Blog - Shelley Blanton-Stroud

BlogShelley Admin2021-05-25T17:18:59+00:00

Constant vibration of violence and precariousness

Shelley Admin2025-03-04T17:44:06+00:00#amwriting, Akashic Books, Book Event, Book launch, CapLit, Craft, Fact and fiction, feminist noir, Sacramento Noir|

"The best crime stories, the most relatable—and this applies for noir, too—involve people driven to do things because of understandable [...]

Sacramento Noir at CapLit

Shelley Admin2025-02-25T21:26:31+00:00#amwriting, Akashic Books, AUTHOR, book club, Book Event, CapLit, Sacramento Noir|

So excited to have my story, "Take as Needed," in Sacramento Noir, the latest offering from Akashic Books’ popular Noir [...]

Shelley Admin2025-02-10T17:06:46+00:00#amwriting, An Unlikely Prospect, AUTHOR, Book Event, parents|

What does it mean to write (or paint or sing or crochet) in times of profound change? Join me and [...]

Carnival of cruelty: a tale of two riots

Shelley Admin2025-01-27T15:51:53+00:002025, An Unlikely Prospect, Bouchercon 2024, Carmen Amato, character development, Distribution, eneagram, historical fiction, History, peace riot, politics, propaganda, She Writes Press, Simon & Schuster, women in history, world war ii|

What happens when the powerful don't just look away from violence but actively cheer it on? I've been thinking about [...]

How to Make an Audiobook, by April Doty

Shelley Admin2025-01-22T16:45:50+00:00#amwriting, advice, audiobook, AUTHOR, Craft, Distribution, Paths to publication|

Today I'm sharing How To Make an Audiobook, a very helpful short piece from my amazing audiobook narrator/producer, April Doty, [...]

Will the Circle Be Unbroken

Shelley Admin2025-01-08T17:51:52+00:00Dust Bowl, Fact and fiction, FAMILY, historical fiction, History|

My father, Kelly Blanton, aka Poppy (art above done by McKenna Blanton), died one week before Christmas. We buried and [...]

Environmental crises and stories

Shelley Admin2025-01-08T17:34:12+00:00Effie Yeaw Nature Center, environmental|

Last weekend I visited the Under The Oak Tree Book Club at Effie Yeaw Nature Center for a lovely Sunday [...]

Sacramento Noir, Pre-Order Now!

Shelley Admin2024-11-21T20:59:10+00:00Uncategorized|

I'm so pleased to have a dark little Sacramento Story in the pages of this brilliant SACRAMENTO NOIR, by Akashic [...]

A Pre-Launch Convo with Ashley E. Sweeney

Shelley Admin2024-11-12T22:12:24+00:00AUTHOR, Book Event, Book launch|

I and my stalwart writing group would love it if you join us for a Pre-Launch Conversation to celebrate Ashley [...]

Chop Wood, Carry Water

Shelley Admin2024-11-12T21:58:54+00:00#amwriting, advice, AUTHOR, Book Event, creativity, eneagram|

I have been down this week, so I’m trying to do positive things, in the present, worrying less about the [...]

It helps to write (with others)

Shelley Admin2024-11-08T14:46:03+00:00#amwriting, AUTHOR, nanowrimo|

A Seat at the Table Books is hosting Finish Your Damn Novel Writing Sprints every Sunday in November. I'll join [...]

Democracy Dies in Darkness: A Tale of Two Publishers

Shelley Admin2024-10-26T23:40:46+00:00Democracy Dies in Darkness, Jeff Bezos, Washington Post|

I was first inspired to write my book An Unlikely Prospect (She Writes Press, August 2025) by a photograph of [...]