me. In grad school, my creative writing greatly diminished, replaced with theory, essays, and a dissertation. After college, I became a professor, teaching first year composition and intro to literature classes. That’s the majority of my life. But I returned to creative writing, initially writing speculative short fiction. It was only a few years ago that I decided to try writing a mystery novel, which eventually became Player Elimination.  

What was the first story or piece of writing you remember creating? How has your writing evolved since then?

I know I wrote others before this, but the one that I vividly remember was a short story called “Samantha the Witch” (yes, I did grow up watching Bewitched re-runs). Hopefully, my writing is less directly influenced by the media I consume.

Can you describe your typical writing routine? Do you have any specific habits or rituals that aid your creative process?

My typical writing routine involves a good notebook (not too fancy, but not too basic either) and a good pen (same standards apply). Given my day job, I usually write in the evenings after dinner.  I tend to write first by hand, just letting my thoughts flow, getting the words on the page. I let myself write stuff that I know I’ll ultimately ex out later, sometimes even as I write it. But I get it out. I have always written creatively by hand first (yes, from those early days climbing trees and writing…). Then I’ll take what I’ve written by hand and transfer it into a Word/Google doc, lightly editing as I do. That is my first round of edits and I can add or delete as inspired. 

Are you a planner or a “pantser” (writing by the seat of your pants)? How do you approach structuring your stories?

I like the flashlight metaphor for this: instead of planning or pantsing, I shine my flashlight out into the world, and write only as far as my flashlight can extend. I also like this metaphor because I sometimes wave that light around all over the place, leaping from one scene to another, depending on my mood. Then, once I have a lot written, I’ll move and rearrange the pieces into a Frankensteinian monster of a first draft. Since writing isn’t my full-time job and I’m often coming back to it exhausted, but determined, it gives me the freedom to hop into whatever scene I want to and still feel productive. 

What role does research play in your writing? How do you strike a balance between authenticity and creative freedom?

I must be on so many watch lists because of my internet search history. I do research a lot of things (e.g. how quickly does this poison set in; police ranks in order; deadly flowers; do you have to report hitting a deer to the police in Massachusetts?) that all might end up being a mere sentence or two, or a major plot point. I try not to hand-wave (too much) if reality and my creativity don’t align, but try to use the realism to make the story or detail feel grounded and anchored. I honestly hate watching a film and thinking “like that would ever happen!” or “that’s not real…” (to which my spouse helpfully reminds me: it’s fiction.). 

Do you have a favorite character that you’ve created? What makes this character particularly special to you?

You’d think that it would be Wren Winters, my protagonist, but honestly, my favorite character is Charlie. Charlie is non-binary and on the Autism spectrum. They are no-nonsense and take solace in their work. They always have a solution (and a pun) for any situation. I like that I was able to create them and give them a safe space to be their unmasked self, sitting around the game table with their friends.

What do you find to be the most challenging aspect of being an author, and how do you navigate those challenges?

Before I published my novels, I would have said the hardest part was just finding time to write. Now I’m struggling with all the marketing and self-promotion (which does not come naturally to me at all). I’d so much rather spend time writing more stories than poking around on Canva creating shiny graphics that ultimately say: please buy my book! 

Do you prefer coffee or tea? What kinds, or specific ways to enjoy these drinks?

I enjoy both, but will always prefer coffee: just coffee. Black. Nothing in it. For tea, I prefer Earl Grey black or, if I want a treat, chai tea with milk and sugar (but this is rare). 

What advice would you give to aspiring authors who are just starting their writing journey?

Keep writing. Just write. The only way to get better is by writing more (and reading…but write). Get the words on the page. You can always make them shinier or prettier or punchier, but if there are no words there, there’s nothing else to do. 

If your latest book were to be adapted into a movie or TV show, who would you cast in the lead roles?

<consults character creation spreadsheet that absolutely included a column for this exact topic so I could better visualize my characters> 

• Wren Winters – I had a few choices here, including Allison Brie (Community), Nina Dobrev (Lovehard), and Linda Cardellini (Freaks & Geeks – among others, but that’s pertinent to the gamer theme). Think: dark haired, nerd-friendly vibes who would fight for her loved ones in person or in a fantasy world. 
• Charlie Reynolds – Vic Michaelis of Dropout fame, or the incomparable Mae Martin (Feel Good, Wayward). 
• Esther Chambers –  Comedians Heather McMahan or Fortune Feimster – both would shine with amiable snark and sass. 
• Jo Martin – Aimee Garcia, who has rocked Hallmark Mysteries, or the sharply funny Melissa Fumero of Brooklyn 99. 

Check out Player Elimination

But nothing could prepare her for what she finds one fateful morning: her landlord murdered, her store turned into a crime scene, her only employee under suspicion (and hiding something), and a missing piece from an unreleased game.

Now, with her store’s future hanging by a thread and the stakes higher than ever, Wren must channel her puzzle-solving skills like never before. Can she and her friends follow the clues, clear her employee’s name, and crack the case before it’s game over?

Perfect for fans of Gigi Pandian and Ellery Adams, Player Elimination serves up page-turning suspense, clever twists, and cozy charm with every clue uncovered.

*Affiliate links are used in this article. The Mystery Review Crew is an Amazon Affiliate and, as such, earns from qualifying purchases. See our privacy policy and disclosures for more information.

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