Shawn Lawlor is not an award-winning author (yet) but has been writing his entire life. He's previously written screenplays, none of which were produced or filmed, but wow, they were funny and certainly enjoyable to write. Boom Road is his first novel. He's originally from Miramichi, New Brunswick, closer to Sunny Corner. It's more like Red Bank, Cassilis, if we're being honest. He lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with his wonderful, incredible family.
TSR: Tell us about your background, education, employment, etc.
I’m the youngest of five children, born and raised in Cassilis, New Brunswick. My Mom was from Renous and my Dad was born a three-minute walk from where I spent most of my time, next to the Miramichi River.
I went to North & South Esk Regional High School in Sunny Corner and then on to St. Thomas University in Fredericton where I received my Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Anthropology and History. I thought my future was to travel and dig up dinosaur bones. For the last 20 years, with the exception of teaching English in Japan for a spell, I’ve worked for provincial and federal governments.
TSR: Tell us about some of the books or authors or other people (such as teachers) that influenced you to become a writer.
That’s a hefty question. As far as writing goes, Dennis Lehane, Mordecai Richler, Robert Harris, Larry McMurtry, Margaret Atwood and Stephen King have all been influences. More recently Iain Reid, a great Canadian author, has been prominent. Until this venture, I previously only attempted screenplays, so in many respects television and movies had more influence on my writing. That may be prominent in Boom Road, given the volume of dialogue. Specifically, comedies like Seinfeld, Night Court, The Simpsons, Newhart. If it was comedy, I was watching it. I also read thousands of comic books growing up, many of them hand-me-downs from my three brothers and my sister.
There are probably too many people to list in terms of who influenced my writing or any endeavour I’ve taken into the creative world but here’s a brief roll call: my mother taught me to read, so I feel I owe her the most in terms of a love affair with reading and writing. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention some very influential teachers – Peter McKibbon, Kevin Silliker, Elsie Enright, Andrew Clark. My aunt Mary Ann was a teacher and provided tutoring and guidance in school. I can’t forget the incredible quick wit of family and friends. Sometimes, comedy is genetic. I have a pretty hilarious family and a group of friends as well, where some are outright actors and standup comics; others are naturally funny.
TSR: Do you have a favourite book, one that you like to revisit from time to time?
I’m not sure if I have a favourite book. There are too many to choose from. I can tell you the only book I’ve ever read twice is Mordecai Richler’s “Barney’s Version”. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll eat because he talks about Montreal smoked meat. Brilliant novel.
TSR: Boom Road was a great debut novel. Was this a book that was “in you” to write? Do you plan on continuing Jackie’s story in any way?
I began Boom Road as something to keep my imagination going. I hadn’t done anything artistic in a couple of years by the time I started writing it in Autumn 2020 and honestly, didn’t know precisely what it was going to be. I knew I needed to do something creative. I used to act on stage, attempted (very) amateur standup comedy on several occasions, wrote screenplays with friends, played guitar and sang at open mics. That level of creativity has to go somewhere or it begins to fade. I need to thank my good friend Ryan Griffith, a great author, actor and playwright. We performed together at Theatre St. Thomas and I was fortunate to act in one of his plays at STU. I reached out to him in early 2021, seeking some feedback on what I’d already written. Turns out, he was also writing a novel and we began a daily challenge of checking in on each other to see what we’d accomplished that day. It may have been writing, editing, proof reading but we had a commitment to check in on each other and it helped to make the process fun while receiving constructive criticism and advice.
I didn’t know I had a novel in me but I’ve already started two more novels since I completed Boom Road. I now have to decide which path to take and which one to tackle first. There are no plans to continue Jackie’s story or any other character but who knows what the future will bring?
“I wanted to set a novel that was in the past but not so far back that it was completely different than 2024.”
TSR: I’m assuming that in the early 80s (when Boom Road was set), you were a young person. I have to also assume that your characters are composites. Would I be correct in saying that?
I don’t know why I set the novel in 1982, since I would have only been three years old and clearly have no memory of that time. I started with the earthquake that struck New Brunswick early that year. I’d heard a great deal about it over the years from family. We don’t normally get them in Atlantic Canada but a 5.7 magnitude earthquake is relatively large anywhere in the world. It turns out there were other important events in 1982 like a provincial election and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms coming into force, so those aspects helped form the narrative. I wanted to set a novel that was in the past but not so far back that it was completely different than 2024. A time without the internet or cell phones, when the best way to reach someone was by using a landline or driving by their house to see if their car was in the driveway (or dooryard, if you will).
As far as the characters go, aspects of their personalities are composites but generally, a great deal of who they are comes from the dialogue, which comes from the inner workings of a brain that is almost in a constant state of hyperdrive. I wanted them to be relatable regardless of where you’re from. My hope is that someone in Manitoba can relate to it the same as someone from the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia.
“I hope people see the novel as a bit of a love letter to Miramichi.”
TSR: What kind of response have you received for Boom Road?
It’s been very positive. Moreso than I anticipated. Lamentably, I sometimes second guess compliments but have learned to take what people say at face value. Anyone who’s contacted me has provided some wonderful responses, comments and insight. It’s interesting to get genuine reactions to the characters and the story. I hope people see the novel as a bit of a love letter to Miramichi. It’s a special place. I’m very happy with it, though I was a bit panic-stricken when Lee Thompson, editor and publisher of Galleon Books, agreed to move forward. I became suddenly terrified because I realized people were actually going to read it. I hadn’t counted on that…
TSR: If you could give one piece of advice to an unpublished author, what would it be?
Write. Read and write, and then write until your eyes are bleary and you’re getting carpal tunnel syndrome. Then take some anti-inflammatory medication and keep typing. Once you’ve got a finished story, seek out someone with experience who can critique your book. I cannot stress this enough. Find a qualified person who either teaches writing or used to and ask them to critique it; not edit or proofread for spelling or grammar but ask them to read your novel, warts and all, and find out if you have a story or if there are changes that need to be made. This was a crucial step for me that gave me the confidence to move forward, make alterations and then approach editors and/or publishers.
TSR: What is the most difficult part of your writing process?
It’s a marathon, not a sprint. I was used to writing screenplays. Your visuals are just that: visual. We didn’t have to describe the setting or background in detail because a viewer would see it. All it needed was solid dialogue to advance the story. Learning to dive deep into the feelings of the characters and the settings that surround them was challenging but also very fun. I’ve also learned to edit every 5,000 words or so. Otherwise, you forget what you were doing, where you’ve been and possibly where you’re going.
TSR: What books have caught your eye recently?
Dan Jones’ “Essex Dogs” and “Wolves of Winter”, along with Robert Harris’ “Act of Oblivion” are incredible historical fiction novels. Iain Reid - his novel “Foe” - is outstanding. I cannot say enough about his straightforward style of writing. It’s so succinct and precise. I recently finished Dennis Lehane’s “Small Mercies”. I couldn’t put it down. Also “The Berry Pickers” by Amanda Peters, a wonderful Nova Scotia novelist. Fantastic read. My next novel will be Jake Swan’s “Grantrepreneurs”, a New Brunswick author.
TSR: As you now live in Halifax, do you get back to the Miramichi often?
I’m in Miramichi quite often, even though it’s more than a four-hour drive. In the span of a year, I’d say I visit at least six to seven times, often for a week or more. Most of my immediate family still lives there. Ask anyone who knows me and usually within minutes of meeting me, I find some way to tell them I’m from Miramichi. I love going home and seeing all the great changes that are happening: more diversity, more culture but it still has many of the same buildings, atmosphere and qualities that I grew up with. I enjoy the festivals that have been a constant for decades: Irish Festival, Folk Song Festival, Rock & Roll Festival. Miramichi is a pretty festive place. And for good reason. The entire area has a lot to offer.