Today we have mystery author, Susan Whitfield, with us. I recently read her novel, Sin Creek, and it was sensational. I’m looking forward to reading many more of her books. In the meantime, let’s get to know Susan.
Susan, where did you grow up? Did your childhood contribute to your desire to be a writer?
I grew up in eastern North Carolina and I’m still there. My parents loved to read and I always met the Bookmobile with my arms full of books to turn in so that I could get more. Little Women was my favorite. I suppose the fact that my parents kept books accessible had something to do with my desire to write. The seed was planted early and I actually wrote a 40-page outline while I was in high school. It’s still around here somewhere even though I never picked it up and went with it. Once I finally started, I started fresh.
Where do you live now? Do you use that locale for settings in your novels?
My Logan Hunter series is scattered around North Carolina, the first novel, Genesis Beach, along the Crystal Coast. The second mystery in what became a series is Just North of Luck, set in The Smoky Mountains. I went back to my childhood home in Atkinson to set Hell Swamp at The Black River Plantation I’ve loved since I was a child. The fourth mystery, Sin Creek, is set in Wilmington where I lived for too short a time, but my love for that city will never diminish. I’m working on the fifth mystery now and it’s set along the Inner Banks. I just completed my first women’s fiction and it’s set in Wayne County where my husband and I have lived for 44 years.
What inspired you to write your most recent novel?
Slightly Cracked is about two lifelong friends enduring hot flashes, marital tiffs, and concerns about sagging and aging. I was so full of feelings about these issues that it seemed the right thing to do. I’m blessed to have some wonderful friends and we’ve been through good, bad, and ugly together. Now that I’m on the backside of hot flashes, I tried to make theses sometimes embarrassing situations humorous.
Did you plan to write a series before or after you wrote the first book?
I never thought about writing a series, but when I got stuck in the middle of Genesis Beach, I simply started writing another book with the same protagonist, Logan Hunter, a gutsy quirky strong woman.
Name three of your favorite authors in the mystery genre.
James Patterson, Lisa Scottoline, and Tess Gerritsen.
What are your favorite things to do when you’re not reading or writing?
Those are definitely the top two. Let’s see, I enjoy cooking and entertaining and attending baseball games for my three grandsons.
Do you like to travel? If so, what are some of your favorite places to go?
My husband and I took off in his truck five years ago and headed to Yellowstone and then over to Mount Rushmore. It was a fabulous trip and we said we’d go back. We’re planning to go to Jackson Hole in September to celebrate our 45 years of marriage. So far nowhere I’ve been has topped the majesty of Yellowstone.
How would you describe yourself personality wise?
I’m a complex individual but most people think I’m a crack-up. Not sure if that’s good or bad. LOL.
How would you finish this sentence? If I won a million dollars, I would . . . share it with my two sons and their families, perhaps buy a vacation home, and put the rest in savings.
Pat, thanks for the interview. It’s been a treat.
Yes it has, Susan. Thank you!
To read more about Susan’s books, here’s the link to her Amazon Author Page.
Pat, thanks so much for having me over. I enjoyed your book as well.
ReplyDeleteIt's my pleasure, Susan. I'm glad you enjoyed "Mixed Messages." I'm in the final editing stages of the sequel, "Unfinished Business," and I plan to send it to my publisher for his consideration by the end of this month. Fingers crossed!
DeleteEnjoyed getting to know more about your background and interests, Susan. Like you, I was an early reader because books were available and respected in my family. It's too bad more parents don't realize how their example can influence children to become readers.
ReplyDeleteYou're so right, JR.
DeleteAh, yes. All of us women of an age certainly can relate to the characters in Slightly Cracked, and dealing with pre-, meno- and post-pauses with humor is the way to get through and beyond. This book is on my TBR list.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Lesley. I had more fun writing about that stuff than I did going through it. I'm enjoying the post- stage now.
DeleteYeah, I agree with Lesley. Clearly, I'm not a woman pre or post menopausal, but I love to see women in a mystery especially older women.
ReplyDeleteJohn, this book is not really much of a mystery but the Logan Hunter four certainly are. Logan is far too young for menopause and she's gutsy and quirky. My brother-in-law has fallen in love with her;-)
DeleteVisuals of swamps, creeks, mountains! Wonderful. I will be putting Slightly Cracked on my TBR list. Looking forward to not being on "pause" too. Great interview.
ReplyDeleteTheresa, thanks for visiting also. I enjoyed taking Logan around the beaches, swamps and mountains and Slightly Cracked, not part of the series is set in the neighborhood I live in now. Those two gals are quite a trip.
DeleteThank you, Pat and Susan! I love how being stuck in one book made the gutsy Logan jump into another adventure. An adventure-hopper. I like to think of myself in that way, too. I also think it's a most creative way to sidestep stuckness and bring on something even more fabulous in your writing, Susan. You're one smart lady.
ReplyDeleteCracked even before menopause, Marta
LOL. I love your response, Marta. CAn I borrow the word "stuckness"? Too cute. Thanks to all of you for stopping by, and again, Pat, thanks for having me over.
DeleteNice getting to know you, Susan. It's funny how a lifelong love of reading begins when we're young. Your settings sound colorful. Good luck with your books.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sally.
DeleteAh, Susan, you forgot to mention your wonderful author interviews over at Book Town! Too modest, ladyfriend!
ReplyDeleteYou're right, as always, Sunny. Thanks for having my back. Yes, folks, I also interview authors at Booktown (you have to be a member) and on my own blog at www.susanwhitfield.blogspot.com Let me also say that networking both online and offline has brought an abundance of wonderful friends, some like Sunny whom I met in person at Killer Nashville a few years back. We already felt like we'd known each other for years. Isn't that awesome?
DeleteIt was a pleasure getting to know Susan -- her background and interests and books. Thanks, Patricia, for the introduction.
ReplyDeleteEileen,
DeleteSusan is a fantastic writer and I love her settings. I'm a bit partial to North Carolina. I've been there on vacation many times over the years. Mountains, ocean; NC has it all! I love Wilmington and the Outer Banks, especially.
Susan, Being a crack-up is a good thing. I adore people who can make me laugh. I enjoyed your interview so much that I just ordered one of your books. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteMarja, you're a doll. I hope the book doesn't disappoint. I never intended to use the word s**t so much but then I realized how much I use it myself. Ha!
ReplyDelete