Shannon Bowring
Author Interview - Shannon Bowring
Author of Where the Forest Meets the River
In the summer of 1995 in the small town of Dalton, located in the northernmost county of Maine, several characters try to heal from the tragic death of a young mother that rocked the community five years prior. Told through multiple perspectives, this literary fiction novel explores themes of grief, sexuality, mental health, and love in all forms.
Author Interview - Shannon Bowring
Author I draw inspiration from:
It’s difficult to answer this question concisely, because I draw inspiration from countless authors and books, and I know I’m going to forget one (or many). While writing WHERE THE FOREST MEETS THE RIVER and its predecessor, The Road to Dalton, I was inspired by the novels and stories of Elizabeth Strout, Fredrik Backman, Chekhov, Sarah Orne Jewett, Edward P. Jones, Alice Munro, Julia Phillips, Eowyn Ivey, Jhumpa Lahiri, Edwidge Danticat, Sherwood Anderson, Daniel Woodrell, and David Guterson. Some particular favorite books: Olive Kitteridge, Beartown, Disappearing Earth, The Snow Child, and Winesburg, Ohio.
Author Interview - Shannon Bowring | Author I Draw Inspiration From
Favorite place to read a book:
On my couch, in my writing room, with my cat curled up on my lap.
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with:
The idea of being stuck in an elevator fills me with anxiety, so I’d opt for Gandalf, who could magic the doors open and get us out of there, or Bilbo Baggins, who wouldn’t feel the need to fill the time with a lot of small talk but would probably share his snacks with me if I asked politely. I guess either way, it’s someone from Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings universe.
Author Interview - Shannon Bowring | Book Character I’d Like to be Stuck in an Elevator With
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author:
I’ve wanted to be an author from the time I started reading other authors’ books—or, rather, when my parents would read them to me as a child. I was born with two serious congenital heart defects, and the first six years of my life were spent in and out of hospitals, undergoing several operations, including two open-heart surgeries. Reading (or listening to) stories was a way to escape that trauma and feel connected to the world in a way I often didn’t. As soon as I began jotting down my own stories and journal entries in kindergarten and first grade, I knew writing was more than just what I wanted to do—it was an integral part of the person I was destined to become.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook:
I love the look of a hardcover, but for practical purposes, nothing beats a paperback. I have never been and will never be an ebook person. I need to feel the book in my hands and smell the pages. I’m very selective when it comes to audiobooks—I want to be pulled in not only by the story and the writing, but also by the narrator, and it doesn’t happen often enough that I find that perfect balance.
The last book I read:
The Mercies, by Kiran Millwood Hargrave. It’s historical fiction (inspired by true events) centering around an island in Norway in the 1600s. After a storm wipes out all the men of the village, the women are left to fend for themselves and begin to thrive—until a religious man who loves to burn witches rolls onto the scene. This was a good, quick read featuring dynamic female characters (including two who fall in love).
Author Interview - Shannon Bowring | The Last Book I Read
Pen & paper or computer:
I revise often and a lot, so a computer is necessary whether I’m writing novels, short stories, or essays. However, I love to brainstorm and journal in physical notebooks. There’s nothing like seeing my own ideas scrawled out in pen with lots of scribble marks. And swear words. I’m a sweary longhand note-taker.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with:
Is it gross to say I would love to be friends with one of the characters in my own novels? Because Greg Fortin, featured in both The Road to Dalton and WHERE THE FOREST MEETS THE RIVER, is a sarcastic, intelligent, plant-loving, gardening-obsessed, delightfully bisexual character I can’t get enough of writing. He is cooler than I will ever be. Whenever he appears on the page, I feel lighter. Like I can breathe a little easier.
Author Interview - Shannon Bowring | Book Character I’d be Best Friends With
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a:
I’m lucky enough to already work the second dream-job: I catalog books for my local library. Which means I get to see every new book that comes into the library and add them to our adult, Young Adult, and juvenile collections. Talk about a career that supports a serious book habit.
Favorite decade in fashion history:
I am definitely not an expert here, but I love dresses from the 1940s and 50s.
Place I’d most like to travel:
Scotland. My husband has deep Scottish roots, and we would love to one day go see his ancestral castle (which is now a hotel) and explore the beauty of the Highlands.
My signature drink:
You will never catch me without a Yeti full of ice water. Hydration is key! I’ll also go for decaf iced coffee or lemonade. I’m not a big alcohol drinker, but if you catch me in the right mood, I’ll accept a classic gin and tonic.
Favorite artist:
Edward Hopper. The light, the landscapes, the lonely people… it’s everything.
Number one on my bucket list:
I would love to publish a collection of short stories. Actually, several collections of short stories.
Anything else you'd like to add:
Thank you for requesting this interview from Kristi at Europa. This has been a fun one to answer!
Find more from the author:
Instagram: @shannonbowring.writer
Facebook: @ShannonBowring.writer
Website: shannonlbowring.com
About Shannon Bowring:
Author Interview - Shannon Bowring
Shannon Bowring’s work has appeared in numerous journals and has been nominated for Pushcart and Best of the Net prizes. Her debut novel, The Road to Dalton, published by Europa Editions, was chosen as one of NPR’s Books We Love in 2023 and won the Maine Literary Book Award for Fiction in 2024. Shannon holds a BA in English/Creative Writing from the University of Maine and an MFA from the Stonecoast low-residency program at USM. Raised in Aroostook County, she now resides in the mid-coast region of Maine, where she works at her local library. The sequel to The Road to Dalton, WHERE THE FOREST MEETS THE RIVER, will be published by Europa Editions on September 3, 2024.
