Never Too Old For Y.A. & N.A. Books discussion

This is a real treat! We have the wonderful and totally amazing author Suzanne Wright. Her books include . This is our 65th Author Interview since we started and it is conducted by one of our moderators. Please read this interview and we hope you will be able to pick up lessons about her experience.If there are any questions you would like to ask Suzanne Wright please post them here. Thankyou.


1. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
In truth, I never thought about being a writer, but that’s not because I didn’t want to be one - I love writing and I’ve been doing it for as long as I can remember. I just never would have dreamed of aspiring that high; I always thought that writing books was just going to be one of my hobbies – an obsessive and odd hobby, sure, but a hobby all the same.

2. How long does it take you to write a book?
That depends. One of my books took me only two weeks to write. Another book took almost a year, although that was my very first novel. I never really know, but that’s all part of the fun.

3. What do you think makes a great story?
A happy ending. If it doesn’t have a happy ending, I’m crushed.

4. What is your work schedule like when you're writing?
I don’t really have one - my kids simply don’t allow it. I basically just grab the spare time wherever I can, and some days I have hours to myself because my husband’s able to take over with them – at which point I enter ‘cave mode’ and there’s no reaching me – but other days I only manage to have an hour or so. Still, I always ensure I write something each day. I feel restless and irritated if I don’t.

5. How do you balance family and writing?
Not very well, if I’m honest. I try setting aside more time for writing, but I give in to my kids too easily. I’m working on that but, in my defense, they really know how to play me. It’s unfair.

6. Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
Lots of places. Things I’ve seen, heard, read – anywhere. Feral Sins was actually inspired by a dream. If I need to do research, I turn to Google.

7. What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
That the smallest idea can turn into a most complicated story full of elaborate themes and twists – it’s great when that happens for me.

8. How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
Although five have been published, I’ve written ten, in total. I don’t have a favorite. They’re all my babies – I don’t care if that makes me sound odd – and I have a soft spot for all of them.

9. Are your characters based on anyone you know?
No, they develop all on their own. It actually doesn’t feel like I create them, I’m just sort of going along for the ride.

10. Do you have a favorite place you love to write?
I do most of my writing on my armchair. As long as I’m comfy and warm, I’m fine. I’d love to work near a window that gave me a view of a horse grazing in a field…but then I’d probably spend most of my time watching the horse. I love them.

11. Tell us one thing we wouldn’t know already know about you.
I can’t carry a tune. Seriously, I’m tone deaf.

12. What do your family and friends think about your books?
I’d expected some raised eyebrows when they realized the books contained explicit sex, but they’ve all actually been great and all claim to have enjoyed the books. I’m still trying to stop my little old Nan from reading Feral Sins – I think the sex scenes might be a little too much for her.

13. What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I love to spend time with my family and read – that’s pretty much it. I’m a simple creature when it comes to what makes me happy and occupied. Give me a bag of Skittles and I’m your devoted friend for life.

14. Do you have any suggestions to help aspiring writers better themselves and their craft? If so, what are they?
I know this isn’t really much of a tip, but just read and write and read and write and read and write. That’s what’s always helped me improve and develop my own style.

15. As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
A traffic warden. Yes, laugh, I do. My aunty was a traffic warden and as I adored her, I decided I’d like to be one too when I grew up.

16. What are your favorite books and which authors inspire you?
I have lots of favorite books. I love the classics like Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre, and I also love Stephen King’s Rose Madder and The Shining, and also The Leopard People Series by Christine Feehan. There are so many more – too many to list. I love authors like Christine Feehan, Stephen King, Nalini Singh, Shelly Laurenston, Lauren Dane, James Patterson…Yeah, it’s quite a mix.

17. For an aspiring writer what do you feel are certain do's and don’ts for writing a successful book?

I suppose the Do’s and Don’ts of writing are different depending on the person, but if you’re like me, stick to this particular ten:
1. Write because you love writing. If you don’t love it, you won’t do it well and you won’t manage the mostly-solitary life well either
2. Don’t wait for inspiration to strike you before getting out a pen and paper or sitting in front of your computer to begin your book. It ain’t going to write itself.
3. Be disciplined. Give yourself a minimum word count for each day. It could be 500 words, it could be 5,000 words. Have that target, and keep it – even if it means you’re writing crap. There’ll be days when it won’t be crap, but if you hadn’t disciplined yourself to keep going, those other words might never have come to you
4. No going shopping to procrastinate.
5. No going anywhere else either.
6. Write something you would like to read, not what’s currently popular. If you wouldn’t bother reading it, why bother writing it?
7. If you suddenly get a block, don’t run. Everyone gets writer’s block at some point, but don’t let it make you stop writing. Sure you can take a break, go for a walk, have a bath, dig out the wine – actually no, put the wine back – but then you go back to your book and be patient, the words will come
8. Read your book aloud. That’s the only real way to know if the rhythm’s not quite right, particularly with phrases and dialogue
9. Try to always carry a pen and notebook with you wherever you go. There’s nothing worse than getting a fab idea out of absolutely nowhere but then losing it again because you couldn’t commit it to paper before you got home
10. Have fun, and remember that rules – even the ones you’ve given yourself – can be broken from time to time.

18. What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on the third book of the Phoenix Pack series, which is Nick and Shaya’s story. After that, I’ll be moving onto the third in the Deep In Your Veins series.

Thank you so much Suzanne Wright for doing this interview for our group. We are such big fans and love your books with a passion. You definitely know how to write books that captivate and keep you wanting more.

Great interview! Thanks for posting!

Thank you for the interview! Love, love, love your books!! Can't wait to see what's next :)

Great interview thank you! I will definitely add some of your book to my to be read list. :)

If Feral Sins came to you in a dream....well, I just can't say anything except...was the deleted chapter in the dream as well?:)

And…holy crap, you write some of the best dialogue ever. Even if your books didn’t have amazing plots…or plots at all…I would still read them for the dialogue. And your female MCs are amazing. Even though they could all beat me to a bloody pulp and put me through a wall, I would love to have a beer with them (because I think your female MCs drink beer, not white wine).

Fabulous Interiew! Great questions AND answers! Thank you!

Scott-robert wrote: "If Feral Sins came to you in a dream....well, I just can't say anything except...was the deleted chapter in the dream as well?:)"

LOL I'm curious about that too

Scott-robert wrote: "And…holy crap, you write some of the best dialogue ever. Even if your books didn’t have amazing plots…or plots at all…I would still read them for the dialogue. And your female MCs are amazing. Even..."

I think they drink beer too :)

Thanks for the interview. Love your books!

Thank you so much for the interview! It was fabulous. I love seeing other author's views on writing -- and especially how much time it takes. Don't worry, I think we all consider books to be our babies.

Speaking of books, I'll definitely have to check yours out!

Keep writing, and best wishes. :)

Thank you again for taking the time to do an interview for our group, Suzanne! I'm so glad that we get to share a bit of you with our members, it's an absolute treat!

So very excited for more of both Deep In Your Veins and Phoenix Pack!!! I can't say enough how much I love both of these series, you really give other writers something to aspire to!