Welcome back, Susan. Tell
us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
Oh, I think to be authentic, a writer has to dig around
inside and pull out pieces of their own journey, whether it be experiences, or
truths, or life lessons or emotional situations. One of my techniques for
getting into character is to ask: when have I felt the way my character is
feeling, or been in a similar life situation? What authentic emotion, thoughts
and actions can I bring to the page? In that way, each scene, each character
has a little piece of my own experience or emotion. (even if I haven’t
experienced the actual event!)
What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?
Quirky? Oh, I don’t know—my son Peter says that if you tied
my hands behind my back, I’d be unable to speak. (and it’s true—my videos are a
blur of my hands moving on screen! Ack!)
I’ve been told the
same thing. We’re just more expressive. When did you first discover that you
were a writer?
First grade. No, seriously—I wrote a book in first grade,
and it won the school-wide book writing contest. J I have been writing
stories ever since.
Tell us the range of
the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
I read all genres—historical fiction (LOVE!), contemporary
romantic suspense, thrillers, memoirs, westerns, biographies….but my favorite? TIME
TRAVEL. No, seriously, I’m silly over time travel books!
I thought no one
could write a Christian time travel book that I would accept. Lisa Tawn Bergren
and Lynne Gentry changed my mind. The way their time travel happened was believable, because our God could have worked that way. Maybe He actually has. How do you keep your sanity in our run, run,
run world?
I have a motto—work hard, play hard. Which mean, when I’m
working, I’m all in. But when I’m NOT working, like in the evenings, or the
weekends, I cast it aside completely. And, I try and get away complete a couple
times a year. Also—I keep it simple. It’s okay to have $5.00 pizzas from Papa
Murphy’s once a week. Or to buy a big pre-made salad at the grocery store and
toss it up with rotisserie chicken. I figure … hey, enjoy people, enjoy what
you do, enjoy God, and don’t worry about what the world tells you to do.
I like that last
statement. How do you choose your characters’ names?
They have to embody the character, so I am always looking at
the meanings of the names, and how they feel on the page. I go through a few iterations
before I settle on the final name.
What is the
accomplishment that you are most proud of?
My four amazing adult children who love Jesus, love their
families, are hard workers, and show up in life to be everyday heroes.
If you were an
animal, which one would you be, and why?
Oh, I’m a Labrador retriever. I’m super loyal, like to play,
like to run around the woods, and will sit at your feet and sigh happily for
hours. (okay, the RIGHT feet).
We had one when I was
in high school. They’re wonderful dogs. What is your favorite food?
Popcorn. With parmesan cheese and real butter.
What is the problem
with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
I love to write! But it is hard—you have to take your time,
think through all the layers. Give yourself white space. That’s the hardest
thing for me—I ALWAYS have something on my to-do list, so taking time out to
just sit and think and pray is the one thing I must do and yet it is the
hardest to give myself permission to do. (That, and exercise. Don’t get me
started.)
Tell us about the
featured book.
Playing With Fire is book #2 in my Summer of Fire trilogy. It
features Conner and Liza, two Team Hope and Deep Haven. They showed up together in a
Christiansen family book (Take
a Chance on Me) and I’ve been waiting to write their story ever since. It
was a fun story to write—I went back three years and put them in Deep Haven, into the situations from the
previous book, got to revisit previous characters, and was able to dive more
into the current mystery. Plus … Conner finally got his girl. J
characters who were a part of two other series I
did years ago,
Please give us the
first page of the book.
Excerpt from Playing with Fire
This was not how Liza Beaumont wanted to die.
Not that anyone ever wanted to die, but certainly Liza could
think of a dozen or more ways that would be preferable to ending up as an
early-morning snack for a six-hundred-pound grizzly.
First choice might be tucked into the embrace of Conner
Young, their golden years fading into a molten sunset, perhaps drifting off
into sleep, to wake up in glory.
There she went again, wishing for things she didn’t have.
Like bear spray. Or a tranquilizer gun.
Or maybe even better than spotty cell service here, high up
on a remote trail in the middle of the Cabinet
Mountains in western Montana .
She glanced down the trail, back up at the bear now rocking
back and forth. What had the camp wildlife expert said about bears? Stop, drop,
and roll—no, no—
Drop. Play dead. Except her instincts, frankly, were to
scream first, then—well, run.
Of course, that was always her instinct.
But this time it felt right, because, really, who had the
courage to just lie there while a grizzly sniffed her prone body, ready to take
a tasty bite out of her neck. Not when she had heaps more life to live, hopes,
dreams …
Only, one of those included a six-foot-two blond smokejumper
with devastating blue eyes, wide sinewed shoulders, and a body honed by the
rigors of fighting fire who claimed to love sunrises as much as she did.
But Conner wasn’t here. Just her, her sharpened colored
graphite pencils, and a fresh canvas to paint her artist’s view of the sunrise.
The perfect place to remind herself—and her fellow camper—that they didn’t need
men to live happily ever after.
Can’t wait to read
it. How can readers find you on the Internet?
Stop by www.susanmaywarren.com
or visit my facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SusanMayWarrenFiction/
Thank you for having me, Lena !!
It's always a pleasure to host you, Susan.
Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Playing With Fire: inspirational romantic suspense (Montana Fire Book 2)Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
17 comments:
This sounds like an interesting story that I would enjoy reading.
Linda in CA
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
thanks, Linda! :)
I always enjoy learning more about authors and their newest projects.
Connie from KY
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
What a great beginning. My first instinct would be to run too.
Mary P
QLD AUSTRALIA
Thanks for the fun interview! Susan, I love your books. I've read a lot of them and have enjoyed them so much. This is one I haven't read yet. It sounds so intriguing (and yes, a bit scary in that first part)! I'd love to win a copy of it. As a side note, when I was in college, I spent a summer flagging on a road construction crew in Montana, just outside the northeast entrance to Yellowstone. And yes, we had bears around. There was a big old grizzly that would wander around the area by one of the restaurants. They called him Waffles, because the cook would throw leftover waffles out to him, and he loved them. Sounds kind of scary now, but at the time we weren't frightened of him. We did keep a little distance though.
I love Susan's books and this sounds like another wonderful story that I would love to read. Thank you for the chance to win a copy.
Smiles & Blessings,
Cindy W. from Indiana
I love Susan's books! Sounds like another great book! This series is on my wish list! Thanks for the chance to win!
Beth in Montana
LOVE this book! Love this series!!
I think I forgot to put my name and state on my comment above.
Winnie T from Utah
I loved, loved the Christiansen family books and have read #1 in this series! I am anxious to read #2. Thanks for your giveaway.
Jackie in GA
I always love Susan's books, especially the whole Christiansen family series. This new series looks quite good too. It will be fun to read Liza and Conner's story since I've already met them in Take A Chance on Me.
pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com
Kansas
Great interview! :)
Thanks for this giveaway, too - I'm looking forward to reading this series!
Raechel in MN
I'm so ready for this second installment. October can't come soon enough for the Montana Rescue series.
Terrill - WA
Love her books! Looking forward to reading this series.
Melissa O in NC
I loved the questions and answers in this interview and would love to win this book!! ~Amanda J. from FL
LOVE Susan May Warren's books and her new series sounds fantastic! Would love to win this book!
Pam in OH
I've always enjoyed reading Susan May Warren's books looking forward to reading this one also.
Lourdes Long Island, NY
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