Thursday 1 October 2015

Judy Penz Sheluk.

Today I'd like to welcome Judy Penz Sheluk, author of “The Hanged Man’s Noose.” to The Thursday Interview. Before we get started, a quick intro!  


Judy lives in a small town northwest of Toronto, Ontario. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Crime Writers of Canada, International Thriller Writers and the Short Fiction Mystery Society. In her less mysterious pursuits, Judy works as a freelance writer/editor. She is currently Editor of Home BUILDER Magazine and Senior Editor, New England Antiques Journal. Her articles have appeared regularly in dozens of U.S. and Canadian consumer and trade publications. Past editorial responsibilities have included the roles of Senior Editor, Northeast Art & Antiques, and Editor, Antiques and Collectibles Showcase. Judy’s debut mystery novel, The Hanged Man’s Noose, was published in July 2015 by Barking Rain Press.




OK - HERE WE GO !!  



No.1  Would you break the law to save a loved one? .. why?
I’m a very law-abiding person. My friend, Nina, calls me a “rules follower” and it’s an apt description. That said, my mother had a saying I’ve come to live by: “Never throw never far away because you’ll come back to pick up never one day.”

No.2  What is the difference between being alive and truly living?
For me, it’s about having the courage to follow your dreams, whatever those might be. It’s about putting the safety net of your comfortable life aside and going for it. After all, your dreams can’t go far without you.

No.3  What motivates you to write?
I can’t imagine not writing. Writing isn’t what I do, it’s part of who I am. That doesn’t mean it comes easy. I’ve had plenty of “staring at a blank page” hours in my life. I just refuse to let those moments take over.

No.4  Why do humans want children?
I don’t think you can make a blanket statement on why humans want children; there are as many reasons as there are different types of parents and parenting styles.

No.5  What was the biggest challenge in creating your book “The Hanged Man’s Noose.”?
Getting through the middle. The beginning is exciting. The end is exciting. The middle is where all the hard work comes in, when you’re not sure if you’ve got a book in you, or are merely delusional.

No.6  What is the most important thing you have learned in life so far?
You have to believe in yourself. It doesn’t matter how strong—or weak—your support system is. If you don’t believe in yourself, and your ability to “get it done” (whether it’s writing a book or deciding to train for a marathon or whatever else you want to do), you don’t stand a chance.

No.7  How did you come up with the title "The Hanged Man’s Noose?”
The Hanged Man’s Noose is the name of a pub in the fictional town of Lount’s Landing. The town was named after Samuel Lount, a real life colorful Canadian politician who was hanged for treason in Toronto, Canada, in the nineteenth century. History has since restored his reputation. The owner of the pub is a history nut!

No.8  How do you handle personal criticism?
It depends on how it is being delivered and who is doing the delivering. If it is constructive, and it’s delivered with kindness, or at least the intention of helping me, I can accept it. If it’s just plain mean-spirited, I consider the source, and try not to say nasty things I can never take back!

No.9  Why should people read your book?
It’s a fast-paced read with a clever plot. I like to call it an amateur sleuth with an edge. By that I mean, yes, the protagonist is a freelance writer on assignment, and her sidekick owns an antique shop. And yes, it’s set in a small town. But, it’s edgier than a traditional cozy; there are no cats, crafts, or cookie recipes.

No.10  Why is there something rather than nothing?
Nothing would mean we were non-existent. In our darkest moments we might feel like nothing, but we are always something. We just have to remind ourselves of that every now and again.



Thank you Judy :)
For taking the time to answer my questions 
& the best of luck with your new book! 

Check out 'The Hanged Man’s Noose?' on



Journalist Emily Garland lands a plum assignment as the editor of a niche magazine based in Lount’s Landing, a small town named after a colorful nineteenth century Canadian traitor. As she interviews the local business owners for the magazine, Emily quickly learns that many people are unhappy with real estate mogul Garrett Stonehaven’s plans to convert an old schoolhouse into a mega-box store. At the top of that list is Arabella Carpenter, the outspoken owner of an antiques shop, who will do just about anything to preserve the integrity of the town’s historic Main Street.

But Arabella is not alone in her opposition. Before long, a vocal dissenter at a town hall meeting about the proposed project dies. A few days later, another body is discovered, and although both deaths are ruled accidental, Emily’s journalistic suspicions are aroused.

Putting her reporting skills to the ultimate test, Emily teams up with Arabella to discover the truth behind Stonehaven’s latest scheme before the murderer strikes again.

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3 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for hosting me today. I really had to think about some of those questions!

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  2. Great interview. I see this was a while ago. I'm glad I got to read it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

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