Today, Lori is interviewing Shelley Blanton-Stroud. They’ll be talking about historical mysteries and Shelley’s book Tomboy: A Jane Benjamin Novel. Shelley grew up in California’s Central Valley, the daughter of Dust Bowl immigrants who made good on their ambition to get out of the field. She recently retired from teaching writing at Sacramento State University and still consults with writers in the energy industry. She co-directs Stories on Stage Sacramento, where actors perform the stories of established and emerging authors, and serves on the advisory board of 916 Ink, an arts-based creative writing nonprofit for children. She has also served on the Writers’ Advisory Board for the Belize Writers’ Conference. Her writing has been a finalist in the Sarton Book Awards, IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards, Killer Nashville’s Silver Falchion Award, the American Fiction Awards, and the National Indie Excellence Awards. She lives in Sacramento with her husband and many photos of their out-of-town sons and their wonderful partners. Copy Boy is her first Jane Benjamin Novel. Tomboy, which we’ll be discussing today, is her second. The third, Working Girl, will come out in November 2023. You can find her on her website or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. In this episode Shelley Blanton-Stroud and Lori discuss: Creating a contemporary character in a historical fiction novel. How we create our identity versus how we reveal our identity. The important role that reading plays in developing your craft as a writer. Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/416