There are some similarities between Killer Instinct and the TV show Dexter – did that show inspire Lane’s character at all?
I’m a huge Dexter fan! The show definitely inspired Killer Instinct. I used to watch it and wonder, “What would Dexter have been like not only as a teen, but as a girl?” Fans of Dexter will see a few similarities between him and Lane. They are both stoic and introspective, and they both have a dark side that not only perplexes them but excites them.
Killer Instinct is your first thriller, and fairly dark compared to titles like The Summer My Life Began – did you approach your writing differently?
Yes, it was a fantastic experience. I wrote for me and me only. I didn’t censor myself. I didn’t worry about what I thought my agent wanted, or my editor, or my readers. I wrote to please myself. It was the first time I ever did that and it was liberating!
Lane gets a thrill out of exacting justice, but where do you get your thrills? Have you ever taken justice (even something tiny) into your own hands?
I get my thrills from adventure: kayaking, spelunking, sailing, zip-lining, hiking, etc… As far as exacting justice, I’ve been known to roll the house of an ex-boyfriend. I also keyed a guy’s car who cheated on my friend. Granted these were from my teen years, but I’m owning up. Current day, I hold a deep desire to dump dog poo on my neighbor’s lawn. He yelled at my dog and it pissed me off!
What is your next writing project? Will we see more serial killers?
I’m working on edits to the sequel of Killer Instinct. I also just finished writing my first New Adult. And I’m putting the finishes touches on another thriller (not serial killer, though).
S. E. Green or Shannon Greenland started out writing for adults and found her voice and home in teen fiction. Her award winning spy series, The Specialists, was an ALA top pick and a National Reader’s Choice Recipient. Her latest YA single title, The Summer My Life Began, made the Barnes & Noble suggested reading list. Shannon has her Master’s in Education, teaches college classes, and is an avid adventurer. She can be found mostly in Florida where she’s outside enjoying all the Sunshine State has to offer.
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