Please help me welcome Susan Kearney. When Susan is on a panel, it will be interesting, especially at DragonCon.If you haven't read one of her books, you'll want to collect as many as you can once you meet her.
Susan, what was your first published book and to whom?
Ah, this is almost a trick question. :) I sold my first two books to Kensington, historical romances,. Of course, I told everyone. And some people didn’t believe me. But although I sold the books, they were never published. Kensington folded the line, my agent dumped me and I had to start again. Luckily within four months I sold to Harlequin Intrigue.
How many books did you write before selling one?
Five. And I wrote each of them at least 4 times.
How many books have you published?
Around 50. I’m never sure how to count anthologies.
What themes go through your books?
My main theme seems to be finding the courage to be vulnerable enough to fall in love. Because it’s hard to open up, it means you have to risk being hurt. And since no one wants to be hurt, it’s always a dilemma.
How would you best describe your books?
Action packed, sexy, with smart characters who have to make tough and unusual choices. I prefer to set my books on other worlds.
How did you write with kids and deadlines?
My kids just accepted that when I was working they weren’t supposed to interrupt. They learned to feed themselves and do their own laundry, I was there when they needed me but they learned to be independent. As for deadlines, I’m very disciplined. I set my own deadline earlier than the contract so I have extra breathing room. Writing is hard enough, so I don’t want to put extra pressure on myself by setting my deadlines tighter than I can deliver.
Which other jobs have you had?
Real estate, barter business, trade exchange, house mover, iguana sitter.
What do you love most about writing and do you not like?
I love coming up with unique ways to reveal my characters strengths and weaknesses. I don’t like how much time I spend sitting in front of the computer. Thinking simply doesn’t burn enough calories to eat all the chocolate that I’d like to eat.
What are you writing now?
At the moment I’m waiting for revisions on the second book in a new trilogy, The Pendragon Legacy, that I’m writing for Grand Central Publishing. The first book, LUCAN will be out in Sept 09 and it’s about the search for the Holy Grail on the planet Pendragon—think Indiana Jones goes into Space and meets the High Priestess of Avalon who happens to be a dragonshaper. ☺
What would you write if you could do write anything you wanted to write?
This is where I totally lucked out. I get to do that now. I’ve been very fortunate to be able to write what I like. I just hope readers keep supporting the futuristic romance market so I can keep writing the books I love.
Why do you write?
I ask myself that question almost every day. I still don’t have an answer.
How do you write?
I struggle through the beginning of every book. I HATE, HATE HATE chapter one which I write a gazillion times. I tend to write 6 pages a day, 6 days a week until I’m done. Each day I reread what I wrote the previous day before I start the next scene. About every 100 pages I go back to the beginning and reread from the start. When I finish, I spend time away from the book before I reread and revise.
Do you write what you know?
Sure. I‘m secretly an alien from another world –here to study Earth and humanity and that fascinating emotion called love.
What’s next for you?
I have no idea. That kind of depends on how my new series does. In this market, authors seem only to be as good as their last book. If readers like the Pendgragon Legacy Series, then my publisher will buy more books from me. If not—I’ll have to reinvent myself.
What would you like to tell readers?
If you like my books, tell your friends. Please. Many readers have never tried a futuristic, but once they do, they often love them. And that goes for any book, any author you like. If you like our books, please tell your family and friends. Authors need your support. And we appreciate our readers.
For information about Susan's wonderful books, go to Susan Kearney.com.
Loved your interview Susan. You seem to have a humorous take on life and writing. A girl after my own heart. In fact, I believe I'd sell my soul if it meant getting my kids to do their own laundry. (You're my hero!)
I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who re-reads what I wrote the previous day and then also re-reads the entire book numerous times before it's finished. I feel that habit helps me to see the big picture. It aids in the flow.
I've never read futuristic before, but now I can't wait to give one of yours a go. I'm sure I won't be disapointed!
Thanks for taking some time out of your busy life to blog with the PFSW.
Have a great 2009,
Tamara
Susan - Thank you for visiting PFSW. Great interview. I wondered how you stayed motivated after you sold and then everything crumbled (line folded, agent dumped you, etc)? It must have been tough.
and you're an alien? Thank goodness. It's time we all came out and told the world the truth!
for a struggling writer, it's always encouraging to hear from someone like you that you struggle too...it's not so easy to sit down and pound out a book. Now, if I could convince my husband!
thanks again for your visit. We're thrilled you're here.
Great interview! It's good to know I'm not the only one who struggles with her book. And I will tell my friends about your books!
Good answers. About anthologies. I just count them as books because they are as long as some of the kids and YA books I've written.
Rebecca York
I knew you'd love to hear from Susan! Thanks for signing in and commenting.
Tamara, The way to get your kids to do their own laundry is to turn their clothes pink. :) Then they won't want YOU to do it.
Cyndi,
Writing is a very tough business. Every author I know has at some point in their career had huge disappointments. If we want to write stories we love then we have to accept the downside.
Thanks Edie. Every once in a while a book comes easily to me--but not often. Mostly I struggle. And even the easy ones take a lot of work.
Rebecca--You may be right. But some people are counting the 3,000 word stories, too. So it's hard to know where to draw the line. I've never worried about it much.
Mary,
Thanks for having me here.
Well, sorry--I have no idea why my post back said anonymous--probably because alien computers work much better than Earth computers do.
Susan Kearney--who is putting her name in the message this time--just in case . . .
What a unique trailer.
You're an alien too! I'm so glad that other creatures whom are otherworldly are here too. And I am so glad that we are all coming out!
I used to be an earthling but my mother begged them to take her and when they did, I went along by mistake. I'm back now, she stayed.
Great Interview Mary M!!!!
Mary, Great interview! Susan, Thanks for coming to visit with the fuzzies! I am currently reading my recently complete wip and have to agree with what you said, I hate the first chapter. LOL. Re-reading what was written the day before is a great tip. Wishing you much success with the new line!
Scarlet
Susan, I loved your first sale story. Wow, that must have been tough to come back from, but you obviously did it with humour and panache. I love futuristics, and will definitely look at your list!
Well, Susan, you're right about anthologies. I was thinking about novellas. Not anthologies with a short story!
Rebecca
Wonderful interview. Enjoyed hearing about your writing journey. Thank you for being a guest on the Fuzzies.
Thank you, Susan, for visiting the Pink Fuzzies. Your writing sounds a lot like mine--going back, rereading, then writing. Best wishes for your continued success.
Very interestin interview. Great trailer. I loved your answer to why you write. Expresses my feelings exactly!
Mary--LOL--I'm glad you came back. I actually made the trailer myself with the help of friends. The models are on the book cover. It's a lot of work but a fun change from writing.
Thanks Scarlet and Beth, I haven't heard from the fuzzies since last Dragoncon. :)
Michelle,
I started writing because I loved futuristics. But I couldn't sell one. Sometimes being ahead of one
s time is not a good idea.
Joanne, Nightingale and Beth--Writing is just not an easy process. So many people think they can write a book. And then once you do, it's really hard to sell. I feel very fortunate but at the same time, it's scary. So much is out of our control, covers, back cover copy, titles, distribution, print run--it's all up to someone else and that part of the business is HUGE.
Oh and if anyone is interested, there are more book trailers on my web site. Some I did myself, Solar Heat and Kiss Me Deadly. Island Heat I did part of with COS. And COS did The Quest and The Ultimatum.
Susan rocks! So do the ladies who made comments and asked questions.