“My dog, Goatmaster General, has an Instagram account, and she wants everyone to follow her.” —Shawn Collins
A member of the Writers’ League since 2026, Shawn lives in the Austin, TX area.
Scribe: Welcome, writer! Tell us — what do you write?
Shawn Collins: I wrote an upmarket new adult novel Escape Goat, about my experience pledging a fraternity in Fall 1988. This is not a fun or silly story, like Animal House, but rather the real telling of hazing, substance abuse, sexual assault, etc.
Scribe: If you could choose one author to blurb your book, who would it be, and what would you want it to say?
SC: Tucker Max, because while his books had a very different voice from mine, I respect that he started a new genre in fratire (short for “frat satire”) and did a great job growing his name. I’d like to have him share his perspective on my story.
Scribe: You have one book you’re allowed to push onto all of your friends, and they’re forced to read it to remain your friend — which one would you choose?
SC: Influence: Science and Practice by Robert Cialdini because it’s a fascinating book on the psychology of persuasion, which benefited me greatly as a marketer, and I think it is useful for anyone personally and professionally.
Scribe: Tell us your WLT story.
SC: I am a brand new member, and I just saw an ad on Facebook for a WLT event. I was curious, so I clicked through and joined.
Scribe: Where do you see your writing taking you (or you taking it) in the future?
SC: My writing has been instrumental in my career to this point, but that has been non-fiction, business writing. I would like to find an agent for my current book, and I have stories for a trilogy if things work out.
Scribe: Here at the WLT, we love sharing book recommendations. What’s one book that has come out within the past few years that you couldn’t put down? (Bonus points if the book is Texas related!)
SC: The Uncool: A Memoir by Cameron Crowe. I’ve always enjoyed Cameron Crowe’s movies, and they led me to his writing and appreciation of music. His story is inspiring, as it is essentially the path I wanted to take after college.
Scribe: Is there anything else about you that you would like to share with the world? An opportunity for blatant self-promotion!
SC: My dog, Goatmaster General, has an Instagram account, and she wants everyone to follow her: https://www.instagram.com/goatmastergeneral/.
Scribe: Let us know any social media handles you have!
SC: My social accounts are private, but I have a Substack for my writing: https://substack.com/@shawncollins512.