INTERVIEW WITH SHAEN LAYLE

I’m a USA Today Bestselling author who writes inspirational cozy mystery from my home in the Midwest, where I live with my artist husband, Danny, our two boys whom we homeschool, and our shelter pup, Violet. Trained as a literary novelist and with a decade of librarianship under my belt, I love discussing all things bookish with my readers on my website and on social media.

INTERVIEW

Shaen, tell us about your recent releases.

Sure, I’d love to! A few years ago, I got the rights back to two of my suspense novellas that had previously been published in anthologies alongside some other Christian Fiction authors. This year, I updated the books, gave them fresh covers, and released them under my husband’s publishing company, Champ Publishing. Here’s what they’re about:

Death in Earthen Vessels

Retired police officer, John Hollingsworth, came to Mirror Basin to recover from a stroke, not to dig up buried secrets. But when a chance discovery pulls him into a decades-old cold case, recovery takes a backseat. Because in Mirror Basin, blood isn’t just thicker than water—it might be the only thing keeping him alive.

Ghost of Christmas Past

On a snowy Christmas Eve, Lila Warden's world shatters. Her son is missing, and all signs point to kidnapping by her dangerous ex-husband. Forced into a chilling scavenger hunt through the ghosts of her past, Lila must outwit a man who knows her every weakness before he disappears with their son forever. As time winds down, Lila will have to face not only the darkness of her past but the strength she never knew she had.

What was your inspiration for these books?

Death in Earthen Vessels was my first attempt at writing suspense. The story started in my mind with an image of a man. He was fishing by a lake, but he had difficulty holding onto his fishing pole because his hands shook. I had no idea who this man was or what struggles he faced, but I knew he had a story to tell. I wrote Death in Earthen Vessels to get to know retired police officer, John Hollingsworth, better. This novella also marked the first time I’d written a full story from the point-of-view of a male protagonist. If you’re going to venture out of your comfort zone, why not go for it, right?

Ghost of Christmas Past was inspired by my love of one of the greatest fictional Christmas stories ever—Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol. I began thinking about the idea of how someone’s past could “haunt” them and what that might look like in a modern context. Lila Warden, her vengeful ex-husband, Mark, and their deaf twelve-year-old son, Jake, began to take shape. I love this story because it has a strong faith thread which shows how Christ can redeem all our missteps and mistakes.

Tell us a little more about your writing process. Do your stories start with plot or character?

Most of the time, my stories start with character. Even if I have an amazing plot to work with, I have trouble getting interested in the story if I don’t know the characters first. I’ve always been interested in psychology and what makes people tick. Figuring out all the complexities of a character—their backstory, the lie they believe, their dreams for the future—also helps me understand people in the real world better. For me, story is all about connection, and focusing on character helps me achieve that with readers.

How is writing suspense different than writing cozy mystery? Is there one you enjoy more?

Cozy mystery is more in my comfort zone, but suspense has its own benefits. You can go a bit darker and deeper with both atmosphere and theme, and that can be so interesting to play with. It’s also fun to write intense scenes with lots of action! I think cozy mysteries feel more natural to write, but I wouldn’t say no to writing another suspense novella or novel at some point!

What has been your favorite part of your publishing journey?

My favorite part of the publishing journey has been meeting so many people who love the written word like I do! The people in the writer/reader community are seriously the best. You know you’ve found your tribe when everyone around you understands the need to read “just one more page”!

What are you working on now?

I’m getting ready to do final edits on my newest cozy mystery, A Gift in Time, which is slated to release in spring of 2026. This cozy is book one in an exciting new Guideposts’ series, The Gift Shop Mysteries! The series follows gift shop owner, Sarah Morgan, as she navigates life in her hometown of Port Huron, Michigan and solves mysteries alongside her family and friends. My story has a nod to inventor Thomas Edison, who spent his boyhood and early teenage years in Port Huron.

I’m also working on a proposal for a women’s fiction novel, which features a multi-generational storyline and a butterfly farm.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I’d like to say a huge thank you to the Suspense Sisters for hosting me and my readers for continuing to seek out my stories. I appreciate you!

Where can your readers learn more about you?

Readers can find me at the following locations:

Website 
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Facebook 
Twitter 
Instagram 
Pinterest 
Goodreads 

Buy Death in Earthen Vessels Here

Buy Ghost of Christmas Past Here

Shaen is giving away copies of both of these great novellas. Leave a comment, along with your email address, for your chance to win!