Lynn Slaughter

I admit it. All my ideas seem to arrive in novel length. I’m in awe of short story writers, and Shannon Taft is one of the masters of the genre. Below are her responses to my interview questions, followed by her bio and buy links:

First off, congratulations on the publication this month of your murder mystery detective story, “Beware the Bunnyman,” in Black Cat Weekly. Can you share with our readers a bit about the story and what inspired it?

The Bunnyman of Fairfax County, Virginia, is a decades-old urban legend grounded in actual police reports. Over the course of many years, crimes were reported in which one or more witnesses said the offender was dressed as bunny and carried a hatchet or axe. Some people might see that tale as inspiration for a horror story, but my mind tends towards mysteries. I had to wonder, what in the world makes a person dress like a giant, axe-wielding rabbit? One possible answer to that question became my short mystery story, “Beware the Bunnyman.” It will be in Issue 161 available on September 29th.

Congratulations as well for the selection of your story, “Monster,” in Best American Mystery and Suspense 2024. What a terrific accomplishment! Can you also share with our readers a bit about “Monster”?

Thanks, I’m particularly proud of that story, because getting into BAMS was one of my career bucket list items. “Monster” began for me with the random thought that most murder mysteries have a corpse who was widely hated in life. With so many people who wanted the victim dead, the challenge for the detective (and the reader) is to discern which character gave in to temptation and did the deed. I wanted to see what it would look like if I turned that on its head and presented a murder victim who was widely loved and did not appear to have a single enemy.           

When I looked through your website, I was blown away by your being a Derringer-Award Finalist and the number of mystery stories you’ve published. What drew you to writing short fiction, which is such an art form in and of itself?

Writing short stories began as a craft-building exercise for me to learn to draft novel manuscripts more tightly. However, I soon found that I enjoyed the ability to finish writing a tale in a fraction of the time. When editors showed more interest in my short stories than in my attempts at a novel, I decided I’d found my niche.

Are there writers and stories that have especially inspired you?

Loads, but one in author in particular comes to mind. The editor on both “Beware the Bunnyman” and “Monster” was the incomparable Barb Goffman. She’s won a ton of awards for her own writing, so when I got started with short stories, I read her tale, “Dear Emily Etiquette,” which she wrote in the epistolary style (a series of letters). The next story I read from her had a very different approach and type of protagonist, and it made me realize that one benefit of short stories is how much we can experiment because it’s a smaller investment for both the author and the publisher. So, take a risk and stretch your boundaries!

I know that you are also an attorney. Were you always interested in writing fiction as well?

When I was in high school, I decided I’d be one of three things when I grew up: a fiction author, a college professor, or a lawyer. Years later, I got my law degree, passed the bar, and started a career in employment law. But I never gave up the idea of writing fiction. (I have also taught one semester of college, so technically, I’ve done all three things I dreamed of doing.)

A related question: How do you balance writing with your day job?

In books, the attorneys are often working outrageous hours to free an innocent person or convict a guilty one. In reality, an attorney’s work schedule will depend on what law firm (or government employer) they work for and what kind of law they practice. Some lawyers move on to jobs that use their legal education and experience without the position officially requiring a law degree; I’m in a job like that now, even though I’m still a licensed attorney. I spend most of my day reading decisions about employment-related appeals—which is fun, I swear—and my weekends and evenings are my own.

Every writer I’ve ever talked to has developed a writing process that works for them. What is your writing process like, and what seems to spark your initial story ideas?

I tend to start by writing myself into a corner. I’ll think up an exciting first line that grabs the eye, and then I must figure out what would cause someone to say that line. I find that this approach works well for short fiction because it means the story opens with tension and a window into the main character’s crisis.

What’s next for you writing-wise?

I’m planning to write another twenty or thirty short stories, then publish some of them in a collection. After that, perhaps I’ll try to write a screenplay. (I’ve drafted a full-length novel that I love but haven’t been able to get quite right, and I think it may work better as a limited series on a streaming platform.)

Do you have any advice for aspiring professional mystery writers?

Read as much as you can and study what why you love particular stories. Write, even if your works aren’t perfect at first, because that’s how you’ll get better at it. And join a critique group of fellow authors. You may think the benefit of that last recommendation is the advice you’ll get on your stories, but I learn as much—if not more—about good storytelling by critically analyzing the works of my peers.

Anything else you’d like to add, or wish I’d asked that I didn’t?

Nope. I think this was pretty thorough. (No wonder you run a blog. You’ve got a talent for asking questions.)

About the Author:

Shannon Taft is an attorney from Washington, DC, with more than a dozen published short stories, including a Derringer Award finalist and a story appearing in Best American Mystery and Suspense 2024. Her works have been selected for multiple anthologies as well as several magazines, such as Black Cat Weekly and On Spec. Learn more at www.shannontaft.com.

Buy Links:
Black Cat Weekly:  https://blackcatweekly.com/ 

BAMS purchase link: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-best-american-mystery-and-suspense-2024-sa-cosbysteph-cha