Got Thrillers?

Wow, it’s been a hot minute since I posted! I’ve missed everyone! I’ve had so many balls in the air that one had to drop, and unfortunately, this was it. But trust me, I’ve still been getting my word count in…

I’m excited to announce that my sixth book, my first YA thriller, Would You Rather, was released last week.

This one has a special place in my heart because it’s the one that got me my 5 book deal -even though it wasn’t a part of it! After SO MANY near misses with agents, being referred from one to another interoffice to see if anyone was the perfect fit, getting plenty of dates but no proposals, so to speak, I decided to give Would You Rather one last try, submitting it directly to a publisher who had an open window.

And though, ultimately, they chose not to accept it because they’d decided to branch out into Sci-fi and Fantasy instead of YA, the editor who read it asked me if I had any adult manuscripts, which I did! And the rest, as they say, is history. (Or, more specifically, two standalone psychological thrillers and the first three in the Chief Maggie Riley series.)

Last year, I re-contracted for an additional 3 books. It felt almost bittersweet, when this one still didn’t have a home. But now it does!

About the book:

A teacher, a student, a scandal.

Thursday morning, Oliver Sager is the popular quarterback of his high school football team. Thursday night, he’s the prime suspect in the disappearance of his history teacher, Mr. Lewis. In an instant, his life is turned upside down. But trying to convince the police he’s innocent is just the beginning of his problems.

As a deadly match of cat-and-mouse plays out, the only thing that’s clear is that everyone has something to hide, and before the game is over, more victims will be claimed. Three people know the truth about what happened between Oliver and Mr. Lewis—and one of them will pay.

An explosive thriller that packs a punch, with an ending that will leave you reeling.

You can check it out here:

Would You Rather

Also, I remain committed to keeping all of my books available on Kindle Unlimited!

The Girl Who Lied: Chief Maggie Riley book 1

Their Angel’s Cry: Chief Maggie Riley book 2

The Shadow Girl: Chief Maggie Riley book 3

The Slumber Party

Best Friends Forever

If you want to know when my publisher runs a price drop, please follow me on BookBub.

Do you like thrillers, YA or otherwise? What are your favorites, and who are they by?

I love Frieda McFadden, Alice Feeney, and Riley Sager, to name just a few!

January 18, 2024 0

Cover Reveal ~ Best Friends Forever by Shannon Hollinger

I’m thrilled to share the cover for my first release with publisher Bookouture, the psychological thriller Best Friends Forever! And don’t let the title fool you – my name for this book was Unspeakable. So be warned…. this is #NotYourAverageBFF!

Best Friends Forever will be released on January 12th, 2023. The Kindle version is available now for preorder!

Click the link below to:

Preorder Now!

The story is set in the fictional town of Wakefield, Florida, parts of which coincidentally mirror the dunes we weren’t supposed to visit back when I was in high school. Hmm… must have used my imagination to create the setting then!

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the cover, and if you’re compelled to read it, the book! You can tag me on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram @thiswritersays and/or use the hashtag #NotYourAverageBFF!

Here’s the blurb from the publisher:

I emerge from the trees, drenched in sweat, my voice lost as I take in the scene in front of me. The blood. The body. Emma’s eyes meet mine for a second. “It was an accident,” she whispers.

Emma and I were childhood best friends. We did everything together. Until that terrible night in the woods.

I couldn’t tell anyone what I’d seen. We never discussed it, but our bond was too strong; I could never betray my best friend. Even if she had killed someone.

But I also couldn’t stay in town and watch her live a normal life, knowing what she’d done. So I left.

Now, ten years later, I’m back. The guilt and the fear have stayed with me. And I have realized I need to reveal the truth if I’m ever going to move on.

But I never get the chance. Because the day I turn up, Emma is found dead, and the way she died means I start to doubt everything I thought I knew about that night all those years ago.

As my grief turns to anger at all those lost years of friendship, I realize with horror that Emma might not have been the only killer. Someone else is out there. Someone who was close to us both, someone who knew the smallest details of what had happened back then. Who from our small town could have murdered not once, but twice? And who’s next…?

An utterly gripping and compelling psychological thriller with twists and turns to die for. If you love Karin Slaughter, Paula Hawkins and Freida McFadden, you’ll love Best Friends Forever.

November 5, 2022 5

How I Spent My Summer (I Have A Book Deal!!!!)

When I started this blog back in 2012, it was because I wanted to write. And though it’s been a while since I’ve written a post (March of this year – time flies!) I have been writing. A lot. And I’ll be writing a lot more. And editing. A lot. And smiling . . . also a lot.

Because while success doesn’t happen overnight, hard work does pay off.

Earlier this year, I signed a five-book deal with UK publisher Bookouture. That’s right – the same publisher who gave us Angela Marson’s wonderfully dark and gritty DI Kim Stone series. And Lisa Regan’s hauntingly disturbing Detective Josie Quinn series. And now . . . my Chief Maggie Riley series. That’s right!

But that’s not all!

Because I also have two standalone psychological thrillers coming out – the first one as early as January 2023! I should hear the final titles any day now, and also . . . covers!!!!

Which I will definitely make sure to share here, and in less time than it took me to get around to sharing this fantastic news, I promise! (In all fairness, I just came up for air for the first time in months! Seriously – family members are starting to forget what I look like!)

I can’t wait to share more details with you about this amazing journey as it gets further underway!

But in the meantime, I have. So. Much. Work. to. Do!!!!!!