Red Tulip – Romance Lives Forever

Interview
with Shamus McTavis

Tell us about
yourself, please.

Let’s see. I’m the only son of Brian and Leslie McTavis.
Sadly, when I was young both my parents died when their yacht floundered off
the coast of Indonesia. That left me in charge of the McTavis Foundation and
made me a rather wealthy man. My beautiful grandmother had a passion for
flowers and the McTavis Conservancy is still attached to the mansion and is
thriving. I can sense my grandparent’s and parent’s spirits there when I wander
about the conservancy.

Authors call what you
want but cannot have “the conflict” — what is yours?

I would say, what I thought “the conflict” was was love.
Everyone I loved died and there was a time, in those over dramatic teenage
years, when I thought I was cursed. I didn’t want to get near anyone because I
couldn’t stand the pain of having them die. As I matured, I resolved that issue,
but then found the problem of being wealthy was people pretended to be your
friend or love you. They wanted to be close to the money not me.

I didn’t date much and led the life of almost a recluse
until that day when I was walking Reginald in the park and spotted Darcy.

What inner doubt
causes you the most difficulty?

Am I worth it? I didn’t earn my millions; I inherited them.
Every day I wonder if I am worthy of the position as Chairman and do I deserve
this entitled lifestyle.

Tell us about your
significant other, that person who makes living worthwhile.

Darcy O’Calahan. A beauty as rare as some of the flowers in
the conservancy. She grew up in a small mid-western town, where she worked her
way through high school and college doing the flower beds for her neighbours
and the local municipal office. She once told me this hilarious story – which
didn’t make it into the book – about the summer she was covered with a poison
ivy rash. Makes me itchy just thinking about it.

Let’s be honest, I’m rich and that makes me a target for
single women. But Darcy didn’t chase me down. I spotted her. Actually, I let
Reginald off his leash and he smashed into her knocking her down.

What is your family
like?

I have no family. I am an only child and my parents died in
a yachting accident and my grandparents have long passed on. It’s just me. I’ve
been alone since my parent’s death. Darcy is the first person I have let into
my world and my life.

Why are you happy with
the way your story ended?

Happy is not even close to how I feel. I found love. True
love. Darcy may be awed by my wealth, which is completely understandable. She’s
working at a low paying job and came from a middle class background. I grew up
in wealth and privilege and live in a mansion that could house a small city’s
population, but that has nothing to do with her love for me. If I was
struggling as hard as Darcy was, she would still love me.

About the Writer

Hi, I’m Victoria Adams. I live in
Ontario, Canada with my husband and pets. Daughter’s grown up and is now teaching. I like to
garden, cook and study Raqs Sharqi (Egyptian belly dance). In the
summer, cars slow down when they pass my front yard and the passengers gaze at
my flower beds. Friends love to be invited over for supper as the meal is going
to be good, good for you and nowhere near low-calorie! No dieting allowed at
dinner parties. As to belly dancing, find a class and try it. It’s a blast! Age
and weight don’t matter. There are many plus size ladies and one 74 yr old
grandmother in one of my classes.

I’ve been writing since I was
little. Being an only child, long car rides were filled with making up stories
in my head about the people I saw out the car window. When my daughter
was younger, I made up stories that she suggested. I’d say – Once upon a time
there was a…. She’d shout an answer – chicken! And the story went from there.
Great creativity exercise as it turns out. Now, my writing style has taken a split to
contemporary romance for adults and contemporary romance for new adults.

What was your biggest
challenge in writing this book?

The chapter ending hooks.
This was not a conventionally written book. It’s a compilation of flash
fiction episodes that were woven together to make a book. Each episode needed a
chapter ending hook to catch the reader and make them “turn the page”.

Why did you choose
this character for the interview today?

The entire story, Red Tulip, is written from Darcy’s point
of view. I thought it only fair that Shamus be allowed a moment to express
himself.

Are any sequels
planned for this book?

Red Tulip is the first book in a planned series called
Romantic Flashes. I belong to a flash fiction group and Red Tulip is the result
of weekly episodes written based on prompts and the whole thing tied into a
story. I have another story written, waiting to be edited, plus I’m working on
a seasonal collection of stories.

What genre would you
like to write that you haven’t tried yet?

Mystery! Didn’t even have to think about that answer. I
adore old English mysteries – Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers. I have no idea how to write one without all
the clues being obvious.

Why should readers
who haven’t picked up one of your books before give this one a try?

Red Tulip is short and very unique. It was written in the
style that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle presented his first book – The Hound of the
Baskervilles. Doyle wrote weekly
episodes of the story that were published in a magazine. Being the 21st
century, Red Tulip appeared weekly on my blog. It was a challenge to write
having to incorporate the weekly prompts into the story. For instance, when
December rolled around, of course all the prompts were Christmas oriented. Red
Tulip takes place in late spring. A challenge which I accepted and wrote it
into the story.

Is there anything
you’d like to say to your readers?

I love hearing from people who read my books. I don’t mean
reviews. I love getting FB messages or tweets. I will respond.