PHOTO: Shel Delisle, captured in a moment of thoughtful joy, reflects the same lightness and depth found in her stories.
Freedom Family And Finding Your Voice
Shel Delisle reflects on writing across genres, the emotional roots of her stories, and how freedom, humour, and heartfelt connection shape her unique storytelling journey.
Shel Delisle writes with a voice that feels at once whimsical and wise, lit by a quiet understanding of human yearning. Her stories—whether dreamy tales for teens, laugh-out-loud cosy mysteries, or heartfelt bedtime books—share a common pulse: a longing for connection, for escape, for freedom. In Dolphin Girl, that yearning surfaces through a young protagonist searching for more than the life she’s been handed. It’s a thread that quietly runs through much of Delisle’s work, shaped perhaps by her own love of films about breaking free—The Shawshank Redemption, Cool Hand Luke, Forrest Gump—each one a mirror reflecting back her deep-rooted fascination with release and reinvention.
Though her genres vary, what remains constant is Delisle’s ability to find lightness even in the most difficult chapters of life. Her shift to cosy mysteries came during a season of caregiving, when books became a bond with her mother. Through grief, she discovered solace in humour, clever puzzles, and the comforting rhythms of familiar characters. With Dead as a Dodo and the upcoming Swan Song, she not only found joy in writing again, but also brought that warmth to readers seeking a similar escape.
Delisle’s literary path hasn’t been linear—and that’s part of its charm. From teen novels to romcoms, from picture books to reality-TV-inspired fiction, she embraces storytelling in all its forms. Her first-ever book, the tender Hush, Hush Little One, waited three decades to be born, made possible at last through new technology and unflagging hope. It’s a beautiful reminder that some stories simply take their time.
There is a quiet courage in Delisle’s work—in her genre-hopping curiosity, her gentle humour, her deep empathy for misfits and dreamers alike. Whatever world she invites us into next, you get the feeling she’ll meet us there with warmth, imagination, and a wink.
What inspired you to write Dolphin Girl, and do you relate personally to Jane’s longing for freedom?
That’s such an interesting question. I think all of humanity longs for freedom, but that drive may be stronger with me. Years ago,during a creative exercise I had to quickly make a list of my favorite films. My list included films like Cool Hand Luke, The Shawshank Redemption, The Great Escape,Forrest Gump and Rain Man. So, the focus on prison/escape movies points to an interest in finding freedom, and in a fashion so do Forrest Gump and Rain Man. The main characters in those movies break free from the expectations and limits that society and others have placed on them. When I wrote Dolphin Girl, a teen novel, I didn’t realize that it was about a longing for freedom until a kind and generous literary agent pointed that out to me, and her wonderful advice ultimately re-shaped the book.
My Wishful Thinking plays with the idea of wishes coming true—did you ever wish on stars or birthday candles growing up?
I did and still do. Don’t you?
Dead as a Dodo blends mystery with humour—what drew you to writing in the cosy mystery genre?
When I began to take my writing seriously, I read widely in children’s books—picture books, middle grade and young adult. Shortly after Winging It!, the first book in the Angel-In-Training series was released, I helped my mom move back to South Florida. She’d been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s about a year before that and couldn’t live independently anymore. My mom was an insatiable romance reader and caring for her changed what I read so that we could talk books. I latched onto romcoms and ended up writing Miss Matched. Then, in the last fourteen months of her life my mom was in hospice. Those were rough days without any book talks. To escape those long days, I read humorous mysteries. I first stumbled upon Jana DeLeon’s Miss Fortune series and read every book at breakneck speeds. Then, I needed more mysteries and discovered Julie Mulhern’s Country Club Murders and read all of those. Both series contain elements of cozy mysteries (or cosy as its spelled on your side of the pond).
There is a lot to love about the genre, like a quirky cast of characters that you grow to know and love over the course of a series. No gore or violence. Sweet, flirty romances with chemistry and no descriptions that would make my three sons blush. Cozy storytelling felt like home to me, and I thought: Why not give it a try? Writing Dead as A Dodo, the first book in the Birdie Byrnes Mystery series, felt natural and came with (relative) ease. Swan Song, the second book in the series, will be released in September and I’ve begun work on a third. I’m not promising I won’t switch up genres again. I could see myself writing another romcom or the fourth book for the Angel-in-Training series in the future, but for now, I’m writing cozies.
Reality TV plays a big role in Miss Matched—what’s your relationship with that kind of entertainment?
I hesitate to admit this, but it’s a guilty pleasure. I can do a fantastic imitation of Love Island’s Iain Stirling’s TA-NITE. My addiction is strictly limited to love and matchmaking, so I’ll also binge: Married At First Sight, Love Is Blind and Farmer Wants A Wife. Oh, and I forgot The Traitors—not a love based reality show, but it’s probably closest to a funny murder mystery. They’re all great for thinking about character development and a lighthearted escape.
What was it like switching from writing teen fiction to creating a gentle bedtime book like Hush, Hush Little One?
It appears Hush, Hush Little One came much later than my teen fiction but the truth is the gentle bedtime story is the first thing I wrote as an adult more than thirty years ago. I tried to have it published for years while collecting hundreds of rejections plus hitting a few other dead ends. I had all but given up on it. Then along came AI. While controversial, Dalle-2 gave me an opportunity to bring my vision for that story to completion because it only needed simple images in a consistent style. Hush, Hush Little One has always been the project of my heart. I’m so very grateful that I finally have been able to share it.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors trying to balance creativity with the challenges of publishing?
Pick a genre and stick with it! (laughs and spits water onto keyboard)
I’m laughing because in my writing I’ve done so much genre switching. While doing that can be very satisfying creatively, it creates its own set of challenges. I do believe writers have more freedom today in the way they shape their careers. Regardless of if an author opts to go traditional, indie, or some combination of those, you need to find readers that gravitate to your writing and storytelling. Not just your current WIP. Not just your first published novel. Sometimes your readers are agents, sometimes editors, and sometimes any reader, whether they prefer e-book, paper, or the audio format. Find the readers who simply enjoy the way you spin a yarn.
Beyond that, if someone wants to publish traditionally, pack your patience. It can be a lengthy process. If indie is your preferred route, make sure you know, or are willing to learn, the publishing side of the business.
