Shari Lane

I was reading voraciously by the time I entered kindergarten, and I have been writing for almost as long. My first full-length novel, hand-written at the age of ten and stapled together for my family, followed the adventures of magical guinea pigs.Whenever and however possible, I surround myself with books, writers, and readers. In addition to being former Managing Editor of SHARK REEF Literary Magazine, I am on the local Library’s Board of Trustees, and host WORD!, an open mic for local writers.It is my ardent belief that good writing can provide a much-needed escape, a chance for a cathartic cry or a healing belly laugh. Just as importantly, in these divided and divisive times, I believe...

View Profile

Bridging Divides

What inspired you to start writing?
Stories carry us into another's world, allow us to see through another's perspective, from the safety of fiction - no confrontations or debate needed! I've always loved to read stories, and adding to the world's stories, feels like a worthy endeavor in these divided and divisive times.
Can you tell us a little about your latest book?
It's a mystery, it's story of small town humanity, it's a story of personal accountability and transformation. Most of all it's a story of hope for our collective future. If a wealthy and privileged company president from Manhattan can learn humility, and find a meaningful role working as a dishwasher in a diner in rural Oregon, maybe we can all find a way to work together toward a better tomorrow.
How do you create your characters?
The short answer is that I don't - they come to me and demand that I take down their stories!
What has been the most rewarding part of being an indie author?
Connection with readers! It means so much to me when people reach out directly and tell me what my writing brought to them.
What’s one challenge you’ve faced in your writing journey?
PR - like most writers, I loathe self-promotion. My publisher did a great job with a limited budget, but I'd so love to leave that whole task to someone else!
What advice would you give to new or aspiring indie authors?
Keep writing, and submit your work to as many skilled writers and editors as you can, then go out and find a publisher or an agent or a platform for self-publishing. Don't give up (but also don't go it alone).
What’s next for you? Are you working on a new book?
I'm working on several! I'm shopping to agents a story of a precocious orphan befriended by three unlikely heroes, whose oddball tale asks deeper questions about religion, faith, and community. I've also recently self-published the first of a series called The Dogs of Looser Island: Who Laughs Last, on Substack (sharilane.substack.com), and am working on the sequel to that, as well as working on a sequel to Two Over Easy All Day Long.