PHOTO: P.A. O’Neil: Award-winning author, creative storyteller, and brilliant voice behind enthralling tales that span genres and captivate audiences worldwide.
How A Global Pandemic Inspired A Fascinating Tale
Author P.A. O’Neil discusses her creative process, inspirations, and achievements, while sharing insights into her anthology contributions and upcoming Sherlock Holmes projects.
P .A. O’Neil is a literary gem whose impact on the world of storytelling resonates across continents and genres. With an impressive catalogue of accomplishments, her ability to craft compelling and thought-provoking narratives has earned her recognition in over fifty anthologies, journals, and magazines. Twice honoured with “Story of the Month” accolades from Spillwords Press, and the recipient of the 2023 Mustang Flash Fiction Award for her gripping tale, “The Great Burro Revolt,” O’Neil’s work is celebrated for its creativity, depth, and timeless quality. Her versatility is further showcased by her medal-finalist non-fiction article, “Northwest Passage,” proving her talent transcends both fiction and fact.
A proud Washington State resident, O’Neil’s passion as a storyteller is vividly reflected in her captivating books, Witness Testimony and Other Tales and Two Sides of the Same Coin: In-between stories of Sherlock Holmes and John H. Watson. With characters that leap off the page and narratives that linger long after the last word, her works epitomise storytelling at its finest—the kind that engages, inspires, and challenges readers to consider perspectives anew.
P.A. O’Neil’s storytelling brilliance captivates readers with imaginative plots, vivid characters, and a mastery of both fiction and non-fiction.
In this illuminating interview, O’Neil offers a glimpse into her writing process, from crafting the unforgettable story “Milton Fine” for the Passenger 13 anthology, to the unique challenges of tackling a pandemic-themed narrative. Steeped in dedication and boundless creativity, her journey is as fascinating as the stories she pens. It is an honour to bring to our readers this exclusive insight into the mind of an author who has mastered the art of storytelling. Let’s delve into the brilliance of P.A. O’Neil.
What inspired you to write the story “Milton Fine” for the Passenger 13 anthology?
I was asked to participate in this anthology about how COVID-19 “might” have been spread throughout the world. There was no finger pointing other than the fact that it originated in China. I was intrigued by the different perspectives this book would produce.
How did you approach creating Milton Fine’s character and his role in the story?
Locally, the first cases were discovered in a nursing home. Wondering how a closed society could have been exposed to the virus, I created Milton Fine—giving him a reason for his own exposure, a family and friends who would be affected and a reason for the disease to be brought into the nursing home.
What was it like contributing to an anthology alongside so many other authors?
I have worked with many of these authors before and knew their style. Since we were given the task of writing about how the virus was presented to different parts of the world, it gave me the freedom to approach my story as an individual.
What message or theme do you hope readers take away from your story and the anthology?
No specific message other than to think about how like a pebble dropped in a pond the things we do, no matter how small, affect others even if they are further removed from our immediate lives.
Did the pandemic theme present any unique challenges or opportunities in your writing process?
The task of writing my portion of the book came just at the same time as the virus hit my state. Because of my health, I was put on leave from work for a couple of weeks to prevent my catching it. This was at the time when much was unknown about how it spread and who it would easily hurt. This gave me plenty of time to devote to writing, and with the announcement of the first case/death I had plenty of inspiration to get it done in the two-week window were given to submit a story.
Are you currently working on any new projects or stories that your readers can look forward to?
Currently, I am writing stories for my second Sherlock Holmes book. Besides my first book of short stories, Witness Testimony and Other Tales, I also released my collection of Holmes stories entitled Two Sides of the Same Coin: In-between stories of Sherlock Holmes and John H. Watson.
