Can you share a little about your recent book?
Here’s the back cover copy – from Cold Dawn
An inferno meant to destroy…
Blackwell Tactical operator and former criminalist Samantha Willis discovers forensic evidence to prove her friend has been murdered. But before she can gather the evidence, an explosion erupts and a fiery inferno traps her in a building. She helplessly watches the evidence go up in flames and prays that she can escape before the encroaching flames take her life.
Or an act of revenge…
Firefighter and former Navy SEAL Matt Griffin knew his friend’s death was no accident, and he arrives at the building to gather his own evidence. But he sees the building engulfed in flames and discovers a familiar car parked in the lot. Sam, his former girlfriend, had to be trapped inside. Despite his training, despite his captain’s protest, Griff takes off without a threat assessment, risking his life to enter the building and drag Sam to safety. When he does, he can’t help but wonder if the fire was set to destroy evidence or if it was set to kill Sam. Either way, if Sam survives, he vows to hunt down the answer.
Why do you write? Do you have a theme, message, or goal for your books?
I started writing when I was diagnosed with a chronic illness that kept me chair bound. I’m a type A personality and not one to just sit. I had to do something. I’d always said I wanted to write a book so I did. I found out how much I loved writing and kept going. Now I’m blessed to have made writing a full-time career. I don’t have an overarching theme or goal in mind when I start a book, but I see at the end of each book mythemes are often about trusting God.
How long have you been writing?
I have been writing for 16 years now. Wow, where did the time go?
And how long did it take you to get your first major book contract? Or are you published non-traditionally? How did that come about?
I seriously wrote with the goal of becoming published for six years before I received my first contract, and that is such a fun story. At the 2008 ACFW conference when editor Susan Downs took the stage to award a contract for the Heartsong Presents Mysteries imprint, I sat back and said, “Man, it’s too bad Susan didn’t like the book I submitted. It would be so cool to learn of your book contract in front of 500 fellow writers.” Susan started describing the writer who would receive this contract. She began with vague clues and grew more specific. Imagine my surprise when I realized she was talking about me. I turned to my critique group sitting next to me and learned that they had known about this. Some since April. Ditto for my agent, of course. They knew, because I wasn’t planning to attend the conference and they had to put things in place to get me to attend.
How long does it take you to write a book?
On average I write three thousand words a day, but can write up to ten thousand. So I can write a rough draft in two to three weeks. Then I have two weeks or more of editing. But before all of the writing begins I do a lot of planning and create an outline so I know where the story is going. I’ve learned if I don’t do this, I end up cutting a lot of what I write and that makes me less efficient. Trade length books take me longer as they have more intricate suspense plot lines that require additional work.
What’s your writing work schedule like?
I usually work six days a week. I’m an early riser and start writing after a few cups of coffee and answering all my emails. Then I turn off email, the Internet, and focus on getting my word count in for the day. I track my words written, so I make sure I write at least three thousand words. At noon I take a break for lunch and check email again then get back to writing. If I have my word count in, I keep writing anyway as some days my health doesn’t allow me to work and these extra words keep me on task. I do take short breaks during my writing to do household chores or ride my exercise bike. Also, I manage TheSuspenseZone.com and work on that first thing in the morning on the weekends. And lastly, this all changes when I have a book release. Writing stops then, and I focus on the release.
Do you have an interesting writing quirk? If so, what is it?
Hmm, I don’t think I do. Unless talking to my characters is a quirk. LOL
What has been your greatest joy(s) in your writing career?
I have to mention two things. It’s a blessing beyond measure to receive emails or letters from readers telling me a book has touched them or encouraged them in their faith. And also, Fatal Mistake recently won the Carol Award and that was a career achievement I never thought I would accomplish. I was unable to attend the conference, but I can still feel the excitement as I watched it live on my TV and how my husband and I gaped at each other in surprise. What a blessing for sure.
What has been your darkest moment(s)?
I don’t think I’ve had what I consider a dark moment, but challenges abound in a writer’s life, and my life is no different. I have had my share of rejections, bad reviews, and mean emails from readers. And after I contracted my first book, the line folded and it wasn’t published right away. It eventually was published and was the first book I held in my hand. Sadly, that joy was soon replaced with sadness when I discovered the publisher put a different author’s photo in my book instead of mine.
Which of your books is your favorite?
That’s like asking me to choose which of my daughters is my favorite. It’s not something I can do. I often think the favorite book is the one I am currently working on as I learn with each book I write and try to make each one better.
Who is your favorite author to read?
I can’t possibly choose one as there are SO many wonderful writers out there. I do pretty much read only romantic suspense, but right now I am reading books for the RWA Rita contest and loving a historical romance that I am reading.
What advice can you give aspiring writers that you wished you had gotten, or that you wished you would have listened too?
I think the most important thing for a beginning writer is to listen to critiques of their work and be teachable. To realize writing is a craft and needs to be practiced. So write, write, write, and seek out ways to learn to do better at your craft, and continue to learn no matter how many books you have written.
How many times in your career have you experienced rejection? How did they shape you?
I’ve had my share of rejections. I’m not sure how many, but by the time I’d received any rejection, I was already writing my next project. I never received any feedback about why a book was rejected except for my first submission to Love Inspired Suspense so the rejections didn’t offer a way for me to improve. I took that Love Inspired Suspense rejection and reworked the book based on what they were looking for, had my agent resubmit it, and sold the book. So that was a great experience. The other rejections just made me more determined to do better and succeed.
Do you have a favorite character or scene in one of your books?
This is really like asking if I have a favorite child. I write all of my books as part of a series. I think I have a favorite when interview all of them before the series begins, but as I start each book and delve into the characters in that book, those characters become my favorite.
Where do you get your ideas?
I get ideas from things happening around me, from the news stories, and from a forensic magazine I subscribe to. I take the basic idea and start asking what if questions until a story is formed.
What are common mistakes you see aspiring writer’s make?
In today’s writing world, I think the biggest mistake is self-publishing a book before it’s ready. Many new authors think when they finish the manuscript it’s ready for publication, but every book needs to be edited and proofread. There is no author who can write a book in solitude and write the best book possible. So bite the bullet and hire an editor and proofreader. Next to hiring a good cover designer, it’s the best thing you can do to succeed in indie publishing.
Where/How do you recommend writers try to break into the market?
I can only speak to the Christian market, but writers have more opportunities than ever to become a published author. The best way to break into the traditional market is to either get and agent or attend writers’ conferences where you can pitch your story directly to editors who don’t accept non-agented submissions via email. If you want to indie publish, learn everything you can about the indie business, and please know, just because you publish a book, it doesn’t mean it will sell. It takes a lot of work to bring your book to the attention of potential readers so be prepared to work hard.
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BIO
SUSAN SLEEMAN is the bestselling author of over thirty-five novels with more than one million books sold. She writes romantic suspense novels that are clean with inspiring messages of faith. Readers love her series for the well-drawn characters and edge-of-your-seat action. She graduated from the FBI and local police citizen academies, so her research is spot-on and her characters are real.
In addition to writing, Susan also hosts TheSuspenseZone.com. She has lived in nine states but now calls Oregon home. Her husband is a retired church music director, and they have two beautiful daughters, a very special son-in-law, and an adorable grandson.
To learn more about Susan’s books sign up for her monthly email that includes exclusive excerpts, giveaways, and other goodies. http://www.susansleeman.com/susans-newsletter/
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Review Site – http://www.TheSuspenseZone.com
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7 Comments
Love your books Susan!
Thank you, Trish!!
Loved learning about you since I’m already a fan of your books
It was fun learning about you since I’m already a fan of your books!
Loved learning about your writing process! Have enjoyed reading your books!
Thanks so much, Kim!
Thanks so much, Pamela!