The Chimera Snare
- 2 hours ago
- 6 min read
1) Hi! First, I want you to introduce yourselves by your joint pen name. Then can you tell me your first names for the sake of this interview?
Our pen name is S & E Black but your first names are Shannon and Edward.
2) What genre(s) do you write?
Dark Epic Fantasy
3) What are some of your pet peeves?
Shannon: It’s no secret that we do not think fondly of generative AI. And most of my pet peeves have really stuck in that realm. My biggest one is when an author uses generative AI on their book covers or in their actual writing. Even using it for “ideas”—it’s like the most absurd thing I’ve heard of. We all know that AI scrapes what already exists. There’s nothing “artificial” about it. Next most is when event organizers use generative AI to create flyers, especially for makers markets. The list will go on in this department, especially with the environmental and social implications, so I’ll stop there. Aside from AI peevin’ my everyday life, others include when people do not take accountability for their actions, or choose not to learn or grow.
Edward: Yeah, I have no patience for AI simps when it comes to creative avenues. Also, it irks me when people say they “read” audiobooks. You don’t read them - you listen to them. Get your senses straight, people!
4) Where were you born/grew up at?
Shannon: Both Edward and I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. It was a pretty unique time, as we got to watch tech come in and change the landscape in so many ways. In my opinion, it really ruined so much of what made the Bay Area great. Back then, I first noticed single-family homes turned into massive condos, and small businesses were either bought out or pushed out. But some out there still managed to hold on. There are some cities like Pescadero and Santa Cruz who have tried to preserve and protect themselves against the overhaul and have done well to maintain it to some degree, but I often wonder how much longer it will last.
5) If you knew you'd die tomorrow, how would you spend your last day?
Shannon: Hmm … if it was only one day, then I’d spend it doing the things that have brought me all the joy. I’d be with Edward and our clowder of rescue cats spinning records while drinkin’ some beers, snacking on cheese and bread (and sneaking some cheese to the cats because we’ll no doubt be surrounded), and storyboarding more of our series, because spoiler alert, he’ll be forced to write the rest of it as my dying wish, so I better drop all the ideas while I can. Who knows, maybe I’ll haunt him from beyond the grave to push him, muahahahaha.
Edward: I would hyper-indulge in all of my favorite things, simultaneously, right alongside my wife. And of course hash out as much of the remaining storyboarding for The Chimera Snare series as possible since it’ll be up to Shannon to finish it.
6) What is your quick pitch for your latest book?
Witness the vile acts of a monstrous heart.
Feel the vicious clash of duality in conflict.
Know the light of protection through valiant courage.
7) Have your books earned any recognition and/or awards?
The Chimera Snare Book 1
-Winner: 2025 International Impact Book Awards - Fantasy
-2nd Place: 2025 BookFest Awards - Fiction
- Dark Fantasy-Winner: 2024 Indies Today Awards
- Best Urban Fantasy-Winner: 2024 Literary Titan Gold Book Awards: Fiction
-Finalist: 2024 Literary Global Fiction/Debut & Dark Fantasy Sci-fi
-Book Nerdection "Excellent Read"
The Chimere Snare Book 2
-Winner: 2026 Literary Titan Gold Book Awards: Fiction
-2nd Place: 2026 BookFest Awards - Fiction
- Dark Fantasy-Book Nerdection "Must Read"
-Readers' Favorite: 5 Stars
8) Can you tell me more about the books and your series?
The Chimera Snare: Fragments
The Chimera Snare Book 1
For Rayshell and her best friend Trish, senior year of high school is going to hell in a handbasket. The feud between Celestine and Daeva is bleeding into their world. When a mysterious visitor infiltrates her dreams, Rayshell is thrust into a realm of profound, otherworldly secrets. Together, Rayshell and Trish uncover the unbelievable—they are the living vessels for two banished Celestine guardians.
Amidst mystical recollections and a wondrous magic system that shatters the veneer of their everyday lives, the two friends embark on a journey against time to connect with the Celestine guardians' allies in hopes of freeing them from their imprisonment. Simultaneously, the shadows cast by Daeva darken. The notorious outlaw, Merisek, has positioned himself to claim dominion over the Order of Existence—a trio of powerful artifacts capable of reshaping reality. Armed with two of these relics, Merisek races against the emergence of the Celestine guardians to claim the third. The stage is set for a showdown that will determine the fate of existence itself.
Rayshell and Trish are all that stand between Merisek and his unhinged desire to twist the fabric of reality into his making. As the threads of destiny unravel, the question looms: who will be the author of existence, and what profound truths will be unveiled in the final, decisive act?
The Chimera Snare: Reflections
The Chimera Snare Book 2
Von is cast into the pages of Ananael, the Order's tome of secret knowledge. However, his venture into the past takes an unexpected turn as he awakens within a cosmic void in the presence of the eternal being, who grants him perspective through others woven through his existence. Yet before he may commence his time-altering quest, a trial of discovery, revelation, and horror surrounding his origin awaits him.
Benson's monstrous heart sews the seeds of a vile past brimming with betrayal and hate. Through unimaginable deceptions and buried secrets, familial bonds once forged from love, honor, and acceptance are upended and broken forever. The souls of integral births, sprouting from pillaged and neglected foundations, unfurl a path towards disarray.
Distorted memory fragments challenge Von's grip on reality, and the reveal of a horrid truth ignites a vicious fury of vengeance. Though his quest for answers falters along the way, he finds help from an unexpected ally. Meanwhile, a mysterious power awakens within Navaryn, putting her at odds with both her friends and herself. And as the motivations of Celestine's leader become questionable, her suspicions involving her role within the Halryn continue to grow.
As the disparate worlds of Celestine and Daeva teeter on the brink of war, Von and Navaryn are drawn together by unseen forces. Two destinies, once parallel, now collide. But where bloodshed beckons, a valiant act of courage challenges the course of their fates.
9) Wonderful! Can you tell me a bit about yourselves?
Husband & Wife author duo Shannon Vierra & Edward Ayllon write under the pen name S & E Black. Together, they craft the award-winning series, The Chimera Snare. They share a deep appreciation for music and credit a great number of bands and artists for inspiring their writing journey. Currently, they live in the greater Chicago area amidst a rich and diverse culture with their clowder of rescue cats.
Shannon is an urban gardener and an avid seed collector. In the makeup community, she goes by the moniker zoomzoommacaron and hosts an international, zombie-themed makeup collab called the #zombabescollab. She also enjoys anime, horror movies, craft beer & kombucha, cooking (and eating), sunbathing, photography, and singing badly. Music fuels Shannon's many passions, especially writing and creating art. She credits music with saving her life on multiple occasions in her teenage and young adult years.
Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Edward first discovered the joys of creative writing through his early high school studies, and has spent many years exploring and developing a deep appreciation for the arts. Since first collaborating with his wife, Shannon, he has sprouted a passion and true affinity for storytelling and crafting literature. In addition to refining his skill in creating written works, his other interests include playing bass guitar, listening to music, and dabbling in photography.
10) Do you have a website? If so, what is it?
11) Where else can we find and follow you?
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thechimerasnare
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoomzoommacaron
Giveaway
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