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WORK TITLE: The Details in the Design
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://smhfiction.com/
CITY:
STATE: IL
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
http://sapphirebooks.com/shannon-harris/
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born in IL.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer.
WRITINGS
Also, contributor to anthologies, including The One: Stories of Falling in Love Forever and Our Stories Continue.
SIDELIGHTS
Shannon M. Harris is a writer, who was born in and is based in Illinois. She has released fantasy novels and other novels set in the present day. Harris has also contributed to anthologies, including The One: Stories of Falling in Love Forever and Our Stories Continue.
The Oath and Revelations
In 2016, Harris released The Oath, the first book in her “Adrearian Chronicles” trilogy. Its protagonist is Lanis Welsh, who once worked as a mercenary soldier. However, Lanis has given up the mercenary life to be more sedentary. She serves as the protector of High Priestess Anya, who is also her lover. Lanis is forced to face her past when she is asked to take on a mission that will bring her back to a place where she experienced pain. A person tricks Lanis into being locked into an oath, which upsets her greatly. She is forced to reevaluate her relationships.
Revelations is the second installment in the “Adrearian Chronicles” series. It finds Lanis scrambling to find a way to protect the person she loves most, Anya. She has just two weeks to complete her mission. Lanis teams up with a character called Elson and also recruits her friends to help her. Meanwhile, she is disappointed that she is getting no assistance from the Goddess and is dealing with oppression from demons and terrifying nightmares. As time runs out, Lanis receives a black book that shifts her perceptions on her life and those in it.
The Details in the Design
In her 2017 standalone novel, The Details in the Design, Harris tells the story of Avery Michaels, a young woman experiencing a major career change. Avery has been working as an assistant to a food critic. Unhappy with her job, she quite and goes to an employment agency. The agency quickly contacts her, informing her that she has an offer to work for a fashion designer named Catherine Davenport. Avery is thrilled with the opportunity but is also worried about working for her crush, Catherine. She believes her crush on Catherine may dissipate as she gets to know her better, but Avery discovers that the opposite is true. Avery, who narrates the book, falls even harder for Catherine. However, Catherine seems distracted from Avery every time the two start to get close. Her assistant tries to keep Avery away, a former lover reappears in her life, and her teenage twin daughters require much of Catherine’s attention. Avery perseveres, hoping that Catherine will eventually choose to be with her. The narrative includes details about Avery’s past, including the role her grandmother played in encouraging her love of aesthetics. Avery recalls recognizing her interest in fashion when she was just six years old. As an adult, she pays careful attention to her own wardrobe. Avery sees that Catherine longs for attention and understand, behind her private, controlled exterior. Avery determines to make her feelings for Catherine known.
Critics offered mixed assessments of The Details in the Design. A Kirkus Reviews writer remarked: “Harris’s writing is often awkwardly declarative.” The same writer added: “The plot is implausible and the characters are incredibly shallow.” In a more favorable assessment on the Lesbian Review website, Amy Herman-Pall commented: “This book is well paced and easy to read. The singular point of view works really well. We see Avery’s feelings and thoughts, but Catherine remains isolated and a mystery to us as much as she does Avery. While singular povs in romances tend to make me feel like I don’t get enough feeling from the love interest, Harris does an excellent job of giving readers a view into Catherine’s thoughts and feelings.” Herman-Pall also described the book as “a sweet, enjoyable romance.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Publishers Weekly, April 3, 2017, review of The Details in the Design, p. 59.
ONLINE
Lesbian Review, http://www.thelesbianreview.com/ (October 9, 2017), Amy Herman-Pall, review of The Details In The Design.
Sapphire Books Website, http://sapphirebooks.com/ (February 3, 2018), author profile.
Shannon M. Harris Website, http://smhfiction.com (February 3, 2018).
Shannon M. Harris
Author
Born near Chicago, IL, Shannon lives, works, and plays in Southern Illinois, along with her three fur kids. Writing hasn’t always come easy to her but she enjoys creating different worlds for her characters to play in. She’s the author of The Oath & Revelations, book one and two, of the Adearian Chronicles, along with two short stories, “Cupcakes, Art Class, and First Dates” included in the anthology, The One: Stories of Falling in Love Forever, and “Asher, an Adearian Short Story,” included in the anthology, Our Stories Continue. In her down time, she enjoys reading, binge watching true crime shows, and spending time with family and friends. AnUnexpected Beginning, book one of The DragonWitch Tales is slated for release this summer. She is currently working on book two of The DragonWitch Tales and the final book in the Adearian trilogy.
Born near Chicago, IL. Shannon lives, works, and plays in Southern Illinois, along with her three fur kids. Writing hasn’t always come easy to her but she enjoys creating different worlds for her characters to play in. She’s written The Oath & Revelations, book one and two, of the Adearian Chronicles, published by Sapphire Books. Along with two short stories, Cupcakes, Art Class, & First dates included in the anthology, The One, and Asher, an Adearian short story, included in the anthology Our Stories Continue. In her down time, she enjoys reading, binge watching true crime shows, and spending time with family and friends. An Unexpected Beginning, book one of The DragonWitch tales is slated for release this summer from Sapphire Books. She is currently working on book two of The DragonWitch tales and the final book in the Adearian trilogy.
Born near Chicago, IL. Shannon lives, works, and plays in Southern Illinois, along with her three fur kids. Writing hasn’t always come easy to her but she enjoys creating different worlds for her characters to play in. She’s written The Oath & Revelations, book one and two, of the Adearian Chronicles, published by Sapphire Books. Along with two short stories, Cupcakes, Art Class, & First dates included in the anthology, The One, and Asher, an Adearian short story, included in the anthology Our Stories Continue. In her down time, she enjoys reading, binge watching true crime shows, and spending time with family and friends. An Unexpected Beginning, book one of The DragonWitch tales is slated for release this summer from Sapphire Books. She is currently working on book two of The DragonWitch tales and the final book in the Adearian trilogy.
For more about me and my characters you can visit my website: smhfiction.com
QUOTED: "Harris's writing is often awkwardly declarative."
"The plot is implausible and the characters are incredibly shallow."
The Details in the Design
Publishers Weekly.
264.14 (Apr. 3, 2017): p59.
COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
The Details in the Design
Shannon M. Harris. Sapphire, $14.95 trade paper (184p) ISBN 978-1-943353-79-8
Harris disappoints with this pedestrian romance set in the world of high fashion. Rising star Avery Michael
has long nursed a crush on fashion grande dame Catherine Davenport. When she lands a job managing
social media for Catherine's firm, she begins aggressively wooing her imperious boss. Gaining unexpected
help from Lincoln, one of Catherine's twin teenage daughters, Avery tries hard to convince the older woman
that their 20-year age difference is immaterial, and their love slowly begins to bloom. Catherine's mixed
signals only become more muddled when an ex-girlfriend from decades earlier tries to rekindle their
relationship. Harris's writing is often awkwardly declarative, and she gets lost in tangential details. The plot
is implausible and the characters are incredibly shallow. Catherine's assistant, Camden, is an unnecessary
and confusing villain, and Avery's friends exist only to offer platitudes of support and excessive comfort
foods. Interactions between Avery and Lincoln are a bright spot, but not enough to make up for the work's
flaws. (June)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"The Details in the Design." Publishers Weekly, 3 Apr. 2017, p. 59. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A489813722/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=bf978d36.
Accessed 28 Jan. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A489813722
QUOTED: "This book is well paced and easy to read. The singular point of view works really well. We see Avery’s feelings and thoughts, but Catherine remains isolated and a mystery to us as much as she does Avery. While singular povs in romances tend to make me feel like I don’t get enough feeling from the love interest, Harris does an excellent job of giving readers a view into Catherine’s thoughts and feelings."
"a sweet, enjoyable romance."
The Details In The Design by Shannon Harris: Book Review
October 9, 2017 Amy Herman-Pall Sapphire Books Publishing, Shannon Harris
The Details in the Design by Shannon HarrisThe Details In The Design by Shannon Harris was a light, adorable read that I enjoyed immensely.
Avery Michaels quits her job working for a food critic, and signs up with an employment agency that promises they can get her a dream job. Her dream and passion is working in the fashion industry. They call back the next day with the opportunity to work with Catherine Davenport Designs. Avery is ecstatic. The only problem? The massive crush Avery has had on Catherine Davenport for the last six years.
After she starts work, she realizes that her crush was for a fantasy image of the designer. The reality of the woman makes her feelings so much deeper. But she’ll have to face some big hurdles in her quest for a meaningful relationship, not least Catherine’s two 14 year old daughters, a jealous assistant, and an old flame who’s trying to reignite the past with Catherine. And every time she thinks she’s moving forward, something else seems to block her way.
The Characters
Avery Michaels is our pov character. The whole story is from her point of view, and she’s a very likable woman. She’s loved fashion since she was six years old, and due to an inheritance from her grandmother, she’s been able to indulge in that passion with her personal wardrobe. Working for Catherine Davenport Designs is a dream come true, and the only thing that would make it better is if she was able to make a personal connection with the fashion designer herself. She’s decided to go big, and engage in an all out campaign to woo Catherine.
Catherine Davenport has been one of the most successful fashion designers for over two decades. It has isolated her in her glass-walled office. She’s an extremely private person, and her privacy extends over her two children as well. But she yearns for someone to share her life, to see her for the woman she is underneath. Avery’s wooing may just be what they both need.
The Writing Style
This book is well paced and easy to read. The singular point of view works really well. We see Avery’s feelings and thoughts, but Catherine remains isolated and a mystery to us as much as she does Avery. While singular povs in romances tend to make me feel like I don’t get enough feeling from the love interest, Harris does an excellent job of giving readers a view into Catherine’s thoughts and feelings.
The Pros
This was definitely a sweet romance, one where it was easy to root for the main character, and incidentally all the other characters at the same time. The story was definitely a feel-good read.
The Cons
Two things that I’ll mention in this section: one, if this was a final version of the published manuscript, it needed more editing. I usually don’t mention editing, since a few mistakes are inevitable. However there were enough mistakes in this book that it was a noticeable distraction. Two, I am not sure whether or not I’m correct, but this read like it was fanfic of The Devil Wears Prada. This wasn’t a con for me – I enjoyed the story even though I’ve never seen the movie. But it might be something that concerns others.
The Conclusion
If you’re looking for a sweet, enjoyable romance, this book definitely fits the bill.
Excerpt from The Details In The Design by Shannon Harris
“I think it’s wonderful you’re encouraging them in their hobbies and I have no problem with that. Will she be in tomorrow?” Catherine nodded. “Does she prefer coffee or tea?” At Catherine’s raised eyebrow, Avery clarified. “I’ll pick her up something to drink. I prefer tea.”
“With lemon and honey.”
“How’d you know that?” That was certainly unexpected, but just to know Catherine paid attention set her heart racing and she couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips.
Catherine ran the tip of her glasses over her lips. “Lucky guess.”
“Right,” Avery drawled. “So?” She had to fight to keep from squirming in her chair. All it took was one look from Catherine to set her on fire.
“Tea.”
“And what about you? I know you took the coffee I brought in this morning black, but is that what you prefer?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Good to know.”
Catherine laid her palms on the desktop. “All right, I guess that’s it for now. Keep up the good work.”
Avery nodded and her eyes were instantly drawn to the flowers. “Pretty flowers.”
Catherine fingered the petals of one of the flowers. “Yes, they are. You were out when they were delivered. Speaking of out. Did you get your phone taken care of?” She slipped her glasses back on and it was the sexiest thing Avery had ever seen.