Swoon Sunday: Shaw from The Things They’ve Taken by Katie McElhenney!

Welcome to Swoon Sunday where you get to meet some of our swoon-worthy heroes. Today we have a visit from Shaw from The Things They’ve Taken by Katie McElhenney!

(Note: This interview will be conducted with the help of our heroine, Lo, since Shaw is way too private/cranky/taciturn to be trusted with answering on his own. Prone to communicating in succinct answers and grumpy grunts, this would be a very short interview without Lo’s support.)

Shaw, why don’t you describe yourself to us.

Shaw: Tall, brown hair, green eyes.

Lo: You forgot the beard stubble, boxer’s hands, and perma-grump face. It all goes well with the whole flannel/jeans/boots uniform you have working. Makes sense, though, since the plaid hides the ichor stains when you go off tackling monsters.

What’s your profession?

Shaw: I’m a tracker.

Lo: People hire him to guide them through the supernatural world. He’s the best there is, or at least he better be considering how much I’m paying him.

Where do you call home?

Shaw: Why do you want to know?

Lo: My guess is because this is an interview.

Shaw: (looks away)

Lo: Come on. I don’t think the nice interviewer is going to show up on your doorstep and shake you down for money.

Shaw: Fine. I live in a small county outside Louisville, Kentucky. But I don’t really consider it home. It’s just where my last job ended so I stayed.

What kind of music do you listen to? (What song are you listening to on your phone or streaming account right now?)

Shaw: I don’t listen to music on the job. I need all my senses for tracking.

Lo: That isn’t exactly accurate. A demon rigged my car radio to play only Patsy Cline 24/7. I think it’s starting to grow on him.

Shaw: That’s not true.

Lo: Then why did I catch you singing along when you didn’t think I was looking?

Shaw: No I wasn’t.

Lo: I hope you don’t play poker cause you’re terrible at bluffing.

Do you have a special skill?

Shaw: Besides being able to track down things most humans can’t see? No.

Lo: You’re being modest. He also whittles. Don’t look at me like that—it’s nothing to be embarrassed about. You’re good at it. He’s also crazy athletic. I’ve seen him fight a devil, a fog phantom, and reanimated ancient warriors without even breaking a sweat. To be fair though, he did have help with those.

Shaw: True. Mange is a great partner.

Lo: I was talking about me, not your dog. But I’ll admit the furry drool machine has grown on me.

What’s your darkest secret?

Shaw: If it’s something I can tell you it isn’t a worthy secret, is it?

Lo: I can’t argue with that logic.

What would be your idea of an ideal vacation?

Shaw: I don’t take vacations.

Lo: You travel a lot though.

Shaw: That comes with the job.

Lo: But you must have been tracking somewhere you’d love to go back to.

Shaw: Svalbard Archipelago, Norway.

Lo: I guess “The Bahamas” was way too simple an answer to hope for.

What is the one thing that no one knows or could never guess about you?

Shaw: A lot.

Lo: (rolls her eyes) He’s a man of mystery. It’s kinda his thing.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

Shaw: She’s currently sitting next to me.

Lo: (laughs) Wow! Look who’s got jokes! I’m impressed. I think my snarkiness is rubbing off on you. I’m so proud!

Liked this interview with Shaw (and Lo)? Now check out a smouldering excerpt between him and Lo:

Without breaking our kiss I tug off my sweatshirt. In just a tank top, the bare skin of my arms slides against his. The effect is a heat more intense than anything I’ve ever felt. It comes from deep inside myself, as if my bones are nothing more than kindling that’s waited desperately for this single spark to set it ablaze. The more it consumes me, the more I want to burn.

About The Things They’ve Taken:

All Lo Campbell wants is to be a normal teenager—to go to one high school, live in one place, and have one real friend. Instead, she travels the country with her mother, chasing the unknown, the “what else” that’s out there…

Until one day, the “what else” chases back.

Determined to rescue her mom from whatever supernatural being took her, Lo will need more help than a badly dressed demon obsessed with country music. She’s going to need a Tracker—and lucky for her, she finds one. Shaw is strong, good-looking, possibly available, and utterly infuriating. Sure, he may have secrets, and his help costs more than a brand-new car, but she’ll