Discover how Helme balances humour and suspense in her bestselling series
Colleen Helme shares insights into her creative process, the inspiration behind her series, and exciting developments, including digital comics and potential film adaptations of her beloved characters.
Colleen Helme has captivated readers with her imaginative storytelling and unique blend of humor and suspense. As the mastermind behind the bestselling Shelby Nichols Adventure Series, Helme has created a world where the ordinary meets the extraordinary, with Shelby Nichols, a mind-reading protagonist, at its center. Her ability to weave humor into thrilling narratives has earned her comparisons to beloved characters like Stephanie Plum, yet Shelby stands out with her relatable charm and accidental paranormal abilities. Helme’s talent extends beyond this series, as she explores new dimensions in the Sand and Shadow Series, featuring Ella St. John and her intriguing healing touch. With a loyal fan base eagerly awaiting each new release, Helme’s work continues to delight and inspire.
We conducted this interview with Colleen Helme to delve deeper into the creative mind behind these beloved series and to explore the exciting developments in her career. With a recent agreement with DASHTOONS for a digital comic book adaptation and ongoing negotiations for film and TV rights, Helme’s stories are poised to reach even wider audiences. Her dedication to her craft and her readers is evident in every page, and we are thrilled to share her insights and inspirations with you in this exclusive interview.
Colleen Helme masterfully blends humor and suspense, creating captivating stories with relatable characters that enchant and engage readers worldwide.
Shelby Nichols, with her mind-reading ability, finds herself in all sorts of humorous and dangerous situations. What inspired you to create such a unique character, and how do you balance the humor and suspense in her adventures?
Her character started out in a personal way because I was at the grocery store shopping for carrots and learned that the store had been robbed earlier that week. It made me wonder what I would have done if I’d been there. It intrigued me enough that I started working on a story about it. As I wrote, it just happened that Shelby started hearing people’s thoughts after a gunshot wound to the head. Believe me, I was just as surprised as she was, but it set fire to my imagination and turned an unremarkable story into something fun and entertaining. The possibilities stretched out in front of me and I haven’t looked back
Your Shelby Nichols Adventure Series has been compared to popular characters like Stephanie Plum. What do you think makes Shelby stand out in the crowded field of paranormal mysteries?
Shelby starts out as a regular person, which makes her relatable and believable. Her paranormal abilities came through an accident, so she’s not like a witch in a witch-and-wizard type setting. She’s also a wife and mother, which is unusual for an MC. I think she’s just trying to do her best under some pretty crazy circumstances, which brings the reader into her world. There also isn’t anyone else with these kinds of abilities, so she stands out.
The Sand and Shadow Series, a spin-off from the Shelby Nichols Series, introduces Ella St. John, a character with a special ‘healing’ touch. How did you come up with the idea for this series, and how does it differ from the Shelby Nichols adventures?
This series came about because Shelby met Ella in the hospital in New York and couldn’t read her mind. That had never happened before, and it fueled my imagination. It became clear that she was like Shelby, only in a different way. Since she was a nurse, it was easy to believe that she had ‘healing hands’ and her story intrigued me. Why her? How did it happen? When did it start? I had also just finished a few giveaways in my Reader’s Group, and one of the questions was “If you could have any kind of superpower, what would you choose?” So many readers answered that they’d want the power to heal that it sparked my imagination for Ella’s character.
You’ve managed to create a loyal fan base who loves the humor and excitement in your books. How do you keep the stories fresh and engaging across multiple books, and what role do your readers play in your writing process?
I spend a lot of time in my head thinking up storylines and new situations for Shelby, so I need all kinds of input to keep my imagination going. To do that, I like watching movies, TV shows, reading, and brainstorming with my daughter, who is a huge fan. To keep my fans happy in-between books, I post a monthly blog as Shelby. They’re little vignettes about her everyday life, and some versions have even ended up in a book. My readers keep me writing, so they are extremely important to me.
Mind-reading and healing touch are fascinating abilities for your characters. How do you research or imagine the paranormal elements in your books, and what challenges do you face in making these abilities feel believable?
I’ve always been intrigued by the idea of having some kind of paranormal ability. There are so many questions you’d have to consider. Such as: How does it change your world? Is using it always ethical? Would you keep it a secret? Could it be used to harm? How does it affect those you love? How does it affect your actions in any given situation? As you can see, these questions can keep a story moving along because the answers are not always the same. Shelby needs to tell her husband she can hear his thoughts, but what about her kids? That would be a horrible idea. It’s hard enough for her husband to deal with! Lol!
When you’re not writing, you spend time thinking about new ways to get your characters in and out of trouble. Can you share a glimpse into your creative process? How do you come up with the predicaments and plot twists that keep readers hooked?
I am an intuitive writer, which means I don’t outline anything. I like to start a new book with an exciting scene and build from there. Because of that, I don’t get a lot of sleep, and I have to be open to making changes when things aren’t working. Coming up with a book title right away also inspires me because it opens up ideas that can connect the story together. The only book title that isn’t like that is the first book, CARROTS. When I began the story, I didn’t know exactly where it was going, but since it all began because of carrots, I saved it as ‘Carrots’ on my computer. The name stuck, so I went with it.
