Amy Shojai - Inspired by Furry Companions

Amy Shojai - Inspired by Furry Companions
Amy bookcover

Amy Shojai is a certified animal behavior consultant and author of more than 30 pet-centric titles, including her THRILLERS WITH BITE series featuring an animal behaviorist and her service dog. As our Author of the Day, Shojai talks about the pets that inspire her stories and reveals more about her box set that is currently on special.

Please give us a short introduction to what The September Day Thriller Box Set contains.

The September Day Thriller box Set contains the first three books in the series. LOST AND FOUND launches the series, followed by HIDE AND SEEK, and the third story is SHOW AND TELL.

What do the books in this box set have in common?

Each book features the main character, animal behavior expert September and her German Shepherd service dog Shadow. Both have their personal issues to overcome, but through meeting challenges together, their bond grows ever stronger.

The books also combine medical mysteries with pet-centric plots that are credible, ripped-from-the-headlines possibilities. The characters must work through emotional and situational obstacles to emerge stronger and more confident by the end of the books.

Why do you enjoy writing from animal viewpoints?

I'm a certified animal behavior consultant in my "other life" and write prescriptive nonfiction pet care books. As a pet lover, I've always wished I could better understand what goes on between those furry ears -- and as a consultant, I have perhaps a bit of an edge in guessing dog and cat motivations. With fiction, I'm allowed to indulge in "what if" speculation and channel my inner dog and cat to write stories that embrace these creatures in all their furry glory!

Amy Shojai is a certified animal behavior consultant and author of more than 30 pet-centric titles, including her THRILLERS WITH BITE series featuring an animal behaviorist and her service dog. As our Author of the Day, Shojai tells us about her box set that is currently on special.

Tell us a bit about your furry companions - in which way do they act as muses?

The dog character Shadow in the stories was based on my German Shepherd Magic. He passed away this time last year, so the thriller series continues on in his honor. He continues to inspire my work.

My current furry muses are Bravo, a goofy 10-month-old 95-pound Bullmastiff boy. His best friend is Karma-Kat, a 4-year-old silver shaded tabby boy-cat. The games my pets play with each other, as well as the way they learn and interact with their world continually informs my stories -- both in the nonfiction and in the thrillers that I write.

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The "breakfast nook" where I sometimes work (yes, I do stained glass as well)...that's my old cat Seren, she's now gone...

Besides writing, what other secret skills do you have?

Ha! Well, cat herding and puppy wrangling count, don't they? Let's see . . . I'm also a musician, composer, and actor. My main character in the thrillers plays the cello, and so do I, although my major instrument is voice. In fact, in my spare time (ha again, what is that?!) for fun I perform in the local theaters. I just completed a run in the fun show LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS during which I "voiced" the part of Audrey 2, the blues-singing man-eating plant.

How do you think you’ve evolved creatively since you published your first book?

Before I published my first book way back in 1992, I wrote extensively for magazines and the "pet press." Nonfiction book and article writing is quite different than "fictioning" (hey, I can make up words as a writer!). It's been a challenge to find my fiction voice, and I'm now much more comfortable being myself as a writer and creator. It's liberating to know there is no single rule that applies to everyone. When I first started writing fiction, all the professionals (editors, agents, other writers) told me that I couldn't/shouldn't write in an animal viewpoint -- unless writing for kids.

As my character September would say, that's crappiocca! Now I write what I love to read -- and thankfully, many other readers agree with me.

What's an aspect of being a writer that you didn't know about going in?

I didn't know being a writer would take over my life. I've been a full-time writer since 1992, and writing is only a part of it. Promotion, planning, editing, interacting with readers, and more can become all-consuming. I've had to discipline myself to actually take time off so I can spend time with my family and pets.

A "spread" of my books at a library book signing

Which writers inspire you?

Oh my, there are too many writers to name who have inspired me over the years and continue to do so. I will forever be grateful to James Rollins, J.T. Ellison, Jon Land, D.P. Lyle and so many others who I met and connected with (long after I was a reader-fan!), and helped me along the way. I'd strongly recommend other thriller writers attend conferences like Thrillerfest for a chance to rub elbows with such writers.

Among the wealth of characters in this series, who was the most difficult to create?

The character of the little boy, Steven, was the most difficult to create in the first book. I don't have human kids, plus I needed to represent an autistic child in a respectful and yet realistic way. That was one reason that Shadow (his service dog) evolved into a viewpoint character. I didn't know how to write in autistic viewpoint, and so in Steven's scenes, the dog carried the scene.

That said, I experimented writing in kid-voice in the second book HIDE AND SEEK and discovered I loved it! So by the time Steven returned (quite changed!) in the third book, there were several younger characters that had their own scenes.

I also find the antagonist (villain) characters can be a challenge because I don't want them to be cartoons. Every villain is the hero of his/her own story.

What is your personal favorite book in this box set, and why?

Hmmnnn, that's like asking a Mom to reveal her favorite child, LOL! Each one has a special place in my heart. But I think the plot of the second book HIDE AND SEEK was the most scary-fun, and also included more cat-centric intrigue as well as the usual dog hero action.

Do you consider yourself a disciplined writer? Do you have a schedule that you stick to, or is it more in the moment?

Yes, I have to be disciplined! That said, I also have many projects and love to try new things ....SQUIRREL! oooooh SHINY!....oops, where was I? *s*

If it's not on my calendar, or on a to-do list, it won't get done. In addition to writing books, I blog at amyshojai.com several times a week, and write a weekly newspaper column, plus write the occasional article assignment for clients. Juggling projects -- well, that's part of being a writer these days.

Do you ever have that, while you are working on one book, the idea for a next one pops up in your head? How do you deal with that?

Yes, that happens. The first book LOST AND FOUND just happened, with no thought to future stories. But readers demanded to know more about September's backstory that I'd hinted at in the first book. So the second book filled in those missing pieces. And then, readers also told me they hated that the children in the first book were the target of a money making medical scheme, so the third book turned the tables and the children became the heroes.

Now I try to plan more than one book ahead at a time. But the Muse always has a way of leading me down unforeseen pathways.

What are you working on right now?

The 4th book in the series, FIGHT OR FLIGHT released this past summer, so now I'm now writing the 5th book in the series, HIT AND RUN. I'm also working with my co-author on the 5th musical theater production RADIO DAZE (yes, I'm a playwright, too!).

Where can our readers discover more of your work or interact with you?

Folks can find the latest information about me and my projects at my BLING, BITCHES & BLOOD BLOG (https://AmyShojai.com) or my website www.SHOJAI.com.

Like me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/amyshojai.cabc

Follow me on twitter @amyshojai