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| Meet The Author |
ChrisChat:Why did you write the book that brought you to MuseItUp Publishing?
Susan:
Not Long Ago is the first book I published with MuseItUp. The first book I published. Period. Only it didn’t start out as a time travel. I was a member of a small online writing group and someone suggested we take turns posting short snippets of our writing. One of us would begin the story and the next person would take up where they left off and continue. I was first, and this is what I came up with.
I saw him the other day. It happened when I cut across Market Street and passed in front of the fancy new coffee shop. On the other side of spotless glass, waitresses in crisp black uniforms served expensive coffee in fancy cups and saucers. One man sat alone at a table by the window. No one I knew, just a handsome stranger who glanced up as I passed. Our eyes met and I froze in the middle of a busy sidewalk crowded with impatient people. Annoyed, they parted, sweeping past me like water rushing downstream.
What I saw left me reeling, as though someone had knocked the wind out of me. My glimpse deep inside the man’s essence unnerved me, but I couldn’t look away. Who was he? The waitress stopped at his table. He turned, lowering his cup into its saucer and shook his head, his mouth curving into a familiar smile that made my heart lurch.
I pictured a smart, attractive young woman in her early twenties hurrying down a busy city sidewalk. On her way past a coffee shop, she finds herself drawn to a man she sees through the window. When eyes meet she sees something that leaves her reeling. Not only does she recognize him, she knows things about him…but how? Who is he? And why does he make her feel this way?
From there, the story could have gone anywhere. Turns out it did. After sitting in a file on my computer for at least 6 months, I decided to make it the beginning of a story combining adventure, romance and time travel. The idea of visiting another time has always been fascinating to me. Can you just imagine getting up close and personal with some other era in history? Experiencing firsthand what life is really like? Seeing the world the way it was in the past or will be in the future?
I chose a medieval world as a setting, because it’s a rich and colorful time, filled with romance, magic and superstition. Not Long Ago is written in first person, because I liked the idea of my main character telling her story in her own words. That way the reader could get into her head and feel her disbelief and fear when she realizes she make never go home again. Reveal how she admires and eventually falls in love with the handsome knight from a medieval world.
Once I got started, I realized how much fun I was having with my secondary characters. The tailor’s son, for instance. Arvo was created to feed information Erin information about the castle and be her source for a gown suitable to attend the masked ball so she could dance with Griffin. But the gangly young man with a shock of red hair sticking up in every direction kept turning hanging around and next thing you know, he and Erin became good friends. He even returns in the sequel. Maldwyn was another favorite. I could just see the marvelous actor, James Cosmos, (he played Mel Gibson’s uncle in Braveheart) playing the part. Grizzled and tough as nails with a heart of gold. And Kateryn, Griffin’s headstrong little sister, a match for Erin if there ever was one. We see her again as well.
Why did I write it? I wanted a romantic adventure, filled with twists and intriguing characters. I’d just finished writing a fantasy and wanted to try my hand at something different. I was looking for a strong female lead who could adapt to her circumstances and an equally strong male lead with a keen sense of duty and honor.
At first the research was daunting, but before long I found myself completely engrossed in this medieval world. The dress, the speech, the customs, the myths and folklore. I wanted it to be believable and as authentic as possible. In the sequel my characters travel to the Isle of Man, rich with all of the above, and next they’ll journey to the caves in the mountains of Wales. I’m far from done with Griffin and Erin’s love story
Can you tell I’m having a ball?
ChrisChat:
Yup, you’re having a blast…same here. I have to ask next…how long from start to finish? As in time you submitted the story to us. You’ve said six months it sat in your file, so from there?
Susan:
By the time I began writing Not Long Ago, I had joined an online critique group. By sheer luck I found Critique Circle, and I’m still a member. I can’t begin to tell you what a rewarding experience it is to be a member of a good online critique group. Not only do you get feedback, but you learn to communicate your thoughts and ideas, something every writer needs to know. I realized if I wasn’t getting my point across in a story, I needed to change my approach. I learned to take criticism—use what I could and ignore the rest.
It’s difficult to say how long it took me to write Not Long Ago from beginning to end, because I didn’t set myself goals or a deadline. I’d write, submit for critique, edit and write a little more. When I finished the second draft, I polished it up and began submitting to every agent or editor who accepted email queries for manuscripts in my genre. At a writer’s conference in 2009, I had a one-on-one with an editor from Tor. After reading my manuscript, she sent me a long email with suggestions for improvement. I was disappointed she didn’t sign me up immediately but excited she thought it had potential. In 2010 I did more polishing and had a one-on-one with an agent. Even though she didn’t sign me because she didn’t have a market for my type of book, she told me she thought it was a good story and suggested I try an independent publisher. In 2011, Cyrus Keith, a fellow member of CC encouraged me to submit to MuseItUp. He had nothing but good things to say about his publisher, and I took him up on his advice. I’ve never been sorry.
I submitted my manuscript to Lea Schizas on June 27, 2011 and heard back on July 2. At first I didn’t want to open the email. I was certain it was another rejection, but it wasn’t. Long story short, she offered me a contract, and I accepted. Needless to say the next few months were spent chewing my nails, reading her email over and over again to reassure myself it was real and wondering when the editing process would being.
I filled my time with writing. I began reworking an old manuscript. Sometime after the first of the year and a lot of impatient waiting, I heard from my content editor. Both newbies at MIU, we passed the manuscript back and forth, improving it each time. From her it went to the line editor. More impatient waiting. Finally, I heard from her, and this time the edits went a little quicker. That spring I visited with my cover artist and gave her input, concerning my book. When she sent me the cover, I was blown away. MY NAME ON THE COVER OF A REAL BOOK!! Not Long Ago made its debut the end of June 2012, about a year from signing.
That’s when the real work began. Marketing. A necessary evil. I’m not a shy person, but I had to learn to put myself forward. I’ve done talks at schools about my writing, learned how much fun it is to blog and made friends from all over the world. And I’ve continued to write. My second book, In My Own Shadow came out in 2013 and From Now On (the sequel to Not Long Ago) came out in June 2014. That’s three books in three years, folks. It’s been a roller coaster ride.
ChrisChat:
What type of writing ritual/habit do you have? Any?
Susan:
In order to publish three books in three years, I had to learn how to set and meet my writing goals. I couldn’t just write on the nights I felt like writing and/or put it aside for a week or two when I didn’t.
I still work full time and two of my children live close along with extended family. We spend a lot of time together. I paint, sew and do craft work. My husband is semi-retired and we still do things together. There’s always a lot going at our house—sometimes all at once. I have to stay focused on the end result.
For me, it means setting goals. At the beginning of every month I sit down with a calendar and work my writing time in around everything else. I don’t watch a lot of television, so I do most of my writing in the evenings. Three or four nights a week, I’ll plan a quick supper and head to the computer. If I’m working on something new, and the ideas are flowing, I’ll let it happen without worrying about punctuation or sentence structure. The important thing is to get the words down first. Go back and polish later. If I have a scene that’s begging to be written, it gets written, no matter where it ends up in the book. My first draft is filled with question marks and passages in red, so I can go back later and work out the details. When writing, I spend anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes of uninterrupted time at the computer before getting up and stretching, running an errand or completing a task, and all the while, my mind is working on dialogue or plot. I try to write SOMETHING nearly every day, even if it’s only 100 words. They add up.
You’re probably shaking your head and wondering how I ever get anything done. It’s crazy, I know, but it works for me. That’s the most important thing. Don’t be afraid to try something new, but learn what works for you and use it.
ChrisChat:
Reading over your answers, and having time between when we started this chat to now, what surprised you the most about our industry?
Susan:
One thing I never really anticipated was the fun I’d have once I was published for the first time. I’ve met fellow authors from all over the country and beyond. They are a great group of people willing to share expertise and encourage.
ChrisChat:
With your surprised experience(s), is there anything a novice needs to cement into their mind as they start their journey through the industry? Besides – just write, don’t be afraid (something I still fight to remember)
Susan:
To put it short and sweet? Never give up. If you really want to be a writer, you’re going to spend the rest of your life learning your craft. You’ll have to keep an open mind and continue to improve. My best book is always my next book, because of what I’ve learned along the way.
ChrisChat:
You’ve given us quite a bit of information on your characters, so let’s visit with them. Why them? Who are they and what surprises (hmm, surprise seems to be my current favourite word) have they given you?
Susan:
Erin needed to have a certain mind-set to survive what happens to her and March. She was independent and used to being on her own. Too stubborn to give in to her fears about Griffin’s world. On the other hand, she’s a romantic. The books she’s read about the middle ages attest to that.
March is an eccentric author with a penchant for research on the middle ages. Once he decides they have traveled to the past, he views it as a learning experience and is eager to immerse himself. Until he realizes he’s not willing to give up what he left behind.
The character of the tailor’s son, Arvo, was my biggest surprise. He was originally intended to stay on the sidelines and appear from time to time, but only when needed. “Along with a disreputable shock of orange hair, the gangly, young man possessed an ingratiating smile and a pleasant manner.” In spite of his charm, I learned Arvo had another side to his personality when Erin fell victim to his irresponsible attitude. “The minute the two men left our side, Arvo winked, telling me he’d see me later, and disappeared. His escape was no doubt one of the reasons he and his father clashed so often”. Even so, she couldn’t help but like him, because of his wit and cheerfulness, plus the fact that he was privy to castle gossip. From there, his character evolved until he became an integral part of my story. When I decided Erin needed a confidant, Arvo fit the bill. Later on I needed to invent a way for her to attend the Masquerade ball, once again, the tailor’s son was perfect. His character expanded and his personality gained dimension. Arvo kept showing up, and before I knew it, he became a well-rounded character who made my story even better by his presence. He’s got an even bigger part in the sequel.
ChrisChat:
You mentioned deciding on the medieval world for your story. If you could time travel, when in time would you go?
Susan:
I’d love to visit medieval England, 16thcentury Scotland, WWII era, or travel across America when it was still a wilderness. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to talk to someone like Abraham Lincoln or Mark Twain in the flesh? To have the chance to meet them or even listen to them speak, instead of seeing them through someone else’s eyes. Find out what they were really like. Form your own opinions.
What if you could go back and see your parents or grandparents when they were your age? Observe them from a totally different viewpoint. What would they be like? Would you find things in common with them? What if you had the chance to visit a younger you? A you that hasn’t made the mistakes or learned the lessons you’ve learned. Would you try to change the past?
You have to admit the idea of time travel is intriguing. How would you cope? Could you live without electronics or indoor plumbing? What would society be like? It’s fascinating to think of what it would be like to visit. And who knows? You might decide you actually prefer it to living in the present. It’s a thought…
ChrisChat:
Where are you characters now? What’s happened to them and you since we started this chat process?
Susan:
I’ve got almost 20 chapters of Into The Past, the next book in the It’s About Time series. In Not Long Ago, I wrote Erin and Griffin’s love story. In From Now On, I shared what they had to endure to be together again. In Book 3, they’re newlyweds, and she begins to realize how different their worlds really are. While he spends long hours fulfilling his duties as seneschal and repaying the debt he owes to Lady Isobeil, she’s left with nothing to do but sit in their quarters, twiddling her thumbs. To make matters worse, Griffin has become so overprotective, he’s smothering her. She can’t go anywhere or do anything without an escort. Of course, it isn’t long before she begins taking matters into her own hands. When Mierla’s brother arrives at the castle with strange and unsettling news about her father and brothers, Lord John charges Griffin with taking her home. But Castle Llewellyn is an overnight ride into the mountains of Wales, and Erin knows Mierla still has a thing for Griffin. No way in hell is he going without her.
Thanks for having me on your blog today, Chris. As you can see, I love talking about writing. It gets me excited about the journeys I've made so far and gives me the momentum I need to continue.
Glad to you have, Susan. I love talking writing and the whole shebang, too.
So happy to see Susan on your blog. Chris, once again you have asked such great questions. I wanted to read Susan's books after our interview yesterday on my radio show, Red River Radio Tales from the Pages, but after this I can't wait to read them!!
You made my day, Barbara. Yes, Chris does a great interview, and I really enjoyed being on your radio show as well. I think you've got me hooked!
Thank you…for both comments and being part of this