Hello!
Find answers to your questions on Shana & her books
Hiya!
Who is Shana Frost, and what kind of stories do you write?
Romance, mysteries and Scotland. That’s what Shana Frost is all about. I love all three: I’m a romantic at heart; I enjoy investigating unexplained things; and I’ve loved bonnie Scotland longer than I’ve lived here:) So when characters tell me their story, I include all these elements in my writing. Love brings in the romance and found family aspects, mysteries promise justice and hope for a good future, and Scotland provides the backdrop to anchor the heart and the enigma.
What can readers expect emotionally from a Shana Frost book?
As a reader, I’ve always swooned over happily-ever-afters, and I try to replicate that in my books. Every single book of mine will make you feel at home whether by finding you a group of people that welcome you like family should, and/or finding your true love even in the most difficult, dire situation, and most importantly all books will give you a feeling of justice (the bad guy ALWAYS gets caught) and a hope for the future (much needed and in short supply at the moment). If you like the make-believe in fiction, believe in fate, and enjoy making fictional friends, my books promise you the perfect retreat from life to feel relaxed, rejuvenated and refreshed.
Which of your books are romantic mysteries & romantic suspense?
At present, I have written novels in two types of genres: mystery and romantic suspense. While all books have the trifecta I spoke about above (romance, mystery, Scotland), the degree of intensity and location varies. My Aileen and Callan Murder Mysteries are predominantly mysteries with a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance in them. These books occur in the fictional town of Loch Fuar located in the Scottish Highlands. Anyone who enjoys an amateur sleuth mystery will enjoy these books. Anyone over 16 can also enjoy them as the romance in these books is closed doors. However, the rest of my books, whether that be the ones I’ve already published or am currently writing, are fast-paced romantic suspense books. Of course they all have some mystery to them, but the crimes are high stakes and sometimes violent, and the romance is spicy. All my romantic suspense novels are for 18+ audiences only.
Why do hope, justice, and love matter so much in your stories?
I am a strong believer that love and hope make the world go around. Despite the loud negative voices that seem to always circle around us these days, there are more powerful but quiet acts of love and kindness in our society that we often miss. Through my stories, I constantly try to spread this positivity, hoping this small fictional kernel of hope encourages someone to dream and hope for a better future. Like the mythological tales popular in my home country, India, I firmly believe that good wins over evil. And that’s what always occurs in my books.
Your reading guide
Where should a new reader start with your books?
It depends on what sort of genre you enjoy. If you like a good mystery with minimum/closed door romance, go for When Murder Comes Home, book one in the Aileen and Callan books. This series is a cosy and humorous read. But if you love a healthy dose of contemporary romance with your mystery/suspense, start with Strangers In Crime. It’s an opposites-attract novella set in Scotland where he’s a criminal and she’s a cop, but a common goal to save a life forces them to join forces and take on this dangerous mission.
Do your series need to be read in order? Are the series standalone-friendly or interconnected?
The Aileen and Callan books each have a standalone mystery that is resolved at the end of the book, so they can be read out of order. However, if you like to experience the characters’ developing arcs and enjoy the slow-burn romance, it’s best to read them in order. As for the rest of the books, each book is standalone and features a new couple. They can also be enjoyed out of order. But of course, couples that have already had their stories will feature in latter books but shall contain minimum/no spoilers.
Are all your books for general audiences?
The Aileen and Callan Murder Mysteries are the only books that are for general audiences. While there is some on-page violence and description of crime scenes, these are amateur sleuth mysteries with closed door romance. Most adult readers should feel comfortable reading them. However, the rest of my romantic suspense books are 18+ due to on-page spice and themes involving aspects of violent/organised crime. Each of these books come with trigger warnings mentioned inside the book. Please read these warnings before you read the book.
Scotland in my stories
Are your books set in Scotland?
They are! All my books are Scottish based. The Aileen and Callan Murder Mysteries are set in a fictional town in the North-Western part of the Scottish Highlands. The romantic suspense series that I’m writing at the moment is set in Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city.
How important is Scotland to your storytelling?
Scotland is like an important character in my stories. Whether it be the topography, the seasons, the weather, the people or the culture, it all plays a vital role in my stories. Without Scotland, these stories just won’t be as compelling! The Scottish rain, whisky, the cold play a huge part in bringing my characters together whether that’s by being a romantic or a dangerous backdrop.
Will readers experience real Scottish landscapes, culture, and atmosphere in your novels?
While my books are fictitious, I include as much of the real Scotland as I can. I wrote a few of the Aileen and Callan mysteries while I lived in India, imagining and researching Scotland. After I moved to Scotland, I was able to experience it much better especially as an outsider looking in. Now, over the years, Scotland has become home, its nuances and quirks now a part of my daily life. As before I had to research certain elements, I now write them into my books intuitively. So aye, the Scotland you’ll read in my books is real and written based on my own lived experience. For example, the romantic suspense novel Between The Lies closely follows my own journey. Although I have never been in trouble like Nina has (thank god!), I have moved from Mumbai to Glasgow, just like she did.
Why do your stories travel between Glasgow’s streets and the Highlands?
I wrote the Scottish Highland-based mysteries before I moved to Scotland. The Highlands are an enigmatic region for me, and back then I had only witnessed them as a tourist. The topography is perfect for romance and mysteries with its peatbogs, haar (coastal fog), Bens and Glens. And hence, I set my initial books in this faraway land I could dream of. After moving to Glasgow and staying in this beautiful quilt that this city is, I felt a yearning to write a story based in a real city in Scotland. With my mentor’s guidance and encouragement, I finally wrote Between The Lies, beginning my long list of released and upcoming Glasgow-based romantic suspense stories.
What my stories are truly about
What themes can readers expect in your novels?
I always promise two things in my books: a happy-ever-after and that in the end, the bad guys will always be caught. My novels will leave you with a sense of hope, justice, and love. And I also love to sneak in a found family/found new friends vibe in my books.
Are your stories dark, emotional, hopeful… or all three?
While a few elements in my books can be triggering and difficult, I make sure to set it off with humour or some uplifting message. If the dark elements are caused by outside forces, the bad guys are always taught a lesson. All my stories will leave you with a smile on your face and a sense that justice has prevailed.
Do your books have emotionally satisfying endings?
Always. I am a romantic at heart. So when I’m telling my characters’ stories, I have to know why these two characters are fated to love each other, and how their coming together shall destroy the bad guys.
Why do your characters often fight for justice, love, and healing?
I believe justice and love is much needed in today’s world. Even if I might be writing a fictitious account of events, I like to believe that the more we think about something, we manifest it. So, by writing stories about justice and good, positive outcomes, I hope we see more of that in the world. As for the healing aspect, my characters are never perfect people. I adore a muscled man who can cry and show his emotions, and I love a female protagonist who is yet to learn her own strength. So, even if my characters are falling in love, they also go through their own internal journey that allows them to defeat their antagonists.
What is the spice/heat level in your books? Are they dark romances?
My books have varied spice levels. As most authors would say, it is hard to define spice levels as every reader defines these differently. I like to categorise my books into two types: open door and closed door. The Aileen and Callan Murder Mystery books have closed door romance elements in them. The rest of my books are all open door romances. However, I do not write dark romance, so none of my books contain these elements, not even in the spicy scenes.
The people in my stories
Do your books include diverse characters and life experiences? Why is representation important in your storytelling?
As a BIPOC author, the book world whether that be characters or authors seldom looked or had similar life experiences like me. So now that I hold the pen, I want to tell stories of characters who are different. Don’t get me wrong, I make mistakes and sometimes find myself trying to find the easy road in succumbing to stereotypes. It has taken me a long time to write a story with an Indian protagonist, but the more I write, the more I hear voices of characters from different backgrounds, be that ethnicities, nationalities, genders, economic backgrounds or lived experiences. Besides, seeing my own friend circle, I know that while we may be different, we are all human at the end of the day, here on earth with the same emotions. And in this diversity lies the true fragrance of life.
Are your characters perfect heroes or deeply human and flawed?
My characters are indeed flawed! Whether that be their people pleasing tendencies, the walls they’ve built around themselves to push love away, or something deeper borne out of tragic situations in their lives, I think it’s deeply satisfying to see a character battle their inner demons to finally defeat the external antagonist. And doesn’t it encourage us to change for the better too?
How to get my books
Where can I buy your books?
My books are available on this website in ebook and paperback! You can also buy my books on retailers like Kobo, Apple Books, Google Play Books, Barnes & Noble, and other retailers. If you’re a library, request an ebook or paperback at your local library and they should be able to get the book for you:)
Are your books available in libraries or subscription programs?
Yes, all my books are available widely. Just request the book through your library in ebook or print or search for them on your favourite subscription program like Kobo Plus, Everand etc. Please note, my books are not available in Kindle Unlimited as that program demands authors remain exclusive to KU and not publish widely.
Can I read your books in paperback?
Yes! All my books are available in paperbacks and you can find them on this website.
Do you have audiobooks, or are they coming?
Not yet. Creating audiobooks is an expensive venture for an independent author like me. While artificial intelligence is making things more affordable, I have no plans yet of creating AI audiobooks. However, this might change in the future.
Can I purchase books at a book fair?
Not yet. Creating audiobooks is an expensive venture for an independent author like me. While artificial intelligence is making things more affordable, I have no plans yet of creating AI audiobooks. However, this might change in the future.
Are your books signed?
I sign all my books at the book fair. And books that are purchased as signed paperbacks are sent directly from my writing cave to you, which means they are indeed signed by yours truly:)
What’s coming next
When is the next Shana Frost book coming?
I am currently working on Lessons In Deception. It’s book two in the Scottish Investigators: Glasgow series. Currently, the book will release in April, 2026.
Are you working on more books in your current series? Which series are ongoing? Do you have any completed series?
I am always working away on a book:) After completing the Aileen and Callan Mystery series, I’ve now moved on to writing romantic suspense. Scottish Investigators: Glasgow is the series I’m currently working on. The series is set to have three more books releasing in 2026 and 2027.
How can readers be the first to know about new releases?
Sign up to my newsletter. All the exciting updates and releases are always announced to my Reader Friends first. While I post on social media, the announcements go out after they are posted to my newsletter subscribers. So make sure you sign up for Shana Frost news here.
Inside my writing world
Where do your story ideas come from?
I believe the characters come to me with their stories rather than the idea for a plot springing up in my head. Over the 10+ books I’ve now written, I can’t pinpoint the exact moment or place that the characters have come to be either. However, I do find myself full of ideas after a particularly intense content-consumption session. I have periods when I’m intensely reading or watching books or stories. It’s almost like I need to ‘eat’ as much as I can before I can cook on my own. It’s weird, but hey, it works!
Why did you choose to write romantic mysteries?
A mystery book turned me into a reader and a romance book helped me ease the stress of passing exams. It is almost embarrassing to say this, but I don’t read any other genre either! So when writing, romantic mystery was the obvious choice. I LOVE this genre so much, I’m always reading it too.
Do your characters stay with you after you finish a book?
They most certainly do. I spend so many hours, months, and years with these characters that by the end of a book they are like my best friends. I know them so well, I can tell you exactly how they will react to any situation. At present, I am missing Aileen and Callan. I just wrapped up their series which is a huge accomplishment, but also a bittersweet moment to leave A&C to their own peaceful HEA.
What matters most to you when you write a love story wrapped in danger?
I am going to get technical now, so bear with me. I make sure that every aspect of the story – the setting, the characters, the character’s journeys, and the plot – work in tandem. The most crucial aspect of my stories are these elements. If I change or remove either of these aspects, and the story still works, it isn’t tense enough to write. This is my favourite process when writing. It can take time and can be intensely frustrating, but get it right, and the story writes itself!
Let’s stay connected
How can readers connect with you?
I love to hear from readers. You can use the contact form to get in touch with me. Otherwise, I’m also on Tiktok and Instagram as @shanafrostauthor and on Bookbub and Goodreads as Shana Frost.
Do you have a newsletter?
Of course I do. If you join my newsletter, you’ll receive a free novella starring Aileen and Callan. And I shall email you with book updates and new release notifications. Here’s a promise: I don’t spam:) You can sign up here.
Do you collaborate with bloggers, reviewers or book communities?
It’s always lovely to see someone reviewing my books out in the wild. And it’s even more fun to chat and collaborate with bookish influencers. Please get in touch using the contact form if you’re a blogger, podcaster, reviewer or have a book community.