We’ve been celebrating all the amazing debut books hitting shelves this year, not to mention the amazing authors who wrote them! This week we’re reading Shannon Schuren’s intense, addictive debut The Virtue of Sin, a shocking tale about a cult and one girl’s determination to speak out. Scroll down to hear from Shannon about her debut!

I’m Shannon, and my debut novel, The Virtue of Sin, takes place in a modern-day cult, one where women’s voices are suppressed and their Prophet’s word is sacred. When something goes wrong at their Marriage Ceremony, sixteen-year-olds Miriam and Caleb must decide what they really believe in, how they really feel about each other, and how much they are willing to sacrifice. The story is told in alternating viewpoints, and readers can expect an exploration of faith, friendship, and first love, along with a healthy dose of female empowerment.

In addition to being an author, I’m also a children’s librarian at a small public library. It’s definitely my dream job—I get paid to talk books all day long. I also order all our children’s materials, which often means I get to read them first. My TBR bile is a nightmare! Contrary to popular belief, librarians do not get paid to read.

I live in Sheboygan Falls, WI and I’ve been married to the same wonderful guy for over 20 years. In our spare time, we like to watch B-movies, drink wine, and play board games. I’m obsessed with Clue; he’s more of a Catan man. Somehow, we make it work. We’ve got three almost-adult children, and a Russian Blue named Poe. When the house gets too crowded, I escape to my writing she-shed in the backyard, which has quickly become one of my favorite places in the world! It has nearly everything I need: desk, bookshelves, teapot, and a tiny front porch for brainstorming. The only thing missing is a wine fridge—I tried, but there is just not enough juice to keep it running. But it’s probably good to have an excuse to go back inside occasionally.

Find me on twitter @shannonschuren and Instagram @schurenauthor and say hi!

The Virtue of Sin is out now! Get your copy here!