Author Interview and Review: Grahame Shannon (Bay of Devils)
At Scribbles we love to showcase exciting both new and established authors, offering a platform for writers to introduce their work, talk about our mutual love of writing, and share valuable industry knowledge.
Today we are talking to Grahame Shannon, author of the epic new historical thriller/ romance, Bay of Devils.
1. Please tell us a bit about yourself?
I am a retired Yacht Designer living in British Columbia. My cruel parents dragged me to Canada from my native Grenada as a child. Even though I still prefer palm-lined white sand beaches, I have learned to love BC's rugged coast.
2. When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?
I have been writing stories, drawing, and painting since I was a child. The urge to write a novel came after taking a writing class at the local University. I saw how easy it was for me to spin words when the other students were struggling. For me, it was pure pleasure.
3. Who are your favorite authors and why?
In childhood, I loved Stevenson and Kipling. Later I preferred Joseph Conrad and Herman Melville. Now I like Michael Connelly and Paul Kemprecos. Apart from adventures, all these authors can transport the reader into the scene, to see through their eyes a world the reader doesn't know personally. When in 2009, I traveled to Nuku Hiva, the island setting of Typee, the landscape was familiar, as so vividly described by Melville.
4. How long does it take you to write a book and what does your writing process look like?
My first book, Tiger and the Robot took only three months of writing, another two of editing and revising. The second book, Bay of Devils, took almost two years. I think the actual hours spent were similar, but I wrote Tiger without a break. I don't use an outline, other than the most basic germ of an idea. I just sit down at the computer and the story comes to me as I type. The final three chapters of Bay of Devils came to me in a dream, which I wrote down the next day.
5. Can you tell us about this book?
The idea for Bay of Devils came to me after reading a newspaper story on the 100th anniversary of the Princess Sophia disaster. I was already aware of the legends surrounding Thomas Bay, from a sailing trip my wife and I made to Alaska in 2008. We anchored in Thomas bay (aka Bay of Devils), all alone. Nothing spooky happened, but there was an aura about the place that set my imagination spinning. I had the idea to combine the sinking of the ship with an expedition to Thomas Bay by the device of a letter from a passenger on the doomed ship, delivered 50 years later.
6. Who are your main characters, can you tell us a bit more about them?
Sean Gray, the main character and narrator, is a young man who is unemployable in the conventional sense. He is an amateur detective and lives on a boat in Vancouver Harbor.
Cindy Lu, a waitress at the English Bay Café, finds the letter in her father's effects and delivers it. She is an innocent young girl who reveals great strength and depth of character as the book progresses.
Lizzie Hadley is the recipient of the letter from a would-be suitor on board the ship. The posthumous letter from Jakob triggers her determination to find out more about the mysteries of Thomas Bay he describes.
Andre LaPalme is the Captain of Lizzie's classic Yacht, Lady L, used as the expedition vessel. Thomas bay is almost 1000 miles from Vancouver, and Andre and Sean together plan and execute the voyage.
Darya Hubert is a lawyer from Barbados who serves as Lizzie's representative and plays a pivotal role in the story.
Levi is a mysterious Israeli ex-soldier, hired to provide security on the voyage. He has many talents and knows many types of mayhem. He is also a trivia buff.
Ajax is a rude parrot who serves as the ship’s mascot and takes an active part in the story.
7. What is your favorite scene or chapter from the book?
The bar scene in Prince Rupert where Cindy is insulted by a racist lout and defends herself effectively.
8. What do you hope readers will take away from this story?
I hope they will be amused and entertained, but also gain some understanding of the history and geography of BC and Alaska.
9. What do you think happens to your characters after the book ends?
See my next book!
10. Do you find you miss your characters once you finish writing their story?
Very much. They become my best friends while I am writing, and after the book is done, it is as if they have gone away to a far off place.
11. Do you have any more projects lined up?
Bay of Angels, my next book, will feature Sean and Cindy, Andre and Ajax in a new adventure. I see it as the start of a series that will fill the fifty-year gap between Bay of Devils and Tiger and the Robot.
12. Where can our readers find your books?
Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, Google, and Apple. The audiobook version of Tiger and the Robot is proving popular so an audiobook version of Bay of Devils will be available soon.
Scribbles Rating: 5/5
It’s rare to discover a book that can provide a true sense of adventure, mystery, and even romance - Bay of Devils delivers on all fronts.
Set in 1960’s Vancouver and Alaska, with reflections back to the earlier glamour of the 1930/40’s; Bay of Devil’s tells the story of amateur detective Sean Grey, and his quest to solve the mystery of a long lost letter, a nautical treasure hunt, and even some monsters in the wilderness.
Shannon weaves a fast-paced and fun narrative, with characters that are both intriguing and easy to enjoy. Following the tradition of ‘the hero’s journey’, we are left with the sense that it is the inner journey itself that Sean, Cindy, their crew, and Lizzie embark upon that matters more than any treasure.
The sailing and descriptive elements add so much to the story, evoking a sense of exploration and epic adventure that feels all the more expansive as we grapple with the reality of living in 2020. The Bay of Devil’s is a wonderful escape, fiction at its very best.