[Author Spotlight] SUZIE GRANT

Author: Suzie Grant

Title(s): The Devil’s Daughter and The Devil’s Defiance
Genre: Historical Western Romance
Release Date: Tentative date set for September 2012

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Who or what influenced you to start writing?

I’ve read since I was very young. I grew up on classic adventure stories like Treasure Isle, Robinson Crusoe, and The Swiss Family Robinson tales so adventure was a big part of my imagination as a child. I first read and loved Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind at just nine years old and I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life. Several years later I picked up my first historical romance and at just sixteen years old I started to secretly pen a novel of my own. It was horrible but it was a good place to start.

What genres do you focus on (writing and reading)?

Mostly historical romance and I read a lot of men’s action thriller stories from authors like James Rollins (my writing hero btw) Steve Berry and Mathew O’Rielly. I love to read when I can, I think it helps broaden the mind.

I love Steve Berry! My single title novel recently turned into a series! Tell me about your organizational technique when writing The Devil Ryder Series.

I started this novel as a teen and then set it aside, picking it up many, many years later. I was what you call a “pantser” at the time. I’ve developed into a plotter over the years. A very complicated process. I use index cards for scene notes, a dry erase board to map out battles and fight scenes and notebooks to stash all of my historical research. It’s taken me twenty years to get here but it was completely worth the long wait. But I’ve learned patience is the key, determination, and honing your craft are the most important things for any writer. There is always room to grow, learn, and achieve something new.

When you wrote The Devil’s Daughter did you know it was going to be a series?

Yes, I did actually. I knew that I wanted to write about this family who had been struck by tragedy and had become estranged. And all of my stories seem to have a similar theme about family enduring anything. I think it’s a theme that will continue in my stories because family is such a huge part of my life.   

A support group is very important for any writer.  Do you have a group of writers that you meet with?

I do. I have a great critique group with some extremely talented published authors as well as one or two unpublished. But I can guarantee there isn’t a person in our group that won’t be published soon. The talent is huge and I consider myself very lucky to be a part of such a fabulous group. Several of us got together and started a blog called the Lady Scribes. You can find it here: http://ladyscribes.blogspot.com/

What are you looking forward to in the coming year?

My oldest son is turning twenty this year, my second son will be driving and my youngest son will be five. I’m looking forward to going on many adventures with them, some camping trips, a little traveling, and we’re even discussing learning to rock climb together. They keep me on my toes. 

But as far as writing goes, I am looking forward to finishing The Devil Ryder series and starting the second book in the Maidens of the Shield series, A Valkyrie’s Vow. It’s funny I started to write The Devil’s Daughter when I was just sixteen years old and pregnant with my first child. And it didn’t get published until twenty years later but the series is about three men and how life changes them. I just realized how uncanny it is that I have three sons. Fate? Who knows but that’s what makes life so interesting. You never know what happens when you take a leap of faith and try something new. 

About the Author:

Suzie’s life has been one big adventure. Her childhood was full of reading the classics like Treasure Isle, Robinson Crusoe and The Swiss Family Robinson tales. In fact her mother has another word for her “stories” but to this day, Suzie continues to dream up adventures of her own.

As a pregnant teen her adventure became a life-defining moment as she struggled to survive and raise a child on her own. During those rocky years writing became an emotional outlet.

After a very long divorce she again finds herself climbing that rocky path of life and has learned to live by a single quote: “Obstacles are placed in our path to determine whether we really wanted something, or just thought we did.” By Dr. Harold Smith.

Suzie looks forward to each new obstacle.

Taking life by the proverbial horns, Suzie now lives happily ever after with her new beau, three boys, and one little Shih tzu named Peppy Le’Pew in NC. One day she plans to retire and sail along the east coast, an adventurer to the end.


**FIRST PERSON TO LEAVE A COMMENT ON THIS BLOG POST WILL WIN A DIGITAL COPY OF THE DEVIL'S DAUGHTER BY SUZIE GRANT**