The Brotherhood
By Shannon Condon Ward
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Starting where Finding Magdalena left off, nineteen-year-old Maggie marries her fiancé, Mateo and moves to Milan for his new job and her scholarship at the famous Milan Conservatory. She has barely settled in her new home when Maggie uncovers the Brotherhood, a secret organization and finds herself unwittingly involved in its sinister plans. Along with Shep and the rest of his team, she leads the covert mission to bring the Brotherhood to its knees.
Once again, Maggie embarks on a dangerous journey that tests her mental and physical limits. Can she escape the Brotherhood’s long reach and survive?
Interview with Author
Tell us about your genre. How did you come to choose it? Why does it appeal to you?
My genre began as Coming of Age but quickly switched to Action/Thriller. I love the fast-paced nature of a good thriller and all of the twists and turns to keep the reader on the edge of his or her seat. You are able to tell a thrilling story and still develop multi-layered characters who resonate.
What do you find most challenging about the writing process, and how do you deal with it?
For me, the most challenging part is the editing process. Once I have finished the book, I usually have the next story already forming in my mind and I am anxious to get busy. I am however, by nature, fastidious, and I like to have my book edited and in printing process before I start anything new. I also will not read anything while I am writing.
When and where do you do your writing? I have three sons, two still living at home and an active house to say the least. If I can catch a few hours during the day, I will sit in the family room and write. Most of my writing, however, is done at night in my room. I have been known to write for eight hours straight and grab an hour of sleep before it is time for the boys to get up and get ready for school.
What have you learned about promoting your books? I have never been a salesman but I have had to step out of my comfort zone to promote my book. The bottom line is, if I don’t believe in my book, no one else will.
What are you most proud of as a writer? Writing a book and publishing it was always just a dream I had. When I saw it come to fruition, I couldn’t believe I had accomplished it. What made me most proud was reading the reviews and realizing people liked what I had written and wanted to read more. There is no greater compliment for a writer than that. That brought tears to my eyes.
If you could have dinner with any writer, living or dead, who would it be and what would you talk about? I would choose to have dinner with William Golding. His book “Lord of the Flies” was the first book to captivate me. I have read it at least three times at various stages in my life. Reading it is like pulling back the layers of an onion. He was a brilliant writer and I would love to learn from him.
About the Author
Born in upstate New York, I was raised in South Florida where I was exposed to a multicultural background. From the time I was in elementary school, I was writing prolifically in journals and poetry. I attended the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications and graduated with honors. Life happens and it was necessary for me to put my writing aspirations on hold for a while. I still wrote poetry as time allowed, but as a single mother of three boys, there wasn’t much time. But time passes quickly and the opportunity presented itself for me to begin writing again. I developed the first story in Magdalena series, Finding Magdalena, in my head before I put anything down on paper. I had the storyline, well-developed characters and ending before I began writing. I also took the opportunity to travel to Spain and Italy to do location research. It was a labor of love. I self- published my first book in September 2015 and then it was republished in the UK by Austin Macauley Publishers. The second book in the series, The Brotherhood, came pouring forth like a waterfall. The characters, now old friends to me, seemed to take over and write the book themselves. I am currently working on the third installment of the Magdalena series and another book which is a different genre, one that deals with the relationship between three generations of women over three time periods.
For me, writing has always been a release, never work. I hope that continues. When it becomes work, I will probably stop. Right now, just the idea that people read my work and find enjoyment in it is a thrill for me.
@shannonecondon1
On Amazon: http://amzn.to/2rpvb9R
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