What do you wear when you write?

Sweatpants, jeans, housecoat. Once just a towel. It's probably good that I work alone.

Is there a dog in your office? I thought I heard barking.

Not one dog. Three. And they all go completely apey when the mail lady arrives. Sorry. (I also have four cats and two fish, though I am not, in fact, a spinster.)

Is it true you worked for Larry Flynt?

Yes. After graduating at the top of my journalism class in 1995, I moved to Los Angeles and was soon carjacked, broke, and disenchanted with my no-pay movie studio internship. Fate brought me to the LFP offices, where I edited a boring computer magazine and occasionally lent a hand on adult titles like Busty Beauties and Barely Legal. Man, do I have stories.

You've interviewed a lot of famous designers. Who was your favorite?

Hands down, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen of BBC's Changing Rooms. British folks are always fun to interview, but LLB's rapid-fire cleverness made me a flouncy-sleeve fan for life!

Do you have anything that inspires your work?

Definitely. As a writer, I like to re-read The War of Art by Steven Pressfield every time I need a good kick in the pants. In terms of marketing and design, I seem to always be collecting new ideas and bits of inspiration, and I especially like to visit unique, innovative businesses with a fun, vintage-y twist. A few favorites are the Kennedy School in Portland, Lynn's Paradise Cafe in Louisville, and the City Museum in St. Louis.

Can I hire you for a new project?

Maybe. I get regular assignments from several editors and other clients, so my plate is often full. But email me anyway. I'm always eager to kick around ideas.

Are you working on any new projects?

Yes. I'm currently organizing my thoughts on two new book projects - one a hip home canning guide for the modern gardener, and the other a resourceful living book. More info soon.

Can you get my house/garden in a magazine?

I scout locations pretty infrequently these days, but possibly. Email me a few photos and we can go from there. Thanks!

Hey Shannon, do you write about anything but decorating?

Smart freelancers find a niche, so I've specialized in architecture and interior design since 2002. But since I also do marketing work, I get to write about many other subjects as well - green living, small business, entertainment, food. I like to think of myself as a lifestyle expert.