Q & A with Author Author Suzanne Brandyn

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From the heart of Australia, romance and suspense author Suzanne Brandyn stopped by the Author's Spotlight to chat with us about life, writing and her work.

Can you tell me a little about yourself and your background?

I was born on the edge of the outback in Australia. I arrived early. Lol. I was born on a friend's property, and taken to the nearest hospital some four hours by car away. 

I spent most of my childhood in the outback and country areas of Australia, and moved over NSW to our cites, and country coastal areas. I now live in a quiet seaside town on the east coast of Australia where I have the ocean at my feet, and the mountains behind. It's the best of both worlds. 

When did you decide to become a writer?

I was always making up stories in my younger years, but never really sat down and penned a manuscript until my early married years. I have been serious about writing for five years. 

Besides your adventures living in Australia, what draws you to the genre of romantic suspense/thrillers?

I think being alone at times throughout my life, and having experienced fear along the way, I find remote places a great setup for a novel. 

How did you come up with the idea for Outback Fear?

When I lived on the property, I stayed there alone for long periods. This instigated the idea for Outback Fear. I wanted to base the novel where I lived. The question 'what if' played a major role, and my imagination took over. Anyone who lives on an isolated property can vouch for me when I say, it can be beautiful, but also that stillness in the atmosphere and the rustle through the trees can sometimes have your heart in your throat. 

Can you give me an insight into your main character of Outback Fear, Savannah Harris? Based on your description of writing about feisty heroines, what is so special about Savannah?

Savannah is an everyday woman; she has no special training to defend herself. It is through her courage, her determination that has her overcoming some tough obstacles. She stands up for what she believes in and won't give up. 

With your experience writing your book, did you work with a certain plot or outline or did you free write?

I always have a basic outline, and a main plot. As the story develops subplots pop up long the way. Most of the time, my characters take over and dictate what direction they want to go. The suspense also takes over lol… 

What authors have you been inspired by?

I began reading Nora Roberts as a child, Danielle Steel, and Harlequin novels. There's no specific writer that has truly inspired me, although now I look up to Nicholas Sparks. There isn't a suspense/thriller writer I can say inspired me. 

Are you currently working on any projects that you could share?

My current manuscript is set in a remote place and it's a romantic suspense. I find my readers wanted more romance, so I have an everyday woman who's inherited a cattle station. Arriving at the property alone, and thinking that she'd meet the workers, no one is about.  

In the middle of the night, someone is breaking into the house. She has never shot a handgun in her life only rifles at a young age. She is standing at the top of the stairs terrified that she will shoot herself in the foot. In prances the hero, a sexy Jackaroo who has her heart on fire and the gun wavering in all directions. 

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Be consistent and determined. If it's your hearts desire don't ever give up. Write what comes natural, and your unique voice will shine through. 

Check out an excerpt from her book:

Blurb:
Macy Donavan battles a terrifying nightmare to protect her two-year-old daughter, Faith from an intruder, and is knocked unconscious. When she regains consciousness, her daughter is missing. 

As the police widen their futile search, Macy struggles to pick up the pieces of an unimaginable life. Urged to take a break she heads to an isolated cabin with a girlfriend to recuperate so she can continue searching, only to face her worst nightmare— times ten. 

Trapped by a man she believed dead, he demands she play a game. 

She runs, he hunts.  There is no place to hide.   

 Excerpt
'Hey slow down a bit. I'm sure she's around somewhere. You are, and have been an excellent mother. Here take your coffee,' Rebecca said, as she walked into the lounge room.Rebecca placed her cup on the coffee table, and passed the other to Macy.

'Thanks.' As she took a few sips, she suddenly said, 'I have to go back into Faith's room...I need to.' Slamming the coffee cup on the table, she sprung to her feet. 

'You're in no condition to go anywhere.'

'I need to.' 

'If you insist.' Rebecca cupped an arm around hers. 'I'll help you.'

Macy willed her weak legs to move, clamped her hand over the railing, and forced herself to take the last few steps. The fourteen steps felt like forty-two.

'Take it easy. You've been hurt pretty bad. I really think...'

'No...no hospital. I've already said that. What if Faith comes back and I'm not here. I can't chance that.'

Light continued to bathe the room highlighting its soft, pink tones. Rebecca let go of Macy's arm as they stood beside the open doorway. Macys gaze swept around the room, stopping to linger over every item as though she was looking for clues, looking for something that would hint on Faith's whereabouts. 

She walked toward the window, moved the lace curtain aside and stared out through the dispersing mist half-expecting Faith to toddle out into the open space. Instead, the first rays of sunlight begun to carve through the white shroud signalling the dawning of a new day, a day like none she had ever experienced, a day she would remember for the rest of her life.

Q & A with author Bryan Miller

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Bryan Miller, currently living in Kentucky as a clinical counselor, has recently published a science fiction novel. I'm pleased to have him stop by and chat about writing and his debut "Kyrathaba Rising". 

What inspired you to become an author?

I've always been a creative person. I write computer software, song
lyrics, etc. And I've always been an avid reader, especially of
science- and fantasy-fiction. I recently had an extended period of
leave from work, and one of the things I decided to use my extra
free-time on was writing a book.

Now that you have your first novel under your belt, how do you feel about the writing process? Was it everything you expected?

Writing is like a serious exercise regime at a gym. It's arduous, but you derive a sense of pleasure and accomplishment from it. I wrote Kyrathaba Rising in about six weeks' time. To do that, I had to really
discipline myself to work on it daily, whether I felt like it or not. That's not to say that I found it unenjoyable. Overall, I found it intensely satisfying, especially those moments where my book was
approved and made available for sale on various sites.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

I'm a seat-of-the-pants author, so coming up with a story arc wasn't difficult. The hard part for me, is disciplining myself to spend the actual time at the keyboard. I imagine I'm not the only author of whom this is true.

Your first novel, Kyrthaba Rising, has such an interesting name. How did you come up with it? What inspired the theme of it?

In college, a bunch of us played Dungeons & Dragons. We were into "world-building", and the setting I designed as a "Dungeon Master" for my players was a world named "Kyrathaba". The book, "Kyrathaba Rising" takes a slightly different angle on how this "world" came into being, one I hope readers enjoy. The theme was inspired by my love of science-fiction, fantasy-fiction and my history of playing role-playing games.

As a science fiction author, are there any authors out there that have inspired or influenced your writing?

Asimov. Heinlein. Clarke. Those are the Big Three. Also, Neal Asher, Neal Stephenson, David Baxter, David Brin, and Gregory Benford.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

Not really. I've had a minority of reviewers complain about it ending on a cliffhanger. But hey, that's intentional. I wanted to "leave 'em hanging", eager for the sequel.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

My respect for authors in general increased, as I personally experienced the sort of self-discipline required to produce a novel-length work. I also learned a few things about lasers, composite
materials, androids, etc., as I researched for those elements that were in my novel.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Yes. Show. Don't tell. Author Nat Russo has a great article expounding
upon this: http://www.nat-russo.com/2013/10/eliminate-unnecessary-stage-directions.html

Q & A with Author Paul A Bussard

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After years of being an avid fan of Science Fiction, author Paul A. Bussard decided to write his own stories. I am pleased to have him stop by and chat about his work and being an author.

When did you know you wanted to become an author?

I started writing in ’93, but quickly discovered that I didn't have the skills needed to write publishable fiction. The first story I wrote was full of every kind of error made by amateur writers. It took another ten years for me to acquire the skills and polish them to the point I felt I could write good fiction. By then, I had a story in my head that wanted to be told, and I wanted to tell it. Voila, Stinger Stars.
 
Now that you have published your first novel, was it everything you had hoped?

Absolutely. It was fun to write—a lot of work, but fun. I liked the story so much, I was determined to get it published so I could share it. Okay, that sounds conceited, but I’ll leave it up to readers whether I’m justly proud or not. BTW—the cover is way beyond what I hoped for.
 
What inspired you to write science fiction? 

I started reading science fiction 50+ years ago with Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea and got hooked. Once hooked, I read everything I could, particularly by Heinlein, Asimov, Pohl, and other primarily hard science fiction writers. Reading those wonderful stories planted a lot of ideas in my mind, making me ask: what if? That question is the basis of almost every science fiction story written.
 
How did you come up with the title? 

Stinger Star is the common name for the critter I invented, Pyramis nana (dwarf pyramid). The star has a pyramid-shaped body and looks somewhat like a four-armed starfish, only more three-dimensional. The similarity ends there, though. The appendages are not arms—they’re hollow with a digestive system inside, and there are three eyes and a beak at the tip of each one. Yes, that means they have four heads, each one looking like the one on the cover of my book. The “stinger” part comes from the way they defend themselves. They don’t actually sting—they bite and then inject the contents of their stomachs into the wound. Yikes!
 
What was the hardest part of writing your book? 

The ending was difficult—not only the writing part, but the thought of not writing (about Stinger Stars) any more. I had become very fond of my characters, and in particular, my critters. They had only just begun to show their stuff. I want very much to write a sequel, but only if it does justice to Stinger Stars. There are way too many sequels out there that are second in quality as well as sequence.
 
Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it? 

I’ve heard other writers say it, and I have to agree—characters can take over a story and move it in directions you never thought of. That’s not necessarily bad, but it plays havoc with a story outline, if you were working from one. My characters, especially the stars, made me change the story line several times.
 
What books have most influenced your life?

Heinlein’s The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress had a huge influence on me. I even took a post-grad course in Artificial Intelligence, because the idea of computers becoming self-aware fascinated me. I suspect that I may live to see the day it actually happens (provided I and the world behave ourselves).
 
Who is your favorite author and what is it about their work that resonates with you?

I have to tap Robert A. Heinlein again. He was a principled man and taught—even preached—his philosophy in his writing. Stinger Stars contains a lot of subtle and not-so-subtle messages that reflect my philosophy. Man is not immortal, but memes will endure as long as there are minds to ponder them. Leave your mark. Write!
 
Have you ever hated something you wrote? 

Hate, no. Dislike, yes. That happens all the time. The “somethings” just never make it into a final draft. Some of my early writing was dreadful. It still happens, but it’s easy to get rid of the evidence, nowadays. Click!
 
Do you have any advice for other writers? 

Persevere! That advice applies to a lot of endeavors, but the process of writing, getting published, and sold is loaded with roadblocks that discourage many a potential writer. If you've got a story in you, get it out, and don’t stop until you have!

For more information on Paul, you connect with him:
http://www.pabwriter.com/
https://www.facebook.com/paul.bussard.9

Q & A with Author T Wynn

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T Wynn, an avid reader, currently lives in Georgia with her husband and children. As an author who currently has two published books under her belt, I'm pleased to have her stop by and chat her work and being an author.

What inspired you to write your first book?
 
I have always wanted to write a book, but in the beginning I was not sure of what I should write about.  So, I finally decided to write about something that I knew about, which was marriage because in this day and time the divorce statics are so high, and I felt that I had great advice to give.

How did you come up with the title?
 
I had a different title for my book in the beginning, but when I was writing the chapter on finance, and I was discussing wedding expenses, I came up with the quote "make sure your love is bigger than your wedding!".  Then I thought about it and decided that I should make that the title because it sounded really catchy, and it focused on the main foundation of what a relationship should have which is love.

Writing about love can be tough, what experiences did you draw from to write about it?
 
I drew from my own personal experience of being married for over 17 years, and from the love and respect that my husband and I have had for each other throughout all of those years.  I know that no relationship is perfect and you will have ups and downs, but love can help you conquer most issues if it is true love.  Which in my book I discuss what true love really is.

Is there a message in your book that you want people to take away?
 
I want people to know the difference between a temporary relationship and a lifetime relationship, especially if they are thinking about marriage, because all romances are not meant to be lifetime commitments.

What was the hardest part writing your book?
 
The hardest part was making sure that I expressed my views and advice without making my readers feel like I was preaching or making it seem as though my life and relationship is perfect.  I just wanted to make sure that they knew the difference between a good relationship and a bad relationship.

You had recently released a second book, which was fiction, do you find yourself in the future wanting to explore other genres? If so, what genres do you see yourself writing?
 
I have thought about writing a horror story because I love reading those types of books, and you can just go in so many different directions with them.

Since you are an avid reader, what book are you currently reading?
 
"Every Sistah Wants It" is the book that I just finished reading.  I am still trying to decided what I want to read next.

What authors have you be inspired by?
 
Kimberla Lawson Roby, Zane, Stephen King, E. Lynn Harris, Eric Jerome Dickey, Mary Higgins Clark, and there are a few more.  As you can see I have a very diverse palate when it comes to what I read and who I am inspired by.

Do you have any advice for other writers?
 
Write from your heart and don't worry about what people may say, because you will never make everyone happy, so just make sure that you are happy about what you write.

Q & A with Author Ann Morris

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Ann Morris, a teacher and community worker, has a passion for encouraging children to read. As an author who is bilingual, that has allowed her the opportunity to work with many from different cultures. I'm please to have Ann chat with me about being an educator, author, and writing.

What inspired you to become a bilingual author? 

I have always had stories to tell.  Many I have kept in my heart for years, and others develop as time continues.  I was a Spanish teacher at the High School level (Levels I-IV), and I always scoured resources for books in Spanish to give my students additional motivation, and to prove that Spanish was a real language, not just an academic subject.  As I worked more with students learning English, I learned that the reverse was also true.  Books are not only written for natives of those languages, but for learners.  I am a learner and always will be.  Languages fascinate me.  I hope someday to reach the point where I may do the same with a new language.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing dual languages? 

I write Children’s Books.  I always include curious children and positive adult role models.  There is always a teaching moment or a lesson.  That part is fun.  The challenging part is rewriting (not translating) the story in Spanish.  I publish each book separately, as I do not want to have people compare for translation, but understand the meaning of the same story in both languages.

Do you have a specific writing style?

I write simply, usually for 5-8 year-olds in English, but my message is multi-level, so the stories are enjoyed by children of all ages.  Many stories are from or inspired by true life experiences.  I love to have adults understand the multi-level meanings and appreciate what I have attempted to convey.

What is your favorite theme to write about? 

Children and adult role models with a learning experience.  This applies to learners of all ages and makes the books intergenerational.

As an educator, what messages in your books do you want readers to grasp? 

I portray understanding, learning, positive adult-child relationships, and most of all, acceptance of what is new and different.  I was extremely pleased and honored this year to be recognized by the Moms Choice Awards. I learned that my efforts are valued.

What books or authors have influenced your writing? 

Some of the many authors that have influenced my writing are Maya Angelou, Emily Dickenson, Dr. Seuss, and Beatrix Potter.  I respect authors who write with the purpose of educating and making learning fun.  I applaud authors who have a love of learning, experience, and a universal way of expression.  I adore authors who care about those less privileged and want to reach everyone.

Are you currently working on anything? 

I’m always working on something!  I have several stories in various stages of development with various ways of portraying messages.  I keep an open mind and am always adding story ideas to my repertoire.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Write what you know about, or learn about it thoroughly before you write about it.  There is always someone who knows more than you about any given topic.  This is why I like to write my stories based on personal experiences.  I do sometimes alter the story line to include a learning lesson, but I always research it well before I attempt to portray it to others.

Always be prepared to continue learning.  As we wish our readers to learn, we should realize that we always continue to learn.  That is the key to life.

Q & A with Author Jenny Benjamin

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Jenny Benjamin, a Milwaukee native, currently is a freelance writer and former educator with an extensive portfolio. Adding author to her belt, she has written a book called, "The Most Amazing." I'm pleased to have her stop by and chat about her work being an author.

What inspired you to become an author and write your first book? 

I have been writing for so long, and I had a couple of unfinished novels under my belt. After I had my third daughter, and I was starting to write as a freelancer for educational companies, I made writing and finishing a novel a priority. For me, it works well to write fiction and freelance because when I have to wait to hear back from an editor, I go to my fiction.

You were once an educator, how do you feel that has impacted your career as a writer? 

I think teaching is in everything people do. Personally, teaching has taught me how to listen, read people, and how to move them with stories. I worked very hard at getting my students to enjoy books and stories. I tried to engage my kids, and I asked myself: how can I get them into the book I was teaching? I transferred that to my own writing where I constantly ask myself: how will I get readers to want to turn the page?

Do you have a specific writing style? 

I don’t think I do, but I’m probably wrong about that! I really try to get into the head of my point of view character, so I aspire to make my writing styles match that head.

How did you come up with the title of your novel? What inspired the way you told your story? 

I had a few other titles before I settled on This Most Amazing, which is an inversion of words in the first line of an E.E. Cummings poem, “I thank You God for most this amazing.”

It took me a long time to come up with the way to tell this story. I wrote about Vincenzo in different forms for over ten years: a failed start to a novel about my grandmother and several poems. Once the character of Dahlia came to me in 2009, the structure of the two timelines fell into place.

What were the challenges in bringing your characters to life? 

Since I had two time periods in the novel, I had different challenges for each timeline. For the characters set in 1797 Italy, I researched and worked hard to make them compelling for a modern reader with having authentic, historically accurate details. Sometimes I would get obsessed with something, say, tallow candle making, because I had started by exploring what kind of candle was in Vincenzo’s, the soldier in 1797, hand. I would have to rein myself in and get back on the track of writing the story. For the contemporary time period, I spent a good deal of time trying to bring Jonas, Dahlia’s love interest, to life. She’s a strong, dominant character, and I had to re-write Jonas in many scenes so he had some meat and wasn't a one-trick pony type of character.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it? 

I learned countless things from writing this book. So much research went into the 1797 timeline it’s hard to catalog all the nuggets of new knowledge! I brushed up on my Italian. I learned about painting with oils, and I read a lot about the history of food in Italy along with pouring over my Italian cook books or my late Italian grandmother’s recipes.

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work? 

It is hard for me to select one author as a favorite. One favorite, who really could be named the “top” one, is Zora Neale Hurston. I taught Their Eyes Were Watching God to my high school students for years, and each time I learned something new about writing and reading. We read a lot of the dialog out loud and had so much fun. I also love how she puts it all out there – her writing is so full of life and love!

What books have most influenced your life most? 

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Price and Prejudice and Persuasion by Jane Austen

The Epic of Gilgamesh

Inferno  by  Dante Alighieri, translated by Robert Pinsky

Tao Te Ching by Lao-tzu, translated by Stephen Mitchell

Resurrection by Tucker Malarkey

April in Paris by Michael Wallner

Anything by Anita Shreve, Michael Cunningham, Margaret Atwood, and Ariana Franklin

Can you share a little of your current work with us? 

I am pitching my young adult trilogy (The Terrian Books) to agents and editors. The main crux of the trilogy is seventeen-year-old, African-American  Jesse Woods and his two friends realize they have special powers given to them from an ancient alien species that has pretended to be humanity’s gods since the inception of human religions. The friends must go to this planet to stop a war that could destroy humanity.

Also, I’ve completed the first draft of another novel for adults. In this novel, the main character, Heather Finch, is a forty-two-year-old widow re-learning how to live after caring for her brain-injured husband for three years. Embarking on a new writing retreat in Scotland, Heather Finch finds mysterious happenings at her Scottish Highland cottage, which may include new love.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Set a base amount of words to write every day. My base amount is 400 words a day, at the very least. On difficult days, I bleed the words, but on good days, they spill out of me, and I surpass the minimum, feeling very accomplished. Those boosts keep you writing. Revise, but don’t get stuck to where you never send anything out. None of your writing has a chance of getting published if it is not in the world. Also, if you get a personalized rejection, take what is useful, don’t dwell on the stingers, and move on. Be confident in your work and your ideas. Don’t give up. Don’t stop.