Interview with Ethan McGrane, Author of Under the Shed

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Under the Shed?

At the heart of Under the Shed is the idea of understanding. Emma no longer understands how the world works after her brush with the paranormal. Thad doesn’t understand how to be a good mentor. No one in the book really has the answers. They’re all trying to make sense of a world that defies reason, each in their own way. That tension between mystery and meaning is what inspired me to write it.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Under the Shed, what would they be?

– For Emma, I’d choose Caught in Time, So Far Away by You’ll Never Get to Heaven.
Something slow, reflective, and a little haunting.
– For Thad, probably Heaven Beside You by Alice in Chains.
It’s folksy, layered with meaning, and has that worn-in grit that suits him.

What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I love military thrillers… Tom Clancy, Steven Pressfield, Jack Mars, that whole world of strategy and suspense. Writing-wise, I focus on paranormal mysteries and Viking action-adventure. If it’s about Vikings, I’ve probably read it. My next Viking novel leans more toward a traditional war story, so there’s a nice crossover with what I’ve been reading lately.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

With Halloween coming up, I’m lining up The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker. I’ve always loved the first few Hellraiser films. Beyond that, I’m guilty of having a dozen half-finished books lying around, but I’m one of those rare people who can pick one back up months later and remember exactly where I left off.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Chapter 29 stands out. It’s about halfway through the story when Thad and Emma finally realize they don’t know the rules of the thing they’re investigating. That moment of uncertainty was fun to write because it captures what the whole book is about: being lost in the unknown.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

ChatGPT said:

I’ve started using a timer when I write. I’ll set it for thirty minutes, and when it goes off, I just reset it. It keeps me grounded and focused like I’m racing the clock instead of myself.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

Death is the only thing it’s acceptable to procrastinate on. Everything else should take priority.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

The characters. Emma and Thad still have more story left in them, and I’d love readers to carry them forward into the next adventure.

Ethan McGrane is the author of the new book Under the Shed

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