Featured Interview With Shannon Cutts
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I am a Texan born and raised. After moving away and traveling the world for several years, I have returned to my roots and now live in Houston with my three pets, Pearl, Malti and Bruce.
Pearl is a 21-year-old cockatiel. Malti is a five and a half year-old redfooted tortoise. Bruce is a rescued adult Texas 3-toed box turtle.
Aside from my full-time work as a freelance writer, my creative blogging and book writing projects focus on our little flock’s adventures.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Oh my gosh – I was that kid who snoozed all day because she was awake all night with a book and a flashlight! And I wasn’t under the covers, either – my mom fostered a lifelong love of reading and I didn’t even try to hide it. I was reading like a pro before I even entered kindergarten.
As far as any kind of formal pursuit of writing, however, I actually started as a songwriter! I wrote and recorded songs and performed for several years before I made the unexpected transition into freelance writing (you can still hear my songs on Facebook and YouTube, as well as on Apple Music, Amazon, et al).
My first book was published by Health Communications, Inc., in 2009.
I published my second book, “Love & Feathers,” with BookLocker in 2015.
My third book, “Waffles & More: A Love & Feathers Recipe Book,” was published with BookLocker in 2018.
I am currently working on my fourth book, tentatively titled “Love & Feathers & Shells,” which I will hopefully complete and release this year.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Oh this is a tough one! My reading list is a mile long and the stack beside my bed has left a dent in my floor (j/k but it seriously could one day).
My favorite genre is pets and animals – I love everything about nature and the natural world, from snails and honeybees to dogs and dinosaurs.
I mostly read non-fiction (although I will readily make an exception for the latest John Grisham thriller and right now I am reading Elizabeth Gilbert’s “City of Girls” and loving it).
I actually keep an updated reading list and your readers can find some really amazing books there: https://shannoncutts.com/reading/shannons-reading-list/
Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is actually a book duo: “Love & Feathers: what a palm-sized parrot has taught me about life, love, and healthy self-esteem” and “Waffles & More: A Love & Feathers Recipe Book.”
Both books came about as a result of a blog I launched several years back called “Love & Feathers & Shells.” The blog chronicles the daily adventures of my little flock, Pearl, Malti & Bruce. At first the blog was about Pearl and me, but then when Malti and Bruce came along, it naturally expanded.
“Love & Feathers” the book came about during a vacation I took to Cape Cod one year with my folks. I was missing Pearl so much I started writing down memories as little stories. My folks loved the stories and I realized I had so many of them that before I knew it the book was taking shape.
My mom is an amazing chef and Pearl loves to be in the kitchen with her. He is often the first to sample new dishes. I don’t have a shred of her cooking DNA anywhere inside me but I’m always there taking photos and videos of the two of them, which is how “Waffles & More” started. Followers would look at the photos and ask for the recipes so Mom and I worked hard for more than two years to get them all compiled into a book complete with photos of Pearl sampling each delicacy.
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