Susanne Marie Knight: Writing Romance With a Twist

Angela: Did you always know that you wanted to be a writer?

Susanne: No, I didn’t. Even though I always did well on school writing assignments, it took me a long time to figure out that perhaps I should make a career out of writing. I drifted into creating stories on my own--the more I wrote, the more I enjoyed it, be it novels, short stories, or even business letters! I love to combine fantasy with my own particular kind of reality; thus my motto: Romance Writing with a Twist.

Angela: What have you found to be the best experience(s) since you began writing?

Susanne: The most rewarding part of writing is receiving feedback from readers. It’s always a thrill and an honor to hear how my writing has touched people’s lives. One reader said not only did she reread my time-travel Regency, Timeless Deception, but the second time while reading it, she was so engrossed she almost missed her train stop! And a fan wrote to tell me how much he enjoyed Past Indiscretions because I “cleverly bring together the past and mythology.” To hear how your book touches a reader’s heart is the ultimate compliment, and all fan letters are GREATLY appreciated.

The next best part is to have your work recognized by professional writing organizations. I’ve been blessed by having The Coming win the Dream Realm Award for Best Speculative Fiction Romance and Janus Is A Two-Headed God win the P & E Poll for Best Science Fiction Novel. I’m also a five time EPPIE Award Finalist. What a fantastic rush!

Angela: Where do you get your inspiration?

Susanne: To develop stories, I love to let my imagination roam by playing the “what if” game. Here are just a few examples: What if “having a nice spot of tea” took on a sinister meaning? (Tainted Tea For Two) What if a Shakespeare-quoting ghost found a way to avenge his death? (Grave Future) What if a golden coin had the power to change one’s fortunes? (The Magic Token) What if a lonely woman's dream man turned out to be her arrogant, new boss? (Love At The Top)

I also enjoy using bits and pieces from real life to help inspire me. For example: in The Reluctant Landlord, young Freddy likes to insist he's the Duke of Wellington, a hero from the Napoleonic Wars. I can thank a child from my daughter's pre-school for this. Out of the blue, a boy walked over to me and with a serious face, told me he was Batman!

For Alien Heat, secondary character of Will Flagg was inspired by a boy I knew in seventh grade, and generated this passage: "There were two things Will Flagg hated above all else. The first was to be called 'short.' The second was to be a disappointment to someone he thought highly of. Unfortunately, the latter was just about to happen."

When I was writing Past Indiscretions , I created the Colby clan with three boys and a girl. One weekend, my family met a couple with three boys and a girl in the same birth order. My daughter mentioned, "Mom, they all have the same face. It's scary!" I pounced on this sentence because it was a perfect fit, especially since my book deals with cloning.

Angela: Describe the space where you write

Susanne: I’m extremely lucky to have my own office space... cluttered with books, files, pictures, computers, etc. Yep, I’m a junkie for business supplies--colorful paperclips, file dividers--you name it! But my most important “accessory” is my Siamese cat who keeps me company by lying next to the keyboard. He suns himself to sleep under the desk light. Now that’s the life!

Angela: Do you feel pressured when you sit down to write, to live up to the standards that readers may have set for you?

Susanne: This is a very interesting question! Yes, I do feel stressed about it. Writer’s insecurity, I guess. I always wonder whether my current work will be as satisfying to my readers as previous ones. Also, since I write in many different genres, I hope my readers cross over to another genre and find they enjoy a different type of story.

Angela: How involved do you typically get with regards to cover art for your books?

Susanne: I’ve been fortunate in that I’ve had a great deal of input for most of my books. I’ve also been blessed in working with some wonderfully creative artists. Lately I’ve been doing my own covers. Examples are Lucky 13, Have Christmas Card... Will Travel, Competitors!, Janus Is A Two-Faced Moon, and the upcoming Regency Society Revisited.

Angela: Do you work on multiple projects at the same time?

Susanne: I think the nature of the publishing business is juggling books and time. While I’m writing my work-in-progress, I usually must stop to handle details on contracted books in the publishing queue. I might have to promote, do edits, or prepare promotional material. Sometimes an opportunity arises where I need to write a short story. If inspiration hits, I’m also writing down ideas for future stories. So there’s always something going on!

Angela: Out of all of the characters that you’ve written, who is your favorite and why?

Susanne: Tough question! For my heroines, I’d have to pick two. Lexia Cappello in The Contrary Contessa is the one heroine most unlike me. I truly enjoyed “living” in her world. What a saucy minx! This Regency is flavored with Sicilian cooking, giving it a special little twist.

And also Sophia (Sam) McLaren in Janus Is A Two-Headed God. She is extremely devoted to her sick brother, a quality I find very admirable. I had fun with her intergalactic journey to the fabled center of the galaxy.

As for a male character, I’m in love with all my heroes, so how can I possibly choose??

Angela: If someone hasn’t read any of your work, what book would you recommend that they start with and why?

Actually, any title is a great place to start! I write Regency, science fiction, suspense, paranormal, and mystery. Whenever I’m asked which book I’d recommend for a particular reader, I always ask about his or her interests to help narrow the choices. For Regencies, I’d say Have Christmas Card... Will Travel. It’s a whimsical story that’s perfect for the upcoming holidays. For a classic English murder mystery, I recommend Tainted Tea For Two. For those who enjoy science fiction and sequels, then it’s Janus Is A Two-Headed God, and the sequel Janus Is A Two-Faced Moon.

Angela: What do you hope for your writing career in the next few years? Any goals that you have yet to obtain that you have set for yourself?

Susanne: One of my writing hopes is to complete a new book every year. These past few years have been so busy that I haven’t been able to accomplish this. Also, every year I hope to write a few short stories for publication. My ongoing goal is to increase the readership of my books. In any case, my mission is to continue to bring entertainment, adventure, and rollicking good fun to all my fans!

Thank you, Angela, and All Romance eBooks for giving me this opportunity to connect with your readers!

BIO:

Award-winning author Susanne Marie Knight specializes in Romance Writing with a Twist! She currently has sold 20 books including the Dream Realm speculative fiction winner The Coming and science fiction romance winner Janus Is A Two-Headed God. Originally from New York, Susanne lives in the Pacific Northwest, by way of Okinawa, Montana, Alabama, and Florida. Along with her husband, daughter, and feisty Siamese cat, she enjoys the area’s beautiful ponderosa pine trees and wide, open spaces--a perfect environment for writing. For more information about Susanne, please visit her website at www.susanneknight.com and sign up for her newsletter: newsletter@susanneknight.com.

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 Copyright 2007 Susanne Marie Knight