Author Susan Page Davis - Free Book

We're welcoming Susan Page Davis back with her wonderful sequel to Frasier Island.

Welcome, Susan, why do you write the kind of books you do?

Suspense appeals to me because I’ve always been fascinated by the concept of Justice, and of Good triumphing over Evil. It’s a way writers can show God’s will accomplished in a small way, and in the here and now, not the far-off future.

And you do that so well. Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

Today. Nothing big happened today, but looking back and trying to choose one day, I couldn’t do it. But I could see that, while I was often unhappy in the past, the Lord has brought me into a life that I love. Each day my satisfaction grows. It’s not that everything is peachy now, but I think I’m more contented with what God has given me than I’ve ever been before.

How has being published changed your life?

I don’t think I worry as much as I used to. I stay on task more, which means I spend more time at my desk. And I’ve stopped apologizing for my writing. I used to put myself down a lot. I think (hope) I’ve quit doing that.

What are you reading right now?

Right now? Yikes! You asked for it. I’m reading The Skulking Way of War: Technology and Tactics Among the New England Indians, by Patrick M. Malone (for research for a New Hampshire historical) and Oxygen, by John Olson and Randy Ingermanson (for fun).

What is your current work in progress?

My daughter Megan and I are finishing up our second cozy mystery together: Treasure at Blue Heron Lake. When that’s done I have a novella and new suspense book (sequel to Frasier Island and Finding Marie) to write. Hooray! I love it!

I can hardly wait to get my hands on the third book in the series. What would be your dream vacation?

I would love to take my whole family to Wales and stay in a castle or an old abbey for a month. Okay, two weeks. In summer. With a beach. And a chef and maid, of course. And horses we could ride anytime we wanted. No phones or computers, but everyone would take a blank journal. Oh, yeah.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I like writing about Maine. It’s the place I know best. But I’ve written about other places, too. My first published book was set in Wyoming because my editor wanted a historical, and that seemed like the ideal place for a Heartsong. Their readers were gobbling up prairie romances at the time. I’ve lived in Oregon, and visited Wyoming several times. In some cases the setting is chosen for me, as when Cathy Hake asked me to write a Shenandoah Valley series with her and Vickie McDonough (our Virginia Brides collection releases in April 08). With Frasier Island and Feather, the imaginary locations kind of grew in my mind along with the stories. For Finding Marie, I knew it had to start in Japan because that is where I’d left Pierre and Marie at the end of Frasier Island, but I wanted them to come back to the States, so I made it an odyssey from Tokyo to Maine. I guess there’s no definitive answer to this one!

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

I would love to get my dear hubby off for an evening. He works the 3 to midnight shift for a daily newspaper. Saturdays are usually booked, and Sunday evening is spent at church. Our last evening together? Alone? Can’t remember!

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

Genealogy, logic problems, scrapbooking. I used to do a lot of needlework, but haven’t had time for any of these lately.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

Interruptions and distractions. I usually try to get the most pressing household tasks out of the way early in the day, then go into write-like-crazy mode. But I’m not one of those people who can shut the office door and hang a “Do Not Disturb” sign. I have to be accessible to my family. I just deal with it as it comes and am thankful for what time I have.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Learn all you can about writing. You hear it so many times—master the craft. But it’s so true!

Tell us about the featured book.

Finding Marie stars a 22-year-old woman in a desperate situation. Marie’s husband, Lt. Pierre Belanger, has finished a two-year stint in Japan with the Navy. Marie is to fly home to Maine and stay with his family, and he will join her in a few weeks. Except that things go haywire in the San Francisco airport. Marie sees Pierre’s superior officer’s wife murdered, and she must run for her life. Her cell phone is stolen. She is afraid to ask for help. Her journey is a nightmare that never seems to end. She has to grow and learn to rely on God, because there’s no one else.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

That’s easy! www.susanpagedavis.com I hope you all come visit me there!

Thank you, Susan, for spending this time with us.

Readers, I've read Finding Marie, and it is an edge-of-your-seat kind of suspense. So many twists and turns in the plot. You'll love the book. I wrote a review on my Shoutlife blog (www.shoutlife.com/lenanelsondooley ), and it was reprinted in one of the newsletters on my web site, near the end of last year. www.lenanelsondooley.com

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Kim Vogel Sawyer - Blessings
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Lynette Eason - Lethal Deception

Three winners will be chosen tomorrow, and there'll be a new interview on Sunday.