Friday, April 24, 2009

Susan Page Davis - INSIDE STORY - Free Book


I had to ask Susan back for this third book in the series. Welcome, Susan. Tell us about your salvation experience.
I was saved when I was eight years old. I grew up in a Christian family, and I may even have been saved earlier, but it was at this age that I understood what it meant and so I look at this as the time when I truly received Christ.

How did you and your husband meet?

Jim was my brother’s college roommate. He had relatives in Maine, and one Christmas he rode home with my brother and sister to visit his relatives. He got sick while at our house and stayed about a week. I was only 13 at the time, and he was about 19, and we didn’t stay in touch at the time. But several years later, when I went to college, he remembered me and tracked down an address and began to write to me.

Very romantic. Now, Susan, you’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?
Ooo! Can they be authors who are no longer with us? Because I would absolutely love to pick the brains of Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, for instance. Plotting finesse, unforgettable characters and just plain beautiful writing. I’d also add Taylor Caldwell for some help on narrative savvy, sense of history, and epic sweep. Let’s see, now, that’s three Brits. I need an American. And since this is an all-girl party so far, I’m not sure a male author would be comfortable at our cozy retreat. Harper Lee is still living as I write this, and I hear she’s very shy, but I’d LOVE to talk to her. What characters are more memorable than Scout Finch and Boo Radley? I think this group of writers could come up with the greatest novel ever, but I’m a little hazy on the genre—maybe a Southern-British historical epic mystery? Perfect! I’ve refused to “brand” for years now. We’d have to come up with a pen name for all of us working together. DoroChris Taylor Lee Davis?

Let me know when you first book comes out. :-) I know you have a singing and speaking ministry. Tell us about that.
I do? Oops, I think this question was meant for someone else. :-) Actually, I do speak occasionally, and I’ve been known to sing in our church choir. When I speak, it is mostly to small groups—civic groups, clubs, and ladies’ groups. I have taught a few sessions at writers’ conferences as well. I love talking to people about writing. My favorite part of speaking is the question and answer time.

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?
Oh, someone told you about the battery, didn’t they? Yeah, I’m the one who swallowed a battery. Perhaps you, like the physician who examined me in the ER, are wondering WHY I did this. Well, let’s just make it clear—it was a BUTTON battery about the size of a Metformin tablet (which I take to stabilize my blood sugar). Don’t ever put the pill in one pocket and the battery you plan to replace that day in the other pocket. That’s all I’m gonna say. But the nurses said plenty.

Interesting! People are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?

I’d tell them to have at it. We were all there at one time. The thing I would emphasize is that “Someday” is now. If you truly want to be a writer, you have to write, and thinking about it won’t make you an author.

So true. Now tell us about the featured book.
Claudia Gillette, an ambitious magazine writer, will do anything for a good story. Her go-getter attitude lands her in all kinds of trouble. She’s determined to shed her small-town Maine girl past and run with the big leagues. When she stumbles upon the fact that a special forces unit of the Navy includes a female, she determines to snag an interview with that woman. The gymnastics she performs to get that story leaves her brother-in-law, Lt. Pierre Belanger, with a developing ulcer. As he says to his friend, Commander George Hudson, “We love Claudia, but…”

Claudia’s tenacity puts her in the middle of a top secret mission in the Philippine jungle. She has to live with the knowledge that several men died because she jumped into their well-laid plans. Lt. Bill White is left in charge of the unit after their leader is killed, and keeping Claudia alive is nearly as difficult as his main purpose—rescuing a kidnapped scientist and his family from terrorists.
Inside Story is the third book in my military-themed, romantic suspense American Heroes series, but it can be read by itself and you’ll be fine. If you can’t find Book 1 (Frasier Island), check my Website. It’s available there.

How can readers find you on the Internet?
Visit my Web site at: http://www.susanpagedavis.com/. The trailer for Inside Story is posted there. It’s like a commercial for the book—lots of fun! I love to hear from readers, and I have a book giveaway each month on my site.
Thank you, Susan, for spending this time with us. You're always a fun guest.
Readers, if you can't wait to get your hands on Inside Story, here's a link where you can order it:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy. The winners announcement post on this blog will be your only notification. So don't forget to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won.

23 comments:

apple blossom said...

Interesting. Sounds like a good book.

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Eileen Key said...

Susan is an amazing writer and a good friend. I'd love to have this book.

Lena, thanks for the interview...in spite of your crazy week, you keep on promoting. We appreciate you.

CarlybirdH said...

It doesn't get any better than American heroes. Sounds like a great book.
carlyberd[at]yahoo[dot]com

Megan said...

Sounds like a great book. And that's a cute story about how you met your hubby!

megan.nadalet at gmail dot com

Aaron McCarver said...

Susan is such a talented writer. Suspense, romance, historical...she is able to do it all. This book, as her other suspense novels, will keep you on the edge of your seat while inspiring you to draw closer to the Father. Great job, Susan! Blessings to you!

Susan Page Davis said...

Thanks to all of you for the kind words. How is it that Lena gets us to spill our most embarrassing secrets? She is a great interviewer--I can see her having her own TV show someday. Hey, it's spring in Maine, and I'm going slightly nutty. My 16-year-old has started driver training. Look out!
Susan

Luann Nordine said...

Great interview Susan and Lena! I loved Frazier Island and Finding Marie so I can't wait to read "Inside Story", the third book in the series. I was raised in Maine and can identify with the Maine charactors (makes me a little homesick). My maiden name is Belanger, too! It was wonderful to reconnect with Susan (her visit to Alaska) after so many years had passed. Blessings and continued success in your writing.

Amy Ballard said...

Inside Story is one of my favorite books my mom has written. I highly recommend it! Mom, I had never heard the one about the battery. Thanks for a great interview, Lena!

Susan Page Davis said...

Oh, boy, now I've blown it. I knew there was a reason not to tell Lena about the battery incident. Now my KIDS know. I thought I could die with that secret, but she wormed it out of me. Thanks for coming by anyway, Amy! And Luann, great to see you here. I knew Belanger was a great name for my characters' family.

Sharon Chadbourne said...

Great interview and Susan is a great writer. I have all of her adult works except Inside Story and will be getting that very soon.
I love the battery story, I can just picture me doing that!

Linda said...

I've not read any of Susan's books, but this one sounds intriguing. Here's to having an opportunity to read her book. I love the 'edge of the seat' type of books. Can't put them down, even into the wee hours of the morning!


desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

Debs Desk said...

Please include me in your giveaway.
Thanks
debbie
debdesk9(at)verizon.net

windycindy said...

There is a lot of military in my history and my husband's! Please enter my name in your drawing.
Thanks very much!
Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

Susan Page Davis said...

You all are reminding me of why I love to write (and read) suspense. In writing Inside Story, I set out to create the type of book I like to read. It was a lot of fun, but also a lot of work. Tons of research and interviews, and I asked a retired Navy person to read through it for me for accuracy. Of course it's fiction, but I wanted everyone to believe it COULD have happened that way. Thanks for coming by, and for all your encouragement.

ladybug said...

Would love to win this one. This is one of my favorite gendre. please include me.

Edna said...

Very good interview and I would love to win one of her books. I live in SC and it is starting to get hot here, turned my air on today for the firt time. Please enter me to win a book and may God bless.

mamamt2730(at)charter(dot)net

Simply Stacie said...

Thanks for the chance.

Sheila Deeth said...

Sounds an interesting book. And a fun interview to read. Thanks.

sharon54220 said...

WOW!! This sounds like a very interesting book. Please enter me.

sharon54220@gmail.com

Karin said...

All I can think about is that battery--how did they get it out? Wait it for it to come out naturally, stomach pump, what? Very curious to know!

karin56381 (at) gmail.com

Susan Page Davis said...

Ah, Karin, you had to ask, didn't you? The first thing they did was take an x-ray to be sure it wasn't lodged where it shouldn't be. If that happens, the acid can damage your innards as the battery deteriorates, or so they told me. Well, it was on its way through, and so we let nature take its course. My dear hubby calls me the Energizer Bunny, but I'm not really.
Susan

Marla said...

Sounds good. If I win, I will most definitely get the first 2 books in the series. Thanks!

koinonia572001@yahoo.com

Robyn said...

Aunt Sue- I was so intrigued to read this interview. I learned a lot more about you that I didn't know. Love the battery story! When did that happen? I also didn't know the whole story about how you met Uncle Jim. I'm very excited about book #3 in the series, and can't wait to read it!

Please enter me in the contest.

flennerhouse@gmail.com