AUTHOR INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
How long have you been writing? Tell us a little about
your writing journey.
I had always
sensed a creative wellspring inside me but didn’t know how to express myself,
even though I’d majored in art and sung in concert choirs and rock bands. Then
in 1996 I started writing with the encouragement of a friend, who taught a
class at a local college called “Writing for Publication.” I learned about the
business of writing, including about “writer’s guidelines.” Until then, I had thought
that people simply wrote a manuscript and sent off their work, or perhaps
magazine writers went to work, sat in cubicles and turned out articles. I hadn’t
known that each book and magazine publisher puts out a list of exactly what
they want, and freelancers read those lists and write to suit the publisher.
Moreover, I
learned that romance novels were (and are) the largest fiction genre. At that
point romance publishers put out nearly 2000 books annually, and though I
hadn’t read much romance, I found myself saying, “Hey, I bet I can write a
romance and get it published.”
It turned out
that I was right. I was inspired enough to write four complete manuscripts by
early 1999, and sold one by the middle of that year, a historical to Zebra
Books. After selling two more books to Silhouette, I quit practicing law and
started to write full-time.
I’ve had my ups
and downs. After churning out six manuscripts in a few months while my father
was dying, I hit a wall built out of writers’ block pretty hard. It’s been a
struggle ever since, but I’ve sold sixteen complete novels, plus a number of
short stories and articles on writing.
In an effort to
inject some life into the writing, I started writing erotica about eight years
ago. It’s gone well, but not as well as I’d hoped. These days I feel lucky if I
manage to put out one novel and one short story annually, which is a pretty
pathetic output compared to a lot of authors. But I struggle on.
You write under two author names with different sub
genres. That sounds tricky. What are the benefits of going this way? Do you
ever get them mixed up? (I’m starting to
do this now, so I’m curious!)
I never get the
Sue Swift and Suz deMello personae mixed up, though since my line at Silhouette
folded, Sue Swift has become much more racy. The dubious benefit is that
readers know to expect a very explicit story with a Suz deMello book.
If I had it to
do over again I would not use a pen name. It’s double the promotional
annoyance. I have mitigated it somewhat by being pretty open about the fact
that Sue=Suz, so I cross-promote most of the time.
However, if I
lived in a conservative community I’d have to use a pen name, so i certainly
understand why others need one. As it is, I live in California, where most of
us don’t judge others on superficial stuff.
Tell us about your latest release.
At the time of
this writing, I anticipate the release of the second novel in my “Clan
Kilburn’s Vampires” series for Ellora’s Cave—these books are historical vampire
erotica set in the eighteenth century. I don’t yet have a
pub date for Desire in Tartan, which
is the story of an innocent English governess who takes a job tutoring the four
children of a Highland laird in a remote castle. She finds herself in a nest of
vampires, in love with one of them.
Where did you come up with the idea for this book?
It’s a sequel,
so I simply thought a lot about what would happen after Temptation in Tartan ended. I surmised that after Kieran and Lydia, the H&H in Temptation, settle their differences
and got their HEA, they’d start having children—and that someone would need to
educate them.
How did you research for your story? Was it fun?
OMG I love historical
research! It’s one of the main reasons why I prefer to write historicals. I’m
fascinated by the way people used to live, when they ate, how they
dressed...everything.
I often set my
books in Britain, and have traveled there a number of times. Not merely to do
research, but to visit family and “refill the well.” I have amassed a lot of
material over the years, but still do some online research when I get stuck. I
also know a few experts on the place and time in which I generally write.
Is this part of a series? Any plans for other stories
based on these characters?
Yes, as I
stated, it’s the second novel in what will be a four-book series. I also have
written and put out a couple of short stories, and plan at least one more.
What was the hardest part about writing this book?
Dealing with my
persistent writers’ block, and if anyone has any hints on how to deal with
that, do please send them along.
What was the easiest part?
...sigh...right now I feel as though nothing is easy about writing!
Here’s one of my fave quotes about writing from Paul Gallico: "It is only when you open
your veins and bleed onto the page a little that you establish contact with
your reader."
Favorite Scene?
There’s a
fantastic scene in which the formerly shy heroine. Alice, rescues the hero and
his compadres from a bloodthirsty band of baobhan-sith.
I especially
enjoy stories in which a shy, weak heroine finds her female power and strength.
I write them a lot.
Where can readers find out more about you?
Twitter feed for fave reading: @ReadThis4fun
What are you working on now?
The next book in the series, Two Rakes in Tartan, set in Regency-era
London. It’s a kick! I’m already loving
it.
And now for the very very personal
questions-
Favourite toy?
My lover’s cock. No, take it back. His
mind. No,
take it back. His flogger. No, take it back...
Favourite food?
Now
, this is a really hard question. I
could be up all night thinking about this. I’m a vegetarian, but my favorite
food is probably corned beef on rye with cole slaw. No, take it back. Szechwan
eggplant. No, take it back. Broiled halibut. No, take it back...
Aha!
This is it: dark chocolate and good red wine—an unbeatable combo, especially
with a few nuts and a little cheese. This is my midnight snack practically
every night, and I love it.
Favourite position?
Woof.
hahaha! Love it!
If you could have anyone, famous or not
- who do you want to get hot and heavy with in a ménage?
Hm. Well, one of my ex-Doms is pretty great sexually, but he’s such a
crap human being that I hesitate to allow him anywhere near my life. My current
lover is wonderful. I’ll do anything with him, anytime.
Of celebrities—well, my interests aren’t much different than anyone
else’s. Viggo Mortensen is a special favorite, as is Johnny Depp. (Duh. Who
doesn’t lust after Johnny Depp?) The vamps in True Blood, but especially Alex Skarsgard. David Beckham. The star
of Grimm, David Giuntoli. Major eye
candy!
BIO:
Best-selling,
award-winning author Suz deMello, a.k.a Sue Swift, has written over sixteen
romance novels in several subgenres, including erotica, comedy, historical,
paranormal, mystery and suspense, plus a number of short stories and
non-fiction articles on writing. A freelance editor, she’s worked for
Total-E-Bound, Ai Press, Liquid Silver Books and Etopia Press. She also takes
private clients.
Her books have
been favorably reviewed in Publishers Weekly,
Kirkus and Booklist, attained the
finals of the RITA, won a contest here and there, and hit several bestseller
lists.
A former trial
attorney, her passion is world travel. She’s left the US over a dozen times,
including lengthy stints working overseas. She’s now writing a vampire tale and
planning her next trip.
Here’s where readers can find the latest Clan Kilburn Vampires tale:
Here’s the blurb to Temptation in Tartan
She had to marry a monster…
Rumors had followed the chieftains of Clan
Kilborn for centuries. Said to be descended from the Viking Berserkers, they
were ferocious in battle, known for tearing off the heads of their enemies and
drinking their blood.
But English noblewoman Lydia Swann Williston
would marry Kieran, Laird Kilborn, to bring peace to the Kilborn lands after
the horror of Culloden and the brutal pacification. A widow, she also brought
needed wealth to Clan Kilborn. For her part, eighteen-year-old Lydia wanted
children. With her husband killed at Culloden, she would make a new life in the
Highlands.
The old chieftain of Clan Kilborn also died
in battle, and she hoped that the new young Laird would lack his ancestors'
ferocity.
She was wrong.
****
Published by Ellora’s Cave in June 2012, Temptation in Tartan reached #1 on the
All Romance Ebooks bestseller list for historical (other) romance and spent a
full week in the top five. Its sequel, Desire
in Tartan, will be released early in 2013.
