Last fall, while cruising the Caribbean with friends I got the idea for a sequel to I’ll Be Home for Christmas. At the time I was participating in my first NaNoWriMo, working on a separate (still unfinished) novel called Fried Pickles. As a result, I was only able to scribble down my ideas for the sequel before returning to my other project. Fast forward to a few months ago when I stumbled across my notes again and decided to pick it up and run. Originally intended to be a short story, it grew into more of a novella at just under 25,000 words.

If you loved the antics of Bailey’s enormous family and her complicated relationship with childhood friend Memphis, you’ll love this sequel, A Complicated Christmas. I plan to make it available as an eBook around Dec. 1st (it might take a little longer depending on their review process) but in the meantime, here’s a little excerpt for you to enjoy: Continue reading “Ladies and gentlemen, we have a sequel!” »

If you’ve spent any time over at Duolit, a resource of self-published authors founded by my friend Toni and I, you know that marketing a self-pubbed book ain’t easy. Even when you know what steps to take, finding the time it takes to execute each part of the process can seem darn near impossible—especially around the holidays.

So far, with each Christmas season (prime territory for my holiday-themed novel) I’ve taken one step in the right direction. Last year I was all about creating the eBook. This year, I’m all about the reviews. Through Twitter, Facebook and tips from other author friends, I’ve been recruiting reviewers online. My first review came in over the Thanksgiving holiday and (to my great joy) it was a glowing proclamation (perhaps unearned) of my debut work.

Not gonna lie, I definitely read it out loud to all of my family members around the dinner table. I think they were impressed, but it was hard to tell if it was with my review or the array of delicious Thanksgiving foods they were inhaling.

At any rate, here’s a quick excerpt from the review:

What is immediately obvious a few pages into this novel is that author Shannon O’Neil has quite a way with words. ”My grandfather would sooner have seen his youngest son in full drag carrying a Jimmy Carter campaign sign than…” The whole story is punctuated with snappy little punchlines that make you laugh out loud and cause those sitting around you to eye you with suspicion and move away. Definitely better to read this when you are alone or out of earshot.

Comedy is tricky and weaving comedy into a serious story that has a great message is not a challenge for the feint hearted writer. So I think O’Neil has done exceptionally well in maintaining the comedic flow of the book whilst delivering a credible and compelling piece of dysfunctional domestic drama for us to enjoy.

«Click here to read the full review»

Thanks so much to Dale Cusack, author of the Grace trilogy of books (great for tweens!).

What’s that on the horizon? Looks like a cruise ship…

In addition to begging for reviews of my book, I’ve also been working on a sort-of sequel to I’ll Be Home for Peacemas. It started as a short story about Bailey taking a little Christmas cruise with her pal Memphis, but it has turned into something closer to a novella. I hope to have it ready for eBook download by December 1st! Check back for details.

Later days,

- Shannon

As we prepare to gather at the table for Thanksgiving this week, our round-the-globe Peacemas journey continues with a stop down under in the outback of Australia. While we will indulge in delicious Thanksgiving favorites, Bailey’s family in I’ll Be Home for Peacemas indulges in delicacies far less appetizing during her visit to her dad’s house in Chapter 10 of the book.

Peacemas Excerpt of the Week

Slowly, I scooped a sampling of the green goop onto my plate. Surprisingly enough, the blind orphans of Malaysia were not sticklers for detail when it came to their pottery pieces. As everyone else helped themselves to dinner, I watched my own meal sluggishly slide across the sloped surface of the plate.

Eventually, I felt everyone’s eyes encouraging me to take a bite. With tremendous hesitation, I dipped the tines of my fork into the substance and brought it to my lips. The smell made my eyes water. I touched the tip of the fork to my tongue, thinking to myself that I would rather have licked Fred’s face than tasted that stuff. To my horror, it tasted almost exactly like it smelled. Continue reading “‘Tis the Season to be nauseous” »