Welcome back, Susan. Why
do you write the kind of books you do?
I write fiction because I believe in the power of story to
connect us with the heart of God. He’s constantly showing me new things about
the depth of His love for me, and teaching me how to love others well, so I
want to write stories that reflect those themes. Inspy romance is my favorite
because I love a Happily-Ever-After. There’s just something special about two
people finding true, lasting love. And when you can see God's hand in bringing
them together, it makes it even sweeter.
Besides when you came
to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?
I’d have to say my wedding day. I have a picture of my
husband and me right after the ceremony, and we were both over-the-top giddy
with joy. That was 22 years ago, and I still count that as the best decision
I’ve ever made. Ron clearly and beautifully reflects Jesus to me every single
day, and he always makes me laugh.
How has being
published changed your life?
It has been great, but it has also given me a lot more work
to do. I have this constant feeling that I’m behind and will never catch up.
There’s always something I could be working on. But I have a family and a day
job, so being published has challenged me to evaluate my life and keep the most
important things at the top of my priority list. I’m learning to let go of some
of the tasks on my to-do list and trust that God, in His grace, will cover my
insufficiencies.
What are you reading
right now?
From the non-fiction shelf, I’m reading The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson. It’s an excellent book about
how to pray through your biggest dreams and greatest fears. In fiction, I’m
reading a wonderful novella called O Little
Town of Bethany by Rene Gutteridge and Cheryl McKay.
What is your current
work in progress?
I’m in the plotting stage of Book 3 in my Heart of the City
series. The hero is Tyson Phillips, who makes an appearance in Book 2 as the heroine’s
brother. I’m not totally sure where this story will go yet, but by the time I
finished writing Redeeming Cade, I
was smitten with Tyson and knew he had to have his own book.
What would be your
dream vacation?
I’d love to take my family on a grand tour of Europe … especially
England , France , and Italy .
How do you choose
your settings for each book?
All the books in my Heart of the City series are set in my
hometown of Oklahoma City .
I chose it because I love my city, and because I haven’t read many books set in
Oklahoma that
aren’t about cowboys. Cowboys are awesome, don’t get me wrong, but I wanted to
show a different side of my beloved state.
What are your
hobbies, besides writing and reading?
I love to do crafty things and paint, or just hang out with
my family watching Netflix. Our current favorite show is Once Upon A Time.
What is your most
difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
This may sound dumb, but actually writing is my biggest
writing obstacle. I can stare at a blank page for hours, type some words, and
then delete them all. Getting the first draft down is a huge hurdle for me, even
when I’m armed with a well-plotted outline. But once that’s done, I can move on
to the phase I enjoy: editing.
What advice would you
give to a beginning author?
Study the craft, read like crazy, and find a writers group
to be a part of. But mostly, don’t stress about the outcome. Have fun creating
and trust the Lord to do the rest.
Tell us about the
featured book.
From the back cover:
Cade McGuire has turned a one-eighty. The ex-con is now
assistant director at the downtown mission that gave him a fresh start when he
needed it most. When Cade attends a press conference and discovers that a woman
running for a seat on the city council plans to close the mission, he can’t
just stand by. Not even for a politician as beautiful as Darby Phillips.
Darby has been groomed her whole life for a future in
politics. The City Council seat is just the first step in following her
grandfather’s footsteps and making a difference for the community. When the
obviously blue-collar Cade confronts her at a press conference, demanding she
come and meet the people she’ll displace with her fancy new entertainment
district, she knows refusing would be political suicide. No problem. A few
hours at a rundown mission won’t change anything.
As Darby and Cade butt heads over what the city needs most,
one unsettling thing becomes clear: though they’re from opposite worlds, they
might just be what each other needs.
Please give us the
first page of the book.
Cade McGuire turned
Loretta, his trusty old pick-up truck, into the gravel parking lot of the
MidTown Rescue Mission and strategically dodged the six potholes in his path.
As he pulled to the front row of spaces, he couldn't hold back his smile. To
the right of the Executive Director's parking place, a piece of poster-board
was stapled to an old wooden picket and staked into a five-gallon bucket of
dirt. Red block letters were handwritten across the sign. Cade’s sign.
"Reserved Parking for NEW Assistant Director."
He eased Loretta into his newly designated spot and climbed
out of the truck. The morning sun shone in a clear sky and felt warm against
his face. It was a beautiful spring day—not too hot, which was unusual for late
May in Oklahoma City—and a fresh wave of gratitude rolled through him.
God, thank you for this new life. I don’t deserve such
goodness.
Cade’s first order of business was a block south of the
mission, so he strode down the sidewalk in that direction. He was a few feet
away from the intersection when he heard Ms. Fran call to him from behind.
"Well, there he is. Our brand-new boss." The older
woman’s sweet, southern voice drew out the syllables of each word.
Cade turned and gave her a little wave as he walked back toward
the mission entrance where she stood. He leaned in to give her a quick hug.
“I'm just so stinkin' proud of you, hon.” She gave his back
a motherly pat. “You're going to be the best director this mission has ever
seen."
Cade stepped back and pointed a finger at her.
"Assistant Director, Ms. Fran. I'm not the big dog, you know."
She clucked her tongue. "As long as Ed’s gone, you are.
He hired you because he believes in you."
Cade hoped she was right.
How can readers find
you on the Internet?
You can find me at the following links:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SusanCrawfordBooks
Twitter - https://twitter.com/SuCrawford
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/SusanCrawford
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/sucrawford/
Instagram - https://instagram.com/sucrawford
And I’d love for you to stop by my website and sign up for
my newsletter. www.susancrawfordbooks.com
Thanks so much for having me, Lena !
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