Interview with Shanna Hatfield 2025

When did you feel called to become an author?

I’ve always wanted to be an author. That stemmed from the love of books my mom instilled in me from an early age. I didn’t sit down and attempt to write a novel, though, until fifteen years ago. I’d read a book that really was awful. I mentioned to my husband that I thought I could do better. “So do it,” he said, tossing down the gauntlet of challenge. It took me a month to gather my thoughts and courage, but once I started, the words poured out of me and the next thing I knew, I’d written a book. Then another, and another, and another. I wake up every day so incredibly grateful for the gift of writing and feeling so blessed to be able to do something I love so much.

What did you learn while writing this book?

The Bridge is a little different from the small-town historical and contemporary romances I typically write. There’s definitely romance in the story, but there’s also suspense, mystery, intrigue, and drama. In addition to learning about the St. Johns Bridge in Portland and the neighborhood around it where much of the story takes place, I stepped into a deeper knowledge of hope, and how we can all be part of the hope that lightens the darkness while lifting up others.

What is the toughest part of writing in your genre?

I think the toughest part about this story was trying to weave all of the character storylines together and wrap them up with a heartwarming holiday bow.

If someone were to look at your Google search history (all for research of course!), what types of things would we find?

What a fun question! I actually enjoy doing the research for my books. For The Bridge, I did a lot of research into negotiating skills and even took a Master Class offered by a former FBI negotiator. They would also find several links to the St. Johns Bridge and retailers in the area as well as maps of Portland and the neighborhood. I researched movie theaters and restaurants, hospitals, and homes for sale in the area. I also researched nurses, early labor, tow truck businesses, mechanical engineers, and personality disorders. Oh, and recipes. I always include mentions of food and a recipe at the end of my stories.

If you could have coffee with an author, dead or alive, whose work you admire, who would that be? What would you ask him or her?

Gene Stratton-Porter. She wrote with such incredible detail and fascinating descriptions, I felt like I was write there in the midst of her stories, with all my senses alive and engaged. I would ask her how she wrote such descriptive settings that were exciting, lovely, and felt so real they became one of the characters in her stories.

What’s your go-to drink while writing?

Water. I try and drink eight glasses a day. A treat would be a cup of Bigelow Vanilla Chai tea, Hamley & Sons Paris tea, or hot chocolate with marshmallows.

If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Believe in yourself and never falter. You are capable of so much more than you know, so don’t listen to the naysayers, and don’t let the Negative Nellie’s get to you. Just believe with all your heart that God’s plans are bigger and better than anything you could possibly imagine.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not writing?

I love to bake. I sometimes experiment and make up my own recipes. I also love drooling over recipes on Pinterest. In the warm months, I enjoy gardening and tending to my flowers. My husband and I also enjoy traveling, visiting museums, and browsing through antique shops to see if I can find any beautiful dishes to add to my ever-expanding collection.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

I am looking forward to diving into Christmas books. Among those on my list to read this season are:

A Ferry Merry Christmas by Debbie Macomber

The Christmas Cowboy by Melinda Curtis

Christmas Encore by Tess Thompson

A Christmas to Belong by Susan Hatler

On a Midnight Clear by Tracie Peterson, Karen Witemeyer, and Misty M. Beller


What can we look forward to next?

I have a new four-book multi-generational series coming out this holiday season called Silver Bell Sweethearts. These stories are so sweet and heartwarming, full of hope and joy and love. A Joyful Ring is the first book in the series. I hope readers will check out this series that follows the Birke family who are talented silversmiths.