I have had the pleasure of knowing Susan for a few years now. And while we have never met face-to-face, I still consider her a great friend. If you haven’t read Shape Shifters: The Demo Tapes then you need to check them out! Trevor=awesome!
Welcome to the blog Susan.
What or who inspired you to first start writing?
No idea. I often say my need to write is a birth defect. It’s the way I’m wired. According to my mother, I wouldn’t even start talking until I could speak in paragraphs.
If you could go back in time and lay claim to any book written, which one would you want and why?
Okay, don’t laugh. The Horse Whisperer. That or TC Boyle’s East is East. Both made me cry, they were so beautifully crafted. They also made me want to write such good stuff.
When you are writing and hit a stumbling block, what do you do to try and get over the hurdle?
I actually delete the last paragraph or two. I’ve learned that when I get stuck, it’s because I’ve gone off in the wrong direction. Fixing that and getting back on track solves all.
What was the strangest thing that ever inspired a scene/book? What was the end result?
Oh, man… I couldn’t even begin to guess. I’m inspired by practically anything — much of which you can see on the Meet and Greet at West of Mars — from buying chicken to tennis shoes. I think it just depends on how open to inspiration I am at any moment.
If you could have supper with any of your characters, which one would you choose and where would you take them?
Definitely Trevor because he’s so much fun. I think I’d take him to the O — the Original Hot Dog Shop to you non-Pittsburghers — because even though I don’t think they make meatball subs, they make mean fries and dogs. And besides, I took the late Layne Staley (of Alice in Chains) there for fries one night back in… what was it? ’90? ’91? It was when Alice toured with Slayer, Anthrax, and Megadeth. Layne, my assistant at the time, and his bodyguard left the club we were hanging in and headed out for fries. I WARNED him not to order the large…
Oh, yeah. We were talking about taking someone out. Maybe I shouldn’t take Trev to the O. I clearly have some very good memories from there already.
Is there a type of story you would like to write, but are terrified you wouldn’t do a proper job? What is it and why?
Oh, pretty much any idea I get scares me. I write pretty light stuff, but I’d like to think there’s a more serious undertone going, as well. I guess I’d like to be able to write the heavier themes and do them proper justice. (Now watch, someone who’s read Trevor’s Song will say I handled the heavy stuff in there just fine.)
If you could sit down with one author from any time in history, who would it be? What questions would you want to ask them?
Ulp. No idea. None whatsoever. I think that’s partly because we have such great access to other writers these days via Facebook and Twitter.
If someone gave you a minion tomorrow, what would be the first task you’d ask them to complete?
Social networking for me! No, not Tweeting. Forums and the like. I’d love a screener, “Hey, Susan, here’s something you ought to see.” Or even, “Hey, I’m going to post your book reviews over at *this* site so they get a wider audience.”
Of course, I’d also love it if my assistant were to take some of the fiction from my blog — even though it’s available now in actual books — and put it up on Scribd for me. I’ve been meaning to get to doing that for awhile now, but I’m too swamped.
Can I have my minion do both? And if I shake it, will it glow like the one minion did in Despicable Me?
E-books vs print books? E-readers vs. paper? Can’t we all just get along? What’s your preference?
Right now, I still prefer print to e-, but that could be because I need an e-ink reader, not my iPod. Which I bought to use as an e-reader. I LOVE the idea of e-books and I fully support them. I give my own e-books away to deployed troops via Operation e-book Drop.
If you were a superhero, what would your name be and what super powers would you possess?
I’d be Super Susan, and my power would be to make all bow before me.
What project are you working on next?
I actually have a few in the works. Demo Tapes: Year 3 is the closest to completion. The Demo Tapes projects are anthologies of the fiction I’ve posted on my blog. Then I’m working on a follow-up to Trevor’s Song, and something brand new that I’m outlining. This will be the first time I’ve outlined a book. Should be interesting.
How can readers find out more about you?
http://westofmars.com — there you’ll find The Meet and Greet, my author’s blog that’s full of my fiction. You will also find Rocks ‘n Reads, my more traditional book blog, and Win a Book, my publicity blog for authors and bloggers.
I’m also on Twitter (@WestofMars) and Facebook. I have a personal page and a West of Mars fan page, which is SO under-loved, it’s not funny. Stop in and like me!
Thanks for hosting me today, Christine!
Great interview ladies!!
Susan – your talent, creativity, and experience are not to be denied. However, I’m curious – are the rumors about your being able to cure scroffula by singing “Fade to Black” in ancient Sanskrit really true?
(Seriously – nice interview! Good luck finding that minion, though
Hi Susan! Saw your post about this interview at WoM and thought I should learn more about you after visiting there so often.
Susan & Christine- fab interview. Loved the minion question especially, and am seriously thinking of hijacking some of the others for when I have author interviews – My standarad Qs right now include a variation, being ‘Which literary character do you wish you’d thought of first?’
Christine -love your header. Am still kind of mindblown by your description of sheer amount of output as described in this weekend’s meeting. Had a question I didn’t get to ask due to time: you and Leah both mentioned negotiating right of first look, or whatever it’s called, out of your contracts. Being clueless and thinking that the sound of a publisher wanting the chance to look at your subsequent work before anyone else is a good think, I’m wondering why?
I ask because I’m toying with the idea of subbing to Carina.
Thanks again, ladies.
Samrobb, no comment.
btw, is your name really Samrobb Robb???
(Samrobb is an old, dear friend of mine and yes, I did think that was his name.)
Maya, whenever you’d like to try some of those interview questions out on a real, live author, holler. I’m up for the challenge!
Maya, good question! (sorry I didn’t see this sooner)
Option clauses aren’t always a bad thing. If you are offering a series, then most likely you want this staying with the same publisher. However, it does lock you into committing to that one publisher. If you have had a negative experience and want to try someplace else, or if you are writing a different type of book that may not be suited for that publisher, you are still obligated to send it to them. This can be a waste of everyone’s time and can sometimes work against you as an author.
Like everything, you have to look at your individual situation. Also, have someone look over a contract before you sign it. They can explain the ramifications of any clauses that you will be agreeing to. As long as you go into it with your eyes open, you will be fine.
Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Christine – makes sense. Kris also kindly sent me an email with thoughts in this direction. It all makes me grateful that in case ever the unthinkable happens and someone offers me a contract, I’d have people to turn to who might with better evaluation capacity than my own ‘They like me! They like me!’
‘My power would be to make all bow before me.’
And that’s why I like you so much. Enjoyed the interview, Susan and Christine. Loved the story about the hot dog shop.
Great interview, Susan! Hee, I’d love to have a minion, too. And you did an outstanding job of handling the serious stuff in Trevor’s Song.