Today we are very excited to share an interview with Author Shelby Nicole (METAMORPHOSIS)!
Meet the Author: Shelby Nicole
Shelby Nicole is a multi-talented author, business owner, artist, and graphic designer known for her captivating Grove Hollow series. Her attention to detail immerses readers in a world of secrets waiting to be unraveled, while her skilled characterization explores complex relationships and the transformative power of love. Fearlessly tackling profound themes, Shelby invites reflection on the human condition and the enigmatic nature of life itself.
About the Book: METAMORPHOSIS
YABC: What inspired you to write this book?
My childhood home, which everyone knew to be “haunted,” was the original inspiration behind
the story of a girl falling in love with a Victorian ghost.
The idea first came to me during a walk with my sister in 2011. She told me that the night before
she had seen the silhouette of what looked like a ghost standing at the top of the stairs. I
laughed and said I wished our parents’ house was haunted by a handsome Victorian ghost,
someone like Mr. Darcy. I even joked that I’d happily set my alarm for 3:00 a.m. every night just
to catch a glimpse of him. I knew, right when I said it, that one day I’d write a book about a girl
falling in love with a ghost.
When I began writing the story in early-2020, it naturally grew from the things I was already
fascinated by: Gothic romance, Gilded Age history, theology, ancient Egyptian mythology, and,
of course, the 1980s. I’m obsessed with the ’80s and knew I wanted the mystery at the heart of
the novel to unfold in a time before the internet. I loved the idea of Will and Jade having to piece
together the mystery of the locket, the old-fashioned way of writing letters, following clues, and
searching through libraries and historical records instead of finding answers with a quick online
search. And of course, well, 80s music.
As the story evolved, I found myself tying in themes inspired by my own experiences and
observations. With my fascination for the Gilded Age, I became very interested in how greed,
wealth, and corruption can become idols that shape families for generations, and how
generational trauma and unhealed wounds are often passed from one generation to the next.
While the novel incorporates magical elements (from tarot cards to cursed lockets) the
emotional core of the story is based in those very human experiences.
Ultimately, the novel became a mix of everything I’ve loved and been curious about over the
years: history, romance, mystery, the supernatural, and the deeper questions about faith,
healing, and the legacies we inherit.
YABC: What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?
I have so many favorite chapters, especially in Book One. I write very intuitively, so there are
many times when I sit down expecting a scene to go one way, only for the characters to take it
in a completely different direction. Sometimes I’ll write what I think is a small, insignificant detail,
only to realize four chapters later that it was actually a crucial piece of the story all along. The
entire writing experience has felt incredibly magical.
One of the scenes I’m most proud of is when Jade jumps into the river to retrieve the locket. I
remember writing that chapter so vividly because Jade was at such an important crossroads.
She had taken the locket off. She was fighting with her feelings, trying to figure out what was
right, and then she made a mistake… and the locket disappeared.
I love that Jade makes mistakes because that’s what makes her human. She’s constantly
learning, growing, and trying to become a better version of herself, and that’s really the heart of
the entire series. None of us are perfect. We all stumble. But if we have a good heart and a
genuine desire to grow, we can heal and become better people.
That scene in the river was so much more than recovering a piece of jewelry. Jade believed she
might never see Will again, yet the locket represented everything he meant to her. She was
willing to risk everything, not because she knew how things would turn out, but because she
wanted to make things right. To me, that’s what love is: choosing to do the right thing even when
there’s no guarantee of the outcome.
Looking back, when the locket went missing it became one of the biggest turning points in the
entire series. When she jumped into the freezing river, it changed the story in ways I couldn’t
have imagined when I first wrote it, and it will always be one of my favorite scenes because of
how much it reveals about Jade’s heart.
YABC: Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing
I began writing Metamorphosis while I was battling postpartum depression. It was a season of
my life where I felt like I was just surviving, and writing became a way for me to heal, reconnect
with myself, and learn how to feel again. At the time, all I knew was that I wanted to write a story
about a girl falling in love with a ghost.
My background is in art and design. Aside from a few years of creative writing classes, I had no
formal training as a writer, so I was incredibly nervous about whether I could even write a novel.
But as I listened to 80s music while washing dishes or driving in the car, the story began to
come alive in my mind like a movie. I didn’t work from an outline or a detailed plan, I just wrote
what I could see playing in my head. I trusted the images, the emotions, and the scenes, and let
intuition guide the process.
Looking back, I feel like this story had been secretly haunting me since 2011 for a reason.
Eventually, I realized it was time to stop ignoring that inner knowing and finally follow it. One of
the greatest lessons this journey taught me was how to trust myself and my faith. To trust what I
felt, what I imagined, and the story that wanted to be told.
YABC: What have you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?
When I first started writing, there was plenty of outside noise and more than a few doubters. But
instead of letting those voices define me, I kept returning to the vision I had for the series. Little
by little, I learned to believe in myself and in the story as it continued to reveal itself.
From the artwork I illustrated to the interior design of the books, the playlists, the Pinterest
boards, and every word on the page, I had a clear creative vision for the entire world of Grove
Hollow. Every piece felt connected and every detail came from the same place. I trusted that
vision, and more importantly, I trusted myself—that, more than anything, was the most
surprising and rewarding part of the writing experience. It wasn’t just discovering the story, but
discovering the confidence to believe in my own creative instincts, talent, and passion.
YABC: What do you like most about the cover of the book?
The moths have always held a special place in this story.
The very first night I sat down to write the first draft of Metamorphosis, I found a luna moth
resting on my front porch. It felt so significant. I couldn’t explain why, but I knew the moth meant
something. As I began researching luna moths, I realized just how much they mirrored the heart
of the story and the journey of Jade and Will.
Luna moths live for only about a week as adults. They don’t even have mouths, so they can’t
eat. Their sole purpose is to find a mate, reproduce, and complete their brief life cycle before
they die. Their existence is so beautifully tragic and selfless—almost spiritual.
To me, the luna moth became a symbol of choosing love despite the certainty of loss, of
continuing toward the light even after walking through darkness, and of leaving a meaningful
part of yourself behind. That idea is really connected to Jade and Will’s story and ultimately
became one of the novel’s central themes.
The life cycle of the moth also reflects many of the themes explored throughout the series:
transformation and metamorphosis, the passage of time, aging, survival, identity, and the
continual process of becoming someone new. Just as a silk moth must pass through multiple
stages before emerging into its final form, the characters are continually challenged, broken,
and remade by the choices they make.
And, of course, I’ve always thought moths were the Gothic counterpart to butterflies. They have
the same symbolism of transformation, but with a “darker” more mysterious beauty that feels
perfectly at home in the world of Metamorphosis!
YABC: What is the main message or lesson you want your reader to remember
from this book?
I hope readers walk away with a sense of compassion for themselves. We all make mistakes,
that’s part of being human. What matters isn’t perfection, but our willingness to learn, grow, and
become better people because of those experiences. Throughout our lives, we move through
many seasons. We experience joy and grief, love and loss, and each one changes us in some
way. Growth is a lifelong process of transformation and metamorphosing.
Like the moth, I hope readers remember to keep moving toward the light, even in their darkest
times. To let go of shame and guilt, embrace who you are, and trust that you are continually
becoming the person you are meant to be. In many ways, that’s what Grove Hollow is about. It’s
a reminder not to idolize the things that ultimately leave us empty or hollow, but instead to seek
what really brings life, healing, and purpose. At its heart, the story isn’t just about falling in love
with someone else, but learning to love yourself.
YABC: What are your favorite themes or tropes?
Friends-to-lovers, he falls first, and fated mates have become some of my favorite romance
tropes. While enemies-to-lovers will always be a classic, I’m really drawn to stories where you
can feel the emotional depth and connection between the characters. It’s so incredibly satisfying
watching a relationship grow from trust, friendship, and genuine understanding before it
blossoms into love.
YABC: Do you have a playlist you listened to while writing?
Absolutely! Music is a huge part of my writing process. I have a Spotify playlist that I listen to
while writing, filled with ’80s new wave and alternative music. I have to say that almost every
song on Rio by Duran Duran inspired a chapter or scene in some way, and the dark,
atmospheric sound of The Cure was instrumental in creating the gothic, moody feel of the story.
Each book in the series has its own dedicated playlist that helps me “immerse myself” in that
particular story. Along with artists like Duran Duran and The Cure, I also listen to indie
synthwave bands such as White Lies and George Clanton, mixed with a variety of lesser-known
artists spanning the 1980s to today. Music helps me visualize scenes, connect with the
characters emotionally, and describe the setting and the atmosphere I want readers to
experience.
YABC: Do you have an unusual office supply that helps you in your writing
routine?
I currently write in the attic of my house—which is haunted by a man. He doesn’t seem to
appreciate it when I’m up there writing after midnight, but sometimes I have no choice! My
writing essentials are pretty simple: a fridge stocked with Diet Coke, a candle lit to set the mood,
and a quiet space where I can disappear into the story. Although, I have to admit, writing in a
haunted house definitely adds a little extra inspiration all on its own!
YABC: What kind of animal would your main character be and why?
I have to say Jade is absolutely a luna moth. Throughout the entire series, I’ve always imagined
both her and Will as luna moths.
Jade, especially, embodies everything the luna moth symbolizes. She’s only eighteen, yet she’s
forced to overcome extraordinary challenges that transform her in a very short period of time.
Like the luna moth, her journey is one of growth, sacrifice, resilience, and metamorphosis.
That’s why the luna moth and the moon became such a powerful metaphor for the story. It isn’t
just a symbol that appears throughout the books, but it’s a reflection of who Jade and Will are
and the journey they take together.
YABC: If you could collaborate with any other writer in history, who would it be?
John Hughes is the first name that comes to mind. I don’t know if he actually counts in this
context, but he really understood the growing pains of teenage angst, which is why his films
have become such cult classics. He didn’t just write, but he also produced and directed, so he
knew what it meant to have a vision and bring it fully to life.
As for authors, I would love to collaborate with Jenny Han. I’m a huge fan of her YA novels and
the way she captures the emotional highs and lows of young adulthood in such a heartfelt,
engaging, and relatable way.
YABC: What would you say is your superpower?
Aside from making amazing playlists, I’d have to say my imagination. It’s the one thing I’m
incredibly grateful for. I’ve always been a daydreamer, so my mind is constantly
creating—whether it’s stories, designs, illustrations, or entire worlds of make-believe. It’s what
keeps me young at heart, and having kids has only expanded that part of me.
I think my friends would probably say it’s my positive energy and the way I try to uplift people.
Helping others feel better genuinely brings me so much joy. I love nothing more than helping
people heal, laugh, and smile.
YABC: How do you cope with criticism from editors or the public?
Being a graphic designer, you get used to criticism, it’s part of the job. Writing, however, feels
much more intimate and vulnerable. Still, I’ve come to realize that reading is incredibly
subjective. We all bring our own personalities, tastes, and life experiences to a story.
I’ve had people DNF Metamorphosis and others who have finished it in a day. Because of that, I
try not to take negative feedback personally. I may not connect with every book I read either,
and that’s completely natural! That said, I do tend to take editorial feedback more seriously.
Coming from a design background, I really value professional critique and the process of
refining creative work.
There’s a quote from David Bowie that’s always stayed with me: “Always remember that the
reason that you initially started working was that there was something inside yourself that you
felt that, if you could manifest it in some way, you would understand more about yourself and
how you coexist with the rest of society.”
That’s the biggest takeaway for me. My work is a form of art born from my soul. It’s a way of
understanding myself more, and ultimately, that’s the reason I started creating in the first place.
YABC: Which new-release book are you looking forward to in 2026?
Other Worlds Than These by Stephen King and Peter Straub!! It is the final book in the Talisman
trilogy and it will be released on my birthday October 06, 2026!
YABC: What’s up next for you?
I just finished the manuscript for book 3, Mimicry, of The Grove Hollow Series at the end of May
and I am really excited to dive into the fourth book, Resurrection.
Title: METAMORPHOSIS
Author: Shelby Nicole
Release Date: 7/7/2026
Publisher: Delacorte Press.
Age Range: 12+
