Welcome Ms. Lyons to Love Romances and More, thank you for joining us.
I’m delighted to be here.
How long have you been writing?
I wrote fiction as a kid then dropped it for years and never considered it as a career option. Then I picked it up again and wrote for something like ten or twelve years before I sold my first novel (which was in 2005). In that time, I sold a lot of short stories to magazines like Woman’s World. And also collected a lot of rejections!
Did you always want to become a writer?
I never knew what I wanted to “be when I grew up,” as they say. I tried lots of things – studying psychology, anthropology, law, counseling, and working in a variety of jobs – but when I started writing fiction again, it felt right. I knew I’d finally figured out what I wanted to be.
What inspired you to write in the first place? Does the same thing inspire all of your stories?
People inspire me. I’m fascinated by how people think and feel, what motivates them, how they interact with others. Relationships intrigue me, whether the relationship is romantic, family, friendship or work.
What influenced you to get published? How long did it take you to get your first book published?
Being, yet again, a slow learner
, it took a while to figure out what I wanted to write. I started with what I thought at the time were mysteries – but my heroine’s romance always became more important than the mystery. I’m what’s known as a character-driven writer rather than a plot-driven one. I care way more about the characters and their development, relationships, emotions etc. than about plot elements like crime-solving. So, eventually I figured out that I was really writing romance and women’s fiction.
I wrote a number of manuscripts that did well in contests and got positive feedback from editors, and I did sell quite a few stories and got a lot of positive reinforcement out of knowing my work was saleable, and that women around the world were reading it. In the end, making that first book sale was really a matter of putting the right book into the right editor’s hands at the right time. Kensington decided to come out with a new line, Aphrodisia, just at the time my manuscript was sitting in the editor’s office – and guess what, it was a fit. (The other two manuscripts that were also sitting in her office weren’t – which gave me the truly interesting experience of getting rejected twice at the same time as I got my first 2-book contract!)
What is the most, and the least interesting fact about writing?
The most interesting fact is that there’s no formula for how to write and get published. Each writer has her own process and it can take a lot of trying and failing to finally make it. For me, this was very enlightening. I’d always done well in school and figured, if I can become a lawyer then I ought to be able to become a published writer. Let me tell you, it’s much easier to become a lawyer. You work hard, spend a lot of time and money, and follow the rules. You see, there really are rules, with law. There aren’t, for building a writing career. You can work just as hard and spend just as much time and money, and still be piling up the rejections.
The least interesting fact, for me, is the numbers: how many years I’ve been writing, how many novels I finished before selling; how many rejections I’ve received. Quite honestly, I don’t count. Those numbers aren’t relevant. What was relevant in the days before the first sale was that each January 1, I recommitted to writing for another year.
How did you celebrate your first release? What was it like to see your book in a bookstore?
I celebrated by drinking a bottle of Dom Perignon that had been sitting for a couple of years, awaiting this occasion. Then by buying a second bottle and sharing it with my critique group, the three wonderful women who had helped make it all happen (thanks, Betty, Michelle and Nazima!) And also, of course, by telling my family, friends and fellow writers that I had finally done it. Seeing my book in a store for the first time was almost surreal (and seeing it on a top pick shelf alongside Nora Roberts was incredible!). In fact, it still is wonderful and slightly surreal to see my books on shelves. Now I have five titles in print (four single titles plus a novella in an anthology), and when I see them in a bookstore, it’s hard to believe I actually wrote them. It’s fabulous, though! The very best part is knowing that the characters, who of course are like real people to me, are out in the world sharing their stories with readers.
Often a writer’s first book is the toughest to write. Was this true for you? If so, what helped you get through it?
Gosh, I barely remember writing my first book! I know I had a lot of fun. I’m sure it was hard work too, and of course I was reading and learning about the craft of writing, but mostly I just remember the fun. I had always loved, loved, loved reading fiction, and to be writing it myself was amazing. (And still is!)
Do you usually outline your stories before you write them, or do you "go with the flow"?
I’m much more of a go-with-the-flow writer. I love finding out about the characters and their story as I go along, just as happens when I read a book. One of the toughest things about selling a book on proposal (i.e., when I may only have an idea, or at most three chapters) is having to write a synopsis that summarizes the story. How the heck do I know? I haven’t written the book yet!
What does your writing day look like?
There’s no such thing as a typical day for me. Some days I write for hours and some days not at all (though maybe I’ll be writing a blog, preparing promo material, etc.). Sometimes I’m working at my desk with my nice ergonomic setup and the squirrels and cherry blossoms outside the window, other times I’m typing on my laptop on a ferry – and today I’m cramped in an airline seat flying to New York for a conference. My day job involves contract work and sometimes I’m very busy with it, and other times I have no contract work at all. Or I’ll be away at a writing conference or attending a local RWA Chapter meeting. I’m definitely not a creature of routine.
How do you handle family and your writing career? Is your family understanding of the time that you have to give your career? Is it sometimes difficult for you?
I have a tiny family – just my guy and my stepdad. They’re both very understanding and supportive. My mom was too, when she was alive. Unfortunately she died before I sold my first book, but my stepdad tells me she’d be proud of me. I’m very lucky when it comes to family. I know many writers face lack of understanding about the demands of a writing career, and even disrespect for the kind of books they write. That hasn’t happened to me.
How did they react to the fact that you are also an erotic romance author? Has your Mom read one of your books?
LOL. I answered the last question before I read this one. My mom did read my very first manuscript (the romantic mystery) and it was definitely hot. She commented that there was a lot of sex. Then she said, “That’s probably good, because sex sells.” So, I figure she’d be okay with what I’m writing now. My stepdad reads my books (he’s 91 and hasn’t remarried) and enjoys them. He even laughs out loud sometimes. He asks me to explain stuff occasionally, but it’s always things like, “what does LOL mean?” and never the sexy bits (guess he figured that stuff out long ago!). My own guy has no problem with what I write. If someone asks, he tells them my books are like Sex And The City, set in Vancouver. And he carts my bookmarks around with him.
Most authors are also avid readers. Is this the case with you? If so, who are some of your favorites? Have any influenced your writing?
Yes, I’m addicted to reading. I read when I’m brushing my teeth. Seriously. I’m sure the fact that I got glasses when I was in grade 3 had to do with the reading addiction. The only bad thing about writing is that it’s cut into my reading time. I’m down to about 3 books a week now. Some of my favorites are Luanne Rice, Barbara Samuel, Karen White, Susan Wiggs, Kristin Hannah and Dick Francis. My favorite book of all time is “To Kill a Mockingbird” (wonderful writing, characters, emotion, story, message). I’m sure many of the books I’ve read – both great ones and not so good ones – have influenced me, but I’m not very analytical about figuring out exactly how. For example, I don’t look at a favorite book and analyze how the author did it, I just enjoy. I hope that in some mysterious way some of their talent transfers over to me
.
Your characters come to life in your books. Do you feel each of your characters live with you as you write? Do their lives sometimes take over a part of your life? Can you name an example? Do you have living role models for your characters?
Thanks for the compliment, Danny. Yes, they do sort of live with me while I write. Because I did the 4-book Awesome Foursome series, I actually had four young women living inside my brain for quite a while. The more real the characters are to me, the more real I can make them on paper so they come alive for the reader. And because I usually write Vancouver settings (where I live), I’ll often go to a place that’s in a book. For example, I’d be sitting in a restaurant with my book club, and be thinking about the Awesome Foursome eating there, and what they’d be talking about.
As for living role models – no, not really. I’m sure some characteristics of myself and people I know have made it into characters, but really the characters come to life in their own way. It’s a magical kind of process. I do think about it – e.g., I knew Ann (in “Touch Me”) was a workaholic stressed-out lawyer, but I didn’t want her to be too serious and dull (the poor girl!). I knew in my own mind that she wasn’t dull but I wasn’t sure how to convey that on paper. But then I realized, she has these crazy internal dialogues where she hears her controlling mom lecturing her, and she talks back to her mom, plus she talks to herself too. And sometimes when she’s really stressed, she says this stuff out loud. It wasn’t like I decided, as the author, to give her internal voices, it was more like me getting to know a friend better and finding out what was going on in her head, then deciding to reveal her foibles in the book.
Where do you get the inspiration for your books?
Anywhere and everywhere. Sometimes I’ll see or hear something (TV, conversation, book, radio, magazine) and it’ll tweak my muse’s interest. Sometimes I’ll have an idea then sit down and brainstorm it with other people. I seem to go through phases where I’m more receptive – seeing ideas all over the place – and other phases where I’m less receptive.
Do you find it difficult at times to write love/sex scenes?
Sure. You have to be in the mood, right? LOL. Which means, I have to be in the right frame of mind and so do my characters. There have been times I’ve rearranged my schedule for the day because the next thing I need to write is a sex scene and I’m just not in the mood at 9:00 in the morning, and my characters aren’t obliging me by flinging themselves at each other. So I’ll do other work during the day, then perhaps after dinner I’ll pour a glass of wine and go back to the computer and find it easier to get into the mood. Once I’m in the mood, my characters generally seem to be too.
As well as the mood thing, I also need to know my characters well, and know what kind of sex they’re going to have in the particular scene. For example, with Rina and Giancarlo in “She’s on Top,” he’s a pianist and has wonderful fingers and he plays sensual music on her body. She’s a musician too, and recognizes some of the music he plays. Also, she’s self-conscious about her weight and is always dieting, and he loves food and wants her to enjoy eating and to accept and love her curvy body – so, often their sex scenes involve food. With Ann and Adonis, he was into tantric sex and wanted to awaken Ann’s sensuality, so there’s a scene where he blindfolds her and gives her various sensual delights. Once I know these things about the characters, I know what’s going to make their love scenes special, then it’s easier to write them.
Have you ever suffered from "writer’s block"? If so, what did you do to get out if it?
Not a true block, but sometimes I get stalled. Usually it’s because I don’t know the characters well enough, or know what’s going to happen next (that’s what I get for not outlining ahead of time!). I deal with it by going for a walk, mulling it over, perhaps discussing it with someone or even just talking out loud. I think more deeply about the characters – what really motivates them, what they want deep in their hearts, what they fear most, etc. Then at some point I usually feel that “aha” moment and know what’s going to happen next.
How do you handle the deadline hell?
What deadline hell? No, seriously. For most of my life I’ve either been a student or self-employed so I’m very disciplined about organizing my work. I’m the girl who didn’t study the night before the exam, I relaxed with a novel and a glass of wine. Because I’d already done the work. Basically, when I have any kind of deadline, I figure out what needs to be done by what date, then develop a plan for getting there without stressing myself out in the process. (Some people thrive on stress. I don’t!) Then I try to keep to the plan – and I know right away if I get behind, so I deal with it before it becomes a real problem.
Did you ever expect your books to become so popular? Why do you think your books are in such demand?
More compliments! Well, I do know my books have won some awards and got some great reviews, and I get wonderful notes from readers (click here to send a note to Susan!). So I guess I have some measure of success. I do love knowing that people are reading and enjoying my books. I think the reason a lot of women enjoy them is that they combine a lot of things women of all ages like: (1) romance; (2) realistic characters to identify with, who have issues such as balancing career and personal life, respecting parents but being true to yourself, having a body that society deems to be less than perfect – but they don’t whine (well, not very much!) and instead deal with their issues and grow; (3) female friendship; (4) humor; and (5) let’s not forget, there’s lots of hot sex! I’ve had some compliments from men too, but I’m not sure many have read my books themselves. They’re just very glad their wives/girlfriends have, as they’ve reaped the benefits.
What is your favorite book from the books that you have written so far? Who are your favorite hero and heroine, and why?
I honestly don’t have a favorite. I love them all. Suzanne and Jaxon (“Champagne Rules”) because they handle an interracial relationship without prejudice. Jenny and Scott (“Hot in Here”) because she’s been pretty complacent about managing her life so she can both respect her traditional Chinese parents and still be a modern woman – but he presents a challenge that shakes up that complacency. Ann and Adonis (“Touch Me”) because she’s so angsty and funny and he’s so determined in his own laid-back way. Rina and Giancarlo (“She’s on Top”) because so many women have body image issues and deserve a man who loves them and truly finds them beautiful. And I can’t forget Tash and Mick (“Hot Down Under” in “The Firefighter”) – what woman wouldn’t fall for a hot Aussie firefighter? Then there’s Jude and Nick, who star in a novella called “Unwrap Me” that comes out in October. She’s anti-Christmas and he’s her Secret Santa gift, and he wants to make her believe in Christmas again.
Which book was the hardest to write and which the easiest?
“Champagne Rules” was the hardest. It got reshaped several times as I tried to figure out where I might submit it, how hot I wanted it to be, how much of a place the “chick lit” aspect and female friendship should play, etc. When I wrote it, I knew Suzanne had three girlfriends, but I hadn’t thought of writing a series. Then I got so fond of the other three girls and knew they deserved their own romances, so when I submitted the manuscript to Kensington I said I envisioned a 4-book series. The other three books weren’t so tough because I knew each of the heroines quite well.
“Hot Down Under” was probably the easiest because it was a novella and couldn’t be too complex. Writing 25,000 words is way different than writing 90,000! (Same thing with the novella “Unwrap Me“.)
If you could change places with one character from your books, who would it be and why?
Gosh, that’s kind of like asking me who my favorite hero is... And they all are, so I guess I can’t look at it that way. So, taking another approach . . . I think maybe Jenny, because she’s Chinese-Canadian. I’m not, and it would be very interesting to live in a different culture.
Do you have plans to give another genre a try, like Historical or Paranormal, in the near future?
I’m not into heavy paranormal themes like vampires and shapeshifters and evil demons, but I do think one day I’ll write a character who’s psychic. As for historical, I like New World better than Old World and have a proposal right now for a 3-book series called “Red Garters.” It’s set in a gold rush town where the minister and his wife import marriageable young women to wed and tame the men. But 3 of the women aren’t quite as pure as the driven snow!
If you could travel through time to visit a special time period or famous person, what or who would it be and why?
Maybe Harper Lee, who wrote “To Kill a Mockingbird.” I’d love to hear her talk about the book and about her own life, and why she didn’t write any more novels.
Do you listen to music while you are writing and if so what music is it?
Not usually. I’m an only child who grew up in a very quiet house and I find it hard to concentrate when there’s music playing. If I do listen, it’s either relaxing instrumental with no vocals, or it’s specific music that relates to a story. For example, I may listen so I can describe the music and its mood, or refresh my memory of the lyrics.
If you could choose one of your books for a movie, which one would it be and who would you have as the cast?
Well, it really does need to be a TV series. I know we now have “Cashmere Mafia” and “Lipstick Jungle” but they’re both very New York and very much about high-powered career women. The girls in my Awesome Foursome are more fun and I think easier to relate to. They’re kind of a cross between “Sex And The City” and “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”. They’re in their 20s, not sophisticated and established – just figuring out who they are as women and what they want out of life. And the West Coast is a wonderful setting.
To pick one couple to cast, I’ll go with “She’s on Top”. America Ferrara for Rina (lush curves, Mediterranean coloring, masses of black hair) and Josh Groban as Giancarlo (gorgeous, and he could easily pass for Italian).
Congratulations on your newest release in April, SHE’S ON TOP. It’s a wonderful and captivating story. What inspired you to write this book?
Of course I knew from the time I sold “Champagne Rules” that Rina would get her own book. It was interesting picking the order among the girls and I honestly didn’t know at the time why she was coming last. Once I was three-quarters of the way through the book, though, Giancarlo told me the ending and it made me realize why it made perfect sense for her story to be the last one. I’d also known from the beginning who her true love would end up being. She had to reunite with her piano-man. Sometimes your first love really is “the one.” But of course it couldn’t be easy for them, so then I had to delve into Rina’s character and figure out her weaknesses (her body image issues and her almost-desperate desire to have a home and never move again) then get Giancarlo to challenge them. And vice versa, of course!
SHE’S ON TOP is the last book of your fantastic Awesome Foursome series, do you have another planned or do you want to write single titles next?
No more Awesome Foursome books, I guess. Not unless a publisher begs me to write one. Really, each story was a romance and each had a happy ending, so the series is complete.
I do like series that feature female friendship, and that’s why the 3-book “Red Garters” idea appeals to me. I also have an idea for a 3-novella anthology about sisters finding love.
You had two stories with fire-fighter heroes, do you have plans for more?
Good question. As a matter of fact, Nick, the hero of my “Unwrap Me” novella, is a firefighter. They make great heroes. I’m sure I’ll write more of them.
Each of your books has a hidden message, is that on purpose or did it just happen?
Well, aren’t you clever for noticing? LOL. I like books that work on a variety of levels. First, they should be a good story and give the reader a nice escape from the real world. Second, I think we all like to see characters grow and change – love shouldn’t come easily, people (at least in fiction) should struggle to win it. And third, yes, I do like messages. I like to make people think about difficult issues – like interracial relationships, the influence of women’s lib, society’s messages about women’s bodies, and so on. I’m in favor of accepting and enjoying diversity and I’m against prejudice. I’m in favor of women finding their own path in life rather than being shoved around by parents, society, women’s lib, friends or lovers. So yes, those messages are interwoven in my books. I know they resonate with some readers because I’ve received emails saying so. Others may not even notice the messages, and that’s fine too.
Are you working on anything right now, and can you tell us a teaser about these projects?
My 3-sisters anthology is called “Wild Ride.” It starts with a much-younger sister getting engaged and inviting her 3 older sisters (who live in different parts of the world) back home to be her bridesmaids. She’s smug because, even though she’s the baby in the family, she’s the first to be lucky in love. As each of her 3 sisters comes home (one by plane, one by train, one by automobile), they meet up with a very hot guy and... Well, I do write romance, so you can figure out the ending!
Any final advice to aspiring authors?
Persist and have faith in yourself. And enjoy the process. It’s a hard business and if you don’t enjoy writing, you really need to think why you’re working so hard at a business that has lots of frustrations and setbacks. On the other hand, if you do enjoy writing, then don’t lose that enjoyment during the tough times. Remind yourself you’re in this for the love of it, not to get rich (although yes, that would be very nice!). And also, always think about your readers. If you’re writing with the aim of publication, not just for yourself, then you’re writing for readers. Readers are the best people in the world. Always respect and appreciate them.
Do you have anything to add?
I invite everyone to pop over to my website at click here for Susan's website!. I have trailers, excerpts, notes about how each story originated, review quotes, a monthly contest, an email newsletter you can subscribe to, and other goodies.
Thank you for spending time with us at Love Romances and More.
Thank you! And thanks to Danny for all the wonderful reviews. (After readers, kind reviewers are the second-best people in the world.)
Interviewed by Danny
I’m delighted to be here.
How long have you been writing?
I wrote fiction as a kid then dropped it for years and never considered it as a career option. Then I picked it up again and wrote for something like ten or twelve years before I sold my first novel (which was in 2005). In that time, I sold a lot of short stories to magazines like Woman’s World. And also collected a lot of rejections!
Did you always want to become a writer?
I never knew what I wanted to “be when I grew up,” as they say. I tried lots of things – studying psychology, anthropology, law, counseling, and working in a variety of jobs – but when I started writing fiction again, it felt right. I knew I’d finally figured out what I wanted to be.
What inspired you to write in the first place? Does the same thing inspire all of your stories?
People inspire me. I’m fascinated by how people think and feel, what motivates them, how they interact with others. Relationships intrigue me, whether the relationship is romantic, family, friendship or work.
What influenced you to get published? How long did it take you to get your first book published?
Being, yet again, a slow learner
, it took a while to figure out what I wanted to write. I started with what I thought at the time were mysteries – but my heroine’s romance always became more important than the mystery. I’m what’s known as a character-driven writer rather than a plot-driven one. I care way more about the characters and their development, relationships, emotions etc. than about plot elements like crime-solving. So, eventually I figured out that I was really writing romance and women’s fiction.I wrote a number of manuscripts that did well in contests and got positive feedback from editors, and I did sell quite a few stories and got a lot of positive reinforcement out of knowing my work was saleable, and that women around the world were reading it. In the end, making that first book sale was really a matter of putting the right book into the right editor’s hands at the right time. Kensington decided to come out with a new line, Aphrodisia, just at the time my manuscript was sitting in the editor’s office – and guess what, it was a fit. (The other two manuscripts that were also sitting in her office weren’t – which gave me the truly interesting experience of getting rejected twice at the same time as I got my first 2-book contract!)
What is the most, and the least interesting fact about writing?
The most interesting fact is that there’s no formula for how to write and get published. Each writer has her own process and it can take a lot of trying and failing to finally make it. For me, this was very enlightening. I’d always done well in school and figured, if I can become a lawyer then I ought to be able to become a published writer. Let me tell you, it’s much easier to become a lawyer. You work hard, spend a lot of time and money, and follow the rules. You see, there really are rules, with law. There aren’t, for building a writing career. You can work just as hard and spend just as much time and money, and still be piling up the rejections.
The least interesting fact, for me, is the numbers: how many years I’ve been writing, how many novels I finished before selling; how many rejections I’ve received. Quite honestly, I don’t count. Those numbers aren’t relevant. What was relevant in the days before the first sale was that each January 1, I recommitted to writing for another year.
How did you celebrate your first release? What was it like to see your book in a bookstore?
I celebrated by drinking a bottle of Dom Perignon that had been sitting for a couple of years, awaiting this occasion. Then by buying a second bottle and sharing it with my critique group, the three wonderful women who had helped make it all happen (thanks, Betty, Michelle and Nazima!) And also, of course, by telling my family, friends and fellow writers that I had finally done it. Seeing my book in a store for the first time was almost surreal (and seeing it on a top pick shelf alongside Nora Roberts was incredible!). In fact, it still is wonderful and slightly surreal to see my books on shelves. Now I have five titles in print (four single titles plus a novella in an anthology), and when I see them in a bookstore, it’s hard to believe I actually wrote them. It’s fabulous, though! The very best part is knowing that the characters, who of course are like real people to me, are out in the world sharing their stories with readers.
Often a writer’s first book is the toughest to write. Was this true for you? If so, what helped you get through it?
Gosh, I barely remember writing my first book! I know I had a lot of fun. I’m sure it was hard work too, and of course I was reading and learning about the craft of writing, but mostly I just remember the fun. I had always loved, loved, loved reading fiction, and to be writing it myself was amazing. (And still is!)
Do you usually outline your stories before you write them, or do you "go with the flow"?
I’m much more of a go-with-the-flow writer. I love finding out about the characters and their story as I go along, just as happens when I read a book. One of the toughest things about selling a book on proposal (i.e., when I may only have an idea, or at most three chapters) is having to write a synopsis that summarizes the story. How the heck do I know? I haven’t written the book yet!
What does your writing day look like?
There’s no such thing as a typical day for me. Some days I write for hours and some days not at all (though maybe I’ll be writing a blog, preparing promo material, etc.). Sometimes I’m working at my desk with my nice ergonomic setup and the squirrels and cherry blossoms outside the window, other times I’m typing on my laptop on a ferry – and today I’m cramped in an airline seat flying to New York for a conference. My day job involves contract work and sometimes I’m very busy with it, and other times I have no contract work at all. Or I’ll be away at a writing conference or attending a local RWA Chapter meeting. I’m definitely not a creature of routine.
How do you handle family and your writing career? Is your family understanding of the time that you have to give your career? Is it sometimes difficult for you?
I have a tiny family – just my guy and my stepdad. They’re both very understanding and supportive. My mom was too, when she was alive. Unfortunately she died before I sold my first book, but my stepdad tells me she’d be proud of me. I’m very lucky when it comes to family. I know many writers face lack of understanding about the demands of a writing career, and even disrespect for the kind of books they write. That hasn’t happened to me.
How did they react to the fact that you are also an erotic romance author? Has your Mom read one of your books?
LOL. I answered the last question before I read this one. My mom did read my very first manuscript (the romantic mystery) and it was definitely hot. She commented that there was a lot of sex. Then she said, “That’s probably good, because sex sells.” So, I figure she’d be okay with what I’m writing now. My stepdad reads my books (he’s 91 and hasn’t remarried) and enjoys them. He even laughs out loud sometimes. He asks me to explain stuff occasionally, but it’s always things like, “what does LOL mean?” and never the sexy bits (guess he figured that stuff out long ago!). My own guy has no problem with what I write. If someone asks, he tells them my books are like Sex And The City, set in Vancouver. And he carts my bookmarks around with him.
Most authors are also avid readers. Is this the case with you? If so, who are some of your favorites? Have any influenced your writing?
Yes, I’m addicted to reading. I read when I’m brushing my teeth. Seriously. I’m sure the fact that I got glasses when I was in grade 3 had to do with the reading addiction. The only bad thing about writing is that it’s cut into my reading time. I’m down to about 3 books a week now. Some of my favorites are Luanne Rice, Barbara Samuel, Karen White, Susan Wiggs, Kristin Hannah and Dick Francis. My favorite book of all time is “To Kill a Mockingbird” (wonderful writing, characters, emotion, story, message). I’m sure many of the books I’ve read – both great ones and not so good ones – have influenced me, but I’m not very analytical about figuring out exactly how. For example, I don’t look at a favorite book and analyze how the author did it, I just enjoy. I hope that in some mysterious way some of their talent transfers over to me
.Your characters come to life in your books. Do you feel each of your characters live with you as you write? Do their lives sometimes take over a part of your life? Can you name an example? Do you have living role models for your characters?
Thanks for the compliment, Danny. Yes, they do sort of live with me while I write. Because I did the 4-book Awesome Foursome series, I actually had four young women living inside my brain for quite a while. The more real the characters are to me, the more real I can make them on paper so they come alive for the reader. And because I usually write Vancouver settings (where I live), I’ll often go to a place that’s in a book. For example, I’d be sitting in a restaurant with my book club, and be thinking about the Awesome Foursome eating there, and what they’d be talking about.
As for living role models – no, not really. I’m sure some characteristics of myself and people I know have made it into characters, but really the characters come to life in their own way. It’s a magical kind of process. I do think about it – e.g., I knew Ann (in “Touch Me”) was a workaholic stressed-out lawyer, but I didn’t want her to be too serious and dull (the poor girl!). I knew in my own mind that she wasn’t dull but I wasn’t sure how to convey that on paper. But then I realized, she has these crazy internal dialogues where she hears her controlling mom lecturing her, and she talks back to her mom, plus she talks to herself too. And sometimes when she’s really stressed, she says this stuff out loud. It wasn’t like I decided, as the author, to give her internal voices, it was more like me getting to know a friend better and finding out what was going on in her head, then deciding to reveal her foibles in the book.
Where do you get the inspiration for your books?
Anywhere and everywhere. Sometimes I’ll see or hear something (TV, conversation, book, radio, magazine) and it’ll tweak my muse’s interest. Sometimes I’ll have an idea then sit down and brainstorm it with other people. I seem to go through phases where I’m more receptive – seeing ideas all over the place – and other phases where I’m less receptive.
Do you find it difficult at times to write love/sex scenes?
Sure. You have to be in the mood, right? LOL. Which means, I have to be in the right frame of mind and so do my characters. There have been times I’ve rearranged my schedule for the day because the next thing I need to write is a sex scene and I’m just not in the mood at 9:00 in the morning, and my characters aren’t obliging me by flinging themselves at each other. So I’ll do other work during the day, then perhaps after dinner I’ll pour a glass of wine and go back to the computer and find it easier to get into the mood. Once I’m in the mood, my characters generally seem to be too.
As well as the mood thing, I also need to know my characters well, and know what kind of sex they’re going to have in the particular scene. For example, with Rina and Giancarlo in “She’s on Top,” he’s a pianist and has wonderful fingers and he plays sensual music on her body. She’s a musician too, and recognizes some of the music he plays. Also, she’s self-conscious about her weight and is always dieting, and he loves food and wants her to enjoy eating and to accept and love her curvy body – so, often their sex scenes involve food. With Ann and Adonis, he was into tantric sex and wanted to awaken Ann’s sensuality, so there’s a scene where he blindfolds her and gives her various sensual delights. Once I know these things about the characters, I know what’s going to make their love scenes special, then it’s easier to write them.
Have you ever suffered from "writer’s block"? If so, what did you do to get out if it?
Not a true block, but sometimes I get stalled. Usually it’s because I don’t know the characters well enough, or know what’s going to happen next (that’s what I get for not outlining ahead of time!). I deal with it by going for a walk, mulling it over, perhaps discussing it with someone or even just talking out loud. I think more deeply about the characters – what really motivates them, what they want deep in their hearts, what they fear most, etc. Then at some point I usually feel that “aha” moment and know what’s going to happen next.
How do you handle the deadline hell?
What deadline hell? No, seriously. For most of my life I’ve either been a student or self-employed so I’m very disciplined about organizing my work. I’m the girl who didn’t study the night before the exam, I relaxed with a novel and a glass of wine. Because I’d already done the work. Basically, when I have any kind of deadline, I figure out what needs to be done by what date, then develop a plan for getting there without stressing myself out in the process. (Some people thrive on stress. I don’t!) Then I try to keep to the plan – and I know right away if I get behind, so I deal with it before it becomes a real problem.
Did you ever expect your books to become so popular? Why do you think your books are in such demand?
More compliments! Well, I do know my books have won some awards and got some great reviews, and I get wonderful notes from readers (click here to send a note to Susan!). So I guess I have some measure of success. I do love knowing that people are reading and enjoying my books. I think the reason a lot of women enjoy them is that they combine a lot of things women of all ages like: (1) romance; (2) realistic characters to identify with, who have issues such as balancing career and personal life, respecting parents but being true to yourself, having a body that society deems to be less than perfect – but they don’t whine (well, not very much!) and instead deal with their issues and grow; (3) female friendship; (4) humor; and (5) let’s not forget, there’s lots of hot sex! I’ve had some compliments from men too, but I’m not sure many have read my books themselves. They’re just very glad their wives/girlfriends have, as they’ve reaped the benefits
.What is your favorite book from the books that you have written so far? Who are your favorite hero and heroine, and why?
I honestly don’t have a favorite. I love them all. Suzanne and Jaxon (“Champagne Rules”) because they handle an interracial relationship without prejudice. Jenny and Scott (“Hot in Here”) because she’s been pretty complacent about managing her life so she can both respect her traditional Chinese parents and still be a modern woman – but he presents a challenge that shakes up that complacency. Ann and Adonis (“Touch Me”) because she’s so angsty and funny and he’s so determined in his own laid-back way. Rina and Giancarlo (“She’s on Top”) because so many women have body image issues and deserve a man who loves them and truly finds them beautiful. And I can’t forget Tash and Mick (“Hot Down Under” in “The Firefighter”) – what woman wouldn’t fall for a hot Aussie firefighter? Then there’s Jude and Nick, who star in a novella called “Unwrap Me” that comes out in October. She’s anti-Christmas and he’s her Secret Santa gift, and he wants to make her believe in Christmas again.
Which book was the hardest to write and which the easiest?
“Champagne Rules” was the hardest. It got reshaped several times as I tried to figure out where I might submit it, how hot I wanted it to be, how much of a place the “chick lit” aspect and female friendship should play, etc. When I wrote it, I knew Suzanne had three girlfriends, but I hadn’t thought of writing a series. Then I got so fond of the other three girls and knew they deserved their own romances, so when I submitted the manuscript to Kensington I said I envisioned a 4-book series. The other three books weren’t so tough because I knew each of the heroines quite well.
“Hot Down Under” was probably the easiest because it was a novella and couldn’t be too complex. Writing 25,000 words is way different than writing 90,000! (Same thing with the novella “Unwrap Me“.)
If you could change places with one character from your books, who would it be and why?
Gosh, that’s kind of like asking me who my favorite hero is... And they all are, so I guess I can’t look at it that way. So, taking another approach . . . I think maybe Jenny, because she’s Chinese-Canadian. I’m not, and it would be very interesting to live in a different culture.
Do you have plans to give another genre a try, like Historical or Paranormal, in the near future?
I’m not into heavy paranormal themes like vampires and shapeshifters and evil demons, but I do think one day I’ll write a character who’s psychic. As for historical, I like New World better than Old World and have a proposal right now for a 3-book series called “Red Garters.” It’s set in a gold rush town where the minister and his wife import marriageable young women to wed and tame the men. But 3 of the women aren’t quite as pure as the driven snow!
If you could travel through time to visit a special time period or famous person, what or who would it be and why?
Maybe Harper Lee, who wrote “To Kill a Mockingbird.” I’d love to hear her talk about the book and about her own life, and why she didn’t write any more novels.
Do you listen to music while you are writing and if so what music is it?
Not usually. I’m an only child who grew up in a very quiet house and I find it hard to concentrate when there’s music playing. If I do listen, it’s either relaxing instrumental with no vocals, or it’s specific music that relates to a story. For example, I may listen so I can describe the music and its mood, or refresh my memory of the lyrics.
If you could choose one of your books for a movie, which one would it be and who would you have as the cast?
Well, it really does need to be a TV series
. I know we now have “Cashmere Mafia” and “Lipstick Jungle” but they’re both very New York and very much about high-powered career women. The girls in my Awesome Foursome are more fun and I think easier to relate to. They’re kind of a cross between “Sex And The City” and “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”. They’re in their 20s, not sophisticated and established – just figuring out who they are as women and what they want out of life. And the West Coast is a wonderful setting.To pick one couple to cast, I’ll go with “She’s on Top”. America Ferrara for Rina (lush curves, Mediterranean coloring, masses of black hair) and Josh Groban as Giancarlo (gorgeous, and he could easily pass for Italian).
Congratulations on your newest release in April, SHE’S ON TOP. It’s a wonderful and captivating story. What inspired you to write this book?
Of course I knew from the time I sold “Champagne Rules” that Rina would get her own book. It was interesting picking the order among the girls and I honestly didn’t know at the time why she was coming last. Once I was three-quarters of the way through the book, though, Giancarlo told me the ending and it made me realize why it made perfect sense for her story to be the last one. I’d also known from the beginning who her true love would end up being. She had to reunite with her piano-man. Sometimes your first love really is “the one.” But of course it couldn’t be easy for them, so then I had to delve into Rina’s character and figure out her weaknesses (her body image issues and her almost-desperate desire to have a home and never move again) then get Giancarlo to challenge them. And vice versa, of course!
SHE’S ON TOP is the last book of your fantastic Awesome Foursome series, do you have another planned or do you want to write single titles next?
No more Awesome Foursome books, I guess. Not unless a publisher begs me to write one
. Really, each story was a romance and each had a happy ending, so the series is complete.I do like series that feature female friendship, and that’s why the 3-book “Red Garters” idea appeals to me. I also have an idea for a 3-novella anthology about sisters finding love.
You had two stories with fire-fighter heroes, do you have plans for more?
Good question. As a matter of fact, Nick, the hero of my “Unwrap Me” novella, is a firefighter. They make great heroes. I’m sure I’ll write more of them.
Each of your books has a hidden message, is that on purpose or did it just happen?
Well, aren’t you clever for noticing? LOL. I like books that work on a variety of levels. First, they should be a good story and give the reader a nice escape from the real world. Second, I think we all like to see characters grow and change – love shouldn’t come easily, people (at least in fiction) should struggle to win it. And third, yes, I do like messages. I like to make people think about difficult issues – like interracial relationships, the influence of women’s lib, society’s messages about women’s bodies, and so on. I’m in favor of accepting and enjoying diversity and I’m against prejudice. I’m in favor of women finding their own path in life rather than being shoved around by parents, society, women’s lib, friends or lovers. So yes, those messages are interwoven in my books. I know they resonate with some readers because I’ve received emails saying so. Others may not even notice the messages, and that’s fine too.
Are you working on anything right now, and can you tell us a teaser about these projects?
My 3-sisters anthology is called “Wild Ride.” It starts with a much-younger sister getting engaged and inviting her 3 older sisters (who live in different parts of the world) back home to be her bridesmaids. She’s smug because, even though she’s the baby in the family, she’s the first to be lucky in love. As each of her 3 sisters comes home (one by plane, one by train, one by automobile), they meet up with a very hot guy and... Well, I do write romance, so you can figure out the ending!
Any final advice to aspiring authors?
Persist and have faith in yourself. And enjoy the process. It’s a hard business and if you don’t enjoy writing, you really need to think why you’re working so hard at a business that has lots of frustrations and setbacks. On the other hand, if you do enjoy writing, then don’t lose that enjoyment during the tough times. Remind yourself you’re in this for the love of it, not to get rich (although yes, that would be very nice!). And also, always think about your readers. If you’re writing with the aim of publication, not just for yourself, then you’re writing for readers. Readers are the best people in the world. Always respect and appreciate them.
Do you have anything to add?
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Thank you for spending time with us at Love Romances and More.
Thank you! And thanks to Danny for all the wonderful reviews. (After readers, kind reviewers are the second-best people in the world
.)Interviewed by Danny
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