Bob: Susan, welcome to the Interview. Wow, I see that you just published your tenth book. That’s ten books in ten years! How do you come up with ideas to write about so quickly?

Susan: Thanks, Bob. By the time I finish a book, the formation of a new story has been stirring in my brain for a while and I can’t wait to get started. In 2013, I created a list called “Pending Projects” with titles and subject matters for future books, and I have stuck with it. For instance, my new release, Secrets in the Water, is based on a news article I read around ten years ago about a plane being found at the bottom of a lake, close to where I live. I saved the newspaper clipping and changed the plane to a Mercedes sedan discovered during a drought when the lake’s water level had receded. To make it more interesting, there are the remains of a couple believed to have run off together. Both skulls show fatal gunshot wounds.

Bob: Your first six books are standalones. Why did you change course and start a series about a Charlotte homicide detective?

Susan: If authors create an intriguing main character, readers want her, or him, to show up in the next book. I made the rookie mistake of killing off my best character in my first novel, Good Gone Bad. Since he was so much fun to write about and readers love him, I created his half-brother, Colt Jessup, for a new series. Like Streaker, Colt is a cop who doesn’t always follow the rules and often goes rogue.

Bob: When did you know you wanted to become an author?

Susan: Well, Bob, I started writing at age 14. My first work was a poem about a vagabond. It was called “The Weary Traveler.” Although it was not bad for a girl my age, and I was proud of what I accomplished, I never wrote another poem. I realized I had more fun writing short stories. My first efforts were about love and romance, but I wanted to turn up the heat a bit with fast-paced action. I switched to writing romantic suspense and mysteries, but I notice as I get older, I write less romance and more suspense. (Laughing and rolling her eyes.)

Bob: I know you write mystery and suspense, but how would you describe your books to someone who hasn’t read any of your work?

Susan: They are character-driven and about things I care about. Subjects like domestic abuse, racism, opioid addiction, corporate greed, pollution, or extremism, to name a few. Of course, I don’t want my stories to be too heavy, so I add in a mix of humor and romance. In my Colt Jessup series, I write not only about Colt as a homicide detective but as a father and a man who desperately wants to get back with his ex-wife. Further into the series, the reader will find out if he reaches that goal or if it’s always just out of reach.

Bob: There’s a ton of successful writers to choose from, but who is your biggest inspiration?

Susan: Well, it might surprise you to know it’s Stephen King. Although I don’t like horror and would never use it in a story, I have read some of King’s milder books, like the Green Mile and Billy Summers. My all-time favorite movie, Shawshank Redemption, is based on a novella he wrote. The thing I like best about King is how he writes seamlessly and writes about ordinary habits and routines relatable to all of us.

Bob: Do you listen to music while you write?

Susan: I used to, but not now. I get distracted and start focusing more on the music than on the thoughts in my head. However, I have certain music videos I watch or music I listen to that match the ambiance for the type of scene I am working on. For instance, to set the mood for a romantic scene, I will listen to Andrea Bocelli or Ed Sheeran. In Secrets in the Water, I played a lot to James Taylor’s music because he fits the persona of the character Luke, who plays the guitar and aspires to be a recording artist.

Bob: Is there anything you want to share that people may not know about you?

Susan: When I started writing suspense and mystery, I wanted to learn all I could about law enforcement. I attended three citizens police academies in my area to gain knowledge and make connections with officers who could answer my questions.

Bob: What’s coming next?

Susan: I am currently working on Book Five of the Colt Jessup series, called A River of Tears. In this story, I delve closely into Colt’s personal struggles to help his daughter when she experiences a life-altering event. I can’t wait for people to read it, but there is a long process before getting it into the hands of readers.

Bob: Good chatting with you, Susan, and learning about your writing journey. I wish you lots of success and hope readers will add your novels to their list.

Susan: Thanks, Bob, it’s been a pleasure. Readers can learn more about me and my books on my website.

###