Wee William's Woman

Here is a little taste of what will be released in 2013....

Wee William's Woman

Saying Goodbye to The Day Job!

As many of you are probably aware, I do have a day job. It is a fun place to work and I do have a very nice boss and I get to help people every day.

I have reached a very pivotal point in my life. While I do enjoy my day job, I love writing even more.

Never, not once until the past couple of months, did I think my books would be as successful as they have been. Honestly. This entire change in my life came about because I wanted to give my mother a gift.

I've been writing for years. (Why I write is enough to fill a book and left for another time.) But I'd never finished writing an entire book and certainly had never shared what I'd written with another living soul. I was, honestly, terrified. The thought of sharing anything I'd written made my lower intestines seize and my heart want to leap from my chest. No one, I was sure, wanted to read anything I may have put to paper.

Fast forward to the summer of 2011. I wanted to give my mom a Kindle for her birthday in December. I thought, wouldn't it be funny if I put a book that I had written on her Kindle and then when she opened it, that would be the first book on it. Honest to God, that is how this all started.

So I began writing (secretly of course). I couldn't tell you why I wrote Laiden's Daughter, other than that was the story, those were the loudest voices in my head, begging to be set free. So I decided to listen and began writing it. A very dear friend of mine was recuperating at home and I asked her if she liked to read. Her response was "duh!". So I asked her if she'd like to read something I'd written. That was probably the single most important and terrifying thing I'd ever done in my entire life. She said sure and so I sent her the first few chapters. Her response was not what I thought it would be. I was fully prepared for her to say, "Honey, don't give up your day job."

Instead, she said, "Where is the rest of it? I want to know what happens next!" At first I thought it was the medicine the doctor had her on. Pain meds can affect one's judgement. Deciding she was heavily medicated and not in her right mind, I sent her more. Monuments should be erected in her name as she is the one who helped get this amazing success of mine started!

In the mean time, my wonderful husband discovered my secret. I confessed that I wanted to give mamma a kindle for her birthday and have a little story that I'd written on it. If gold medals were given for reading, my mother would be the record holder!

So my husband, God love him, began researching this whole Kindle Direct publishing thing. I simply wanted to give mamma a kindle. But to have my story on it, I had to publish it for the whole world to read. Ha! So that would make two people who had or would read it. Vicki and my mom. I wasn't worried about anyone else seeing it!

To be silly about it, I posted that I had a big announcement coming in November of 2011. The announcement was going to be that I was giving my mom a Kindle and it would have my book on it. It kind of grew a life of its own from that point!

So in December of 2011, I launched Laiden's Daughter. I thought maybe, just maybe five people might be curious enough to read it. I certainly didn't expect to sell so many copies that I'd be able to give up my day job. I didn't think I'd sell enough to even purchase the Kindle for my mom!

But that is what has happened. The outpouring of support, of kind words and positive reviews has been beyond words! The friends I've made, the world I've been exposed to, the things I've learned, not only about self-publishing but about myself, has been staggering.

So today, I am able to fulfill a dream. I can give up that day job and still feed my 6'3", built like a linebacker, 14 year old son.

I had a great conversation with my boss yesterday and October 26th will be my last day working for him, at least on a full time basis. I'll stay on at least until the end of the year, working a couple of days a week or until he can find a replacement. This will free me up to spend more time writing and more time with my family. As it is now, every waking minute is spent writing. My weekends are spent writing. I'm not complaining! I love every minute of it! And I wouldn't trade this past year for anything! But I would like to spend more time writing and less time stressing that I'm neglecting my family.

I could not have done this without you, my wonderful readers and fans! (I didn't know I had fans until a very sweet woman named Virginia pointed that out to me a couple of days ago! Yes, I am that blonde!) I could not have been able to see this long held dream of mine come to life if it weren't for my readers. I thank each and every one of you, from the bottom of my heart. You're all just amazing and wonderful and I just can't thank you enough.

And if you post a response to this, please give a special thank you to Vicki. If she hadn't wanted to read more of Laiden's Daughter, well, we wouldn't be where we are today! Thank you Vicki. You are an amazing friend and I love you!

xoxoxo

Suzan Tisdale

Laiden's Daughter....Happy Dance of Joy!

Thank you all!!! As of last night, we've sold over 30,000 copies of Laiden's Daughter around the world since February, 2012! That is just the Kindle sales. That doesn't include those borrowed through Prime, or the 9 sold at B&N (haha!) This doesn't include the paperbacks sold via Amazon nor the countless copies my mom gave away to her friends! lol

This is just so very, very exciting! I couldn't have done this without all of you! She has been on Amazon's Top 100 Best Sellers List since February and now boasts 46 5-Star Reviews! I'd say that's pretty darn good for a debut novel!

Thank you all so very much! Again, I just couldn't have done this without you. Have a beautiful weekend!

xoxoxo

Suzan

My Interview with author Emery Lee

I met author Emery Lane via her Romantic Historical Fiction Lovers page at Facebook. She is a very sweet lady and writes some very nice romance! I love her DeVere Series! 

Tell me about your most recent literary work.

Thank you so much for asking, Suzan! This is the first time I have ever attempted to write more than one book at a time. I am currently working on three projects!

The first is entitled TREACHEROUS TEMPTATIONS and is a work of steamy historical romance set in my beloved Georgian era. It is also my first full-length novel writing as Victoria Vane. It is contracted with Entangled Publishing for the launch of their brand new Scandalous historical imprint. This book was very much inspired by the novels written in the 18^th century in which virtue v. vice and evil v. innocence were the predominant themes. This novel is slated for release in early December!

Here is the "unofficial" blurb:

A reluctant heiress resigned to her fate … Mary Elizabeth Edwardes has one of the largest fortunes in England, but has no desire to leave her quiet country existence… and even less to acquire a husband she cannot choose for herself.

 A dissolute nobleman bent on retribution … Trapped in a duplicitous existence since scandal destroyed his fortune and family name, Lord Hadley Blanchard has spent the better part of a decade posing as a disaffected exile while spying and seducing in the service of the English Crown.

 A dangerous game of seduction, and intrigue …When summoned from abroad by a former lover, Lord Hadley perceives an opportunity for vengeance at last. By employing the full measure of his seductive charm, he woos the ward of the man who destroyed his life, little knowing that winning Mary's fortune will mean risking his own treacherous heart.

My second project is an unanticipated fifth addition to my Devil DeVere series!

I had thought the story complete with the fourth title, but have received so many requests for "more DeVere" that I have indeed come up with a tantalizing storyline in fitting with the series. The book is entitled, JEWEL OF THE EAST and is Salime's story (the Turkish courtesan from THE DEVIL'S MATCH). My major challenge was to find a hero worthy of Salime. He materialized in the form of, Simon Singleton, nicknamed "Sin," a former carousing buddy form DeVere's youth. This is a fabulous story that I think fans of the series will eagerly devour. It is scheduled for a February release from Breathless Press.

A brief teaser:

"Oh, woman! All care-relieving woman. Thou art the true physician to the sickly mind."

 My third project is yet untitled, but is closely connected to JOTE, as it is a spin-off vignette featuring Diana and DeVere. This is a much shorter, steamy read but saying anything more would be a spoiler!

What has been the most exciting thing that has happened as a result of your writing?

Being discovered by people who want to read what I write! LOL!

Seriously, it is so very difficult to be noticed in the current tsunami of digital releases, many by some truly great authors. The last two months, however, have been a blessing for me. AWILD NIGHT'S BRIDE (book #1 in my DeVere series) has hit Amazon's Regency Romance Bestseller list and continues to climb. The rest of the series is also selling strong, and I am hearing from readers almost daily. I am beside myself with happiness!

In all, how many books have you written?

 Seven. Nine if you also count my trade paperback in the DeVere series. My work to date includes:

THE HIGHEST STAKES and FORTUNE'S SON from Sourcebooks, both of which are romantic historical fiction novels writing as Emery Lee

 A BREACH OF PROMISE from Ellora's Cave, my debut erotic historical romance writing as Victoria Vane

My Devil DeVere erotic historical romance series from Breathless Press which is comprised of four (soon to be five) serialized novellas: A WILD NIGHT'S BRIDE, THE VIRGIN HUNTRESS, THE DEVIL YOU KNOW and THE DEVIL'S MATCH. I will also have at least 3-4 more releases in the next six months as discussed above.

I've read your series, the Devil DeVere Series, and LOVE IT! What do you hope your readers come away thinking or feeling after reading these books, or any other book you've written?

 My goal in writing this series was to be fresh and original, which is not an easy feat these days! The first two books were meant to be pure entertainment - light, hilarious, and super sexy. The third and fourth books were intended to deliver so much more in regard to depth and emotion.

I also hope to surprise readers with the way that I incorporate real history into even my erotic stories. Based on reader response, I feel that have accomplished these goals. ;P

Who is your favorite author?

I don't really have a single favorite author. I have, however been influenced by many to include the Bronte sisters and Georgette Heyer in my historical works, and Robin Schon and Sylvia Day in my more erotic stories.

What or who inspires you to write?

Because I am such a history geek, (and have a blog to prove it) (http://georgianjunkie.wordpress.com), most of my inspiration derives from history – real people, places, and events. I love bringing to vivid life the dry facts left to us in history books and putting my own twist on these sometimes titillating historical  tidbits.

I've been told that there are many writers out there who are 'organized' and use something called an outline....are you one of those kinds of writers?

Outline? What's that?

Is there a genre that you're just aching to try your hand at?

Yes. While I never see myself straying outside historical fiction, I have ideas for books that span the entire spectrum from straight historical fiction (no romance) to a historical paranormal with elements of mystery and suspense. I hope to be able to develop all of these projects in the next few years.

 How many children do you have and what do they think of your writing?

I have two wonderful sons ages 17 and 20 who have both read and enjoyed my Emery Lee novels, but will never read what I write as Victoria Vane. I would not allow it even if they wanted to, which thankfully, they do not!

You're stranded on a deserted island and it will be at least six months before you're rescued. Who is with you? What would you have to have in order to survive mentally, spiritually, and physically? 

 Who is with me? I would take Bear Grylls.

My other necessities for survival would include:  books, coffee, and Ferrero Rocher chocolates!

What is your biggest joy as it pertains to writing? What is it that keeps you going when you don't really feel like going?

Hearing from fans… and hearing from fans.

Finally, is there a question you wished I had asked? If so, answer it here.

 Question- What can readers expect from me?  Answer – the unexpected!

Update on Paperback for Findley's Lass

Hello everyone!
I heard from my publisher this afternoon! We are a go for launch! ;o)

Starting today, you can, if you choose to, begin calling your local book stores, anywhere that books are sold, and ask them if and when they will have copies of Findley's Lass on their shelves. I'm told by inside sources, that if they get enough calls, they'll try to get the copies in sooner, but I've no promises on that. I just think that is pretty nifty!

To help make this easier for you, the ISBN is: 978-0-9855443-2-4 

I cannot express to you just how exciting this is! Your support, your kind words, it all means more than you can possibly imagine. Sending everyone virtual hugs and chocolate today!

If you have any questions, please email me here. 

Paper Back Announcement!

Such an exciting morning! We've accepted the final copy of Findley's Lass to our new publisher and we're on our way!!! Findley's will be available in book stores November 1, 2012!!! I've been doing happy dance of joy for about 5 minutes! ;o)

Thank you all for your kind words, support, and encouragement!
Hugs,
Suzan

Top 100 Best Sellers List

Good morning!

This is such an exciting time and I owe it all to my readers ;o) 

As you know, we released Findley's Lass on September 2, 2012. By September 8, she began climbing Amazon's Top 100 Best Sellers list!   Currently, Findley's is ranked #64 in Historical Romance, #62 in Historical Fiction, and #70 in Books. (Don't ask me what the third ranking means because honestly, I haven't got a clue! lol)

Laiden's Daughter has been on that same list for more than seven months now! ;o) That just blows me away. 

I did receive my proof of Findley's Lass from the publisher. I found one tiny little issue so we've sent it back and the second proof is on its way. I'm very certain we'll make the November 1 deadline to have it in book stores. ;o) I will keep you posted. 

My thought on Mondays: I'd like them better if they didn't start until noon on Tuesday! ;0)

Hugs,

Suzan

I Have a New Favorite Author & Book Series!

Anyone who knows me knows that I don't post reviews about books unless I'm very impressed with them. ;o) I read a lot of books and I have posted quite a few reviews at Amazon. But I just had to share with my readers this series that I've recently discovered written by Katie MacAlister. Thus far, there are three in this series, titled: Noble Intentions, Noble Destiny, and The Trouble With Harry. I loved, loved, LOVED these books! Below is the review I posted at Amazon for The Trouble With Harry. These are Regency Historical Romance Novels. ;o)

I didn't think it possible to laugh as hard as I did with Ms. MacAlister's first two books in the Noble Series, but I was wrong. The Trouble With Harry, had me laughing until I had hyperventilated!  Without spoiling anything, one of my most favorite parts was the threat of castration involving two egg cups and a dull knife!

Ms. MacAlister has a writing style that I envy! Beyond witty, beyond funny. This is the type of writing that has you rolling with laughter. The storyline itself if full of intrigue and excitement, and the love that Plum and Harry have for one another is sweet, sexy, and beautiful; simply put, this is a wonderfully written story.

And the five children! Adorable little devils that you can't help but love! And Juan, oh my stars, Juan was hilarious beyond description. ;o) I truly hope Ms. MacAlister writes Nick and Thom's story soon!

This is beyond a five star read and worth every penny. I cannot wait to read more from Ms. MacAlister.

 If you love a great read, something with a sweet and adorable love story that will also have you laughing to the point of tears, these books are for you! ;o) They are sexy without being vulgar and that is probably one of the things I loved most! ;o)

Happy Reading!

Suzan

I Have the Best Readers!

Kind of like every mother thinks her kids are the best and perfect, right? Its the same for authors. ;o)

I wish there was a way to send each and every one of you a bouquet of flowers or a big box of chocolates as my way of thanking you. There isn't of course, a feasible way to do that, so instead, I'll just thank all of you for your tremendous support. You truly are the best!

The outpouring of best wishes and kind remarks this first six days of is just, well, amazing! I've received emails, Facebook posts and twitter messages from readers around the globe with kind words to say about Findley's Lass. Never in my wildest imaginations (yes, even authors have limits to what they can come up with!) did I ever think any of my books would be this well received or successful.

This morning, Findley's Lass is number 85 on Amazon's Top 100 Best Sellers List for Historical Fiction. She's also numbers 13 and 14 on Amazon's Hot New Releases lists for Historical Fiction and Historical Romance. Honestly, I didn't even know such a list existed until my husband showed me last night! ;o)

Laiden's Daughter, the book that started it all, has been on Amazon's Top 100 Best Sellers List in three categories (historical fiction, historical romance, and historical books) for seven consecutive months!

I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this couldn't happen without any of you, the readers. So I am sending each of you a virtual bouquet of flowers and a big box of chocolates, along with my most humble and heartfelt gratitude.

You truly are the best,

Suzan Tisdale

Thank You!!!

What a happy surprise tonight when I looked at Amazon to see how Findley's Lass was doing. A little bit ago Findley's Lass was ranked 100 in Historical Fiction! ;o) So we now have two books on Amazon's Top 100 Best Sellers List!

I couldn't do it without you, my readers. Thank you all so very much!

This is such an exciting time and I just can't thank you enough.

Hugs,
Suzan

Second Winner Announced

Because I've not heard back from the first winner of the free copy of Findley's Lass, I've decided to draw a second name...

The winner is.....

Susan King!
Susan, please send me an email and we'll make arrangements to get your copy to you! ;o)

Congratulations!
Suzan T.

It Looks Like Christmas Came a Little Early...

Merry Christmas...;o)
I figured that since it was ready to go, I might as well let it go now instead of hanging on longer! It still won't be ready for paperback until November 1. And its not ready yet for Smashwords...give me a few days. Just click on the picture and you can go to Amazon and buy it now if you'd like.

Why I WON'T be Releasing Findley's Lass to iBooks

Those of you who know me, know that 99.9999999% of the time, I am a very positive, upbeat, life is just a bowl of cherries kind of person.  I'm going to vent for a minute and I do hope you'll bear with me.


It is sometimes amazing how the passing of time, even just a few months, can make one forget something painful. Take for instance the absolute mind boggling, inane, frustrating, make-a-girl-cuss-like-a-drunken-sailor, hoops that one must jump through in order to get a book published to iBooks.

I have spent the last four hours trying to format my second book, Findley's Lass, to meet the not-so-user-friendly format requirements set forth by Apple. I finally made a decision. Apple can't have my book.

Here is one more reason why Amazon/KDP beats, hands down, any other e-reader/self-publishing device on the planet. It is EASY! If anyone wonders why B&N and Apple can't catch up to KDP, just try uploading a book to either Apple or B&N. Then mosey on over to KDP. Wherein it takes literally hours and hours of your time trying to get the book to sync and format correctly so that it can be read on a Nook or an iPad, it takes only minutes at KDP. And this is not an exaggeration.

Another reason why B&N and Apple can't catch up is how they treat their self publishing authors. Just try to get some help from either of those places. The message boards, those that do exist, are impossible to follow. You're often left feeling like you've been trudging around in wet sand for hours. It can take days to get a response from either B&N or Apple and usually the answer has nothing to do with your question.

KDP? I usually have an answer in very short order. It will either come from one of their very friendly staff or I can find it at the message boards. Thus is not the case with the other places.

I know there are lots of people (because I hear from many every week) who ask if my book is available for their NOOK or their iPad. At first, I wanted to experiment with releasing Findley's Lass to KDP, NOOK, iBooks and Smashwords. Just to see how it would do if I released it every where at once. Quite frankly, it isn't worth the aggravation or the tears.

So, in the interest of self-preservation and so that my family isn't subjected to yet another nuclear melt-down of epic proportions, I will not  be releasing Findley's Lass to anywhere  but  KDP.

Am I missing out on sales with decision? Highly doubtful.  When I released Laiden's Daughter to apple and B&N and Smashwords several months ago, I sold a grand total of NINE books at those places. Count them: 9. Nine. NINE.

How many did I sell that month at Amazon? Well over 3500. I'm not a genius, but even I can figure out that the headaches, the beating-my-head-against-a-brick-wall, baptism-by-fire, lesson is futility that is these other places, simply isn't worth it.

So I'm going to kick back, enjoy a nice quiet evening with my family and forget about the past four hours of my life that I'll never get back.

Interview with Carl Purdon, Author of "The Night Train"

As many of you may (or may not) know, Carl Purdon is one of my most favorite authors. He has a unique writing skill (I call it a blessing and one I'm quite envious) wherein he can tell a provoking, heart-wrenching, gut-twisting, exciting, story with the perfect amount of words. ;o)

I've very recently had the good fortune of interviewing Carl. I think you'll find him a very interesting fellow!

1.      What types of questions do you dislike the most when being asked to do an author interview? (hahah, couldn't resist that one!)

Canned ask-everyone-the-same questions. Ask me something that tells me you’ve at least made the effort to find out who I am and what I do. Readers will tire very quickly of seeing the same questions asked and answered by every author you interview. Of all the canned questions, I suppose my least favorite is when I’m asked my favorite color. I don’t have a favorite color. I don’t have a favorite anything. Favorite depends on my mood, whether it be favorite color, favorite food, or favorite author. So, when asked that question, as I often am, I just sigh and say yellow.

2.      Tell me about The Night Train…where did the inspiration for this novel come from?

The inspiration for The Night Train began with Jayrod Nash. I woke up one morning, several years ago, with the idea of him in my head. I knew he had a story to tell, and I wanted to help him tell it. Does that sound strange? It’s the same with the novel I’m working on now (as yet untitled). It started with a character who has a story to tell. When I see people who appear to be a bit strange, or reserved, I wonder what their story is. Why do they act the way they do? When I drive at night, especially late, and see lights on in windows, I wonder what stories are playing out behind those curtains. That, more than anything, drives my writing. When I first met Jayrod, I was struck by his sadness, and wondered what made him that way. I began putting myself in his shoes, imagining myself as him. The result was The Night Train.

3. How long did it take you to write it?

I’m not sure, exactly, because it wasn’t a linear process. I set it aside and did other things. I was struggling to find my voice as a writer. I actually set it aside long enough to write another novel, only to set that one aside and come back to it. There reached a point when I set it aside for good, or so I thought, because something was missing. It wasn’t the novel I wanted it to be. I gave up and moved on – wrote it off as practice, but Jayrod kept nagging at me, wanting me to tell his story. One morning I woke up and knew exactly what I needed to do. I deleted about half the manuscript and added the POV of his father – the antagonist. I realized it was impossible to tell Jayrod’s story without seeing inside his father’s head. From that point on my fingers couldn’t fly fast enough to get it all out. So, from initial concept to finished product, probably about seven or eight years.

3.      What do you hope the reader takes with him/her after reading The Night Train?

The Night Train deals with dysfunctional families, child abuse, spousal abuse, and unlikely heroes, but I tried very hard not to editorialize. The story is told through the eyes of those who lived it (funny that I consider them so real). Last week I was out of town and noticed that every day the same man was standing at a busy intersection wearing a sign. It was one of those store advertisements where all you could see of him was his head sticking out between two sheets of huge cardboard. He looked to be thirtyish. My first reaction was to laugh at a man his age standing all day with a sign draped across his shoulders, but then I found myself wondering why he did it. At least he was working, I realized, and that probably meant he had a family he was trying to support. Maybe he had lost his job in this lousy economy. I found myself wanting to know his story. What had he done before being reduced to acting out the role of human billboard? How much courage did it take for him to get up every morning and perform such a menial job, knowing it probably opened him up to ridicule. I wondered if his kids were teased, like Jayrod was, by classmates who recognized him as their father. Ultimately, I saw him in a different light, and it wasn’t funny anymore. That, I suppose, is what I hope people take from The Night Train.

4.      What or who inspires you to write?

That’s a tough one. I write because when I don’t write I have nightmares to the point that I can’t sleep. I would write even if I knew I would never sell a single copy, because it’s what I do. For a long time I wrote without the intention of publication, because I just wanted to pass it along to my kids and grandkids. I suppose the question would be easier to answer if I rephrased it to ask who or what inspires me to publish. That answer would include the e-book revolution (the what) and all those writers (the who) who refuse to be subdued by the silly notion that to self-publish is to admit vanity, inferiority, and desperation.

5.      Who is your favorite author?

There’s that favorite question (refer to my answer to question #1). At least you didn’t ask my favorite color (if this were Facebook or Twitter I’d insert LOL here). I’m a big fan of the classics, history, and biographies. Among my favorites would be Victor Hugo, Charles Dickens, J.F. Cooper, Shelby Foote, and David McCullough. Lately I’ve been reading mostly self-published authors, and can add names like Suzan Tisdale, Morgan Nyberg, Ashley Barron, Kat Kennedy, and Mark Beyer to that list.

6.      How many children do you have and what do they think of your writing?

I have four kids and two grandkids, all of whom have been very supportive. My oldest son actually helped proofread The Night Train before I published it. My youngest son will be ten in December, and he writes stories, poems, and video games (in his head). He has a photographic memory, and can relate a story almost verbatim from one telling to the next. When I recently built my own private writing office, he claimed half the space, and has his own desk where he writes on his netbook. I asked him the other night why he writes and he said, “because you do.” That answer was worth more than any royalty check could ever be.

8.  How long have you been writing?

I started writing poems before I started grade school. I would keep them in my head because I didn’t know how to write them down. I’ve always known I was going to write novels, but I kept putting it off until I was in my thirties because I was so impatient. I couldn’t stand to start something I couldn’t finish in one sitting. I’m 48 now, and never was that great with math.

9. I've heard tell that some authors are very structured in their writing. They use things called outlines and even do interviews with the characters of their books. Are you this type of author?

No. I’ve tried to be, but it’s just not me. I do have a very loose outline for my current manuscript, but I reserve the right to ignore it. Character interviews intrigue me, and I actually did one for a blogger who asked me to do it as a guest post. I was excited about it, but soon realized it was harder than it sounded. Hard because I didn’t want to give away too much of the story. That being said, I’m a very organized person when it comes to some things. I use Scrivener, for example, because it helps keep my chapters and scenes organized. I’m almost OCD about where I put my cell phone, wallet, and truck keys when they are not in my pocket. When I write, though, I have to wait until the characters tell me what they are going to do next. Sometimes I can prod them into a general direction, but I never know what they are going to do or say until they tell me.

10. If you attended college, what was your major? If you didn't major in English or Journalism, did you take any creative writing courses? 

I have an AAS degree in electronics. I’ve never taken any creative writing courses other than what was required in school. I hated English in school but always made good grades. What I hated most was diagraming sentences, like dissecting a frog, and never understood the purpose of doing it. If a sentence relates the desired thought, and sounds good doing it, what does it matter which word is an adverb, adjective, or noun? I think creative writing courses tend to stifle creativity with too many rules and guidelines. Few things make me toss a book aside like a strict adherence to properly formatted sentences. Is it possible to teach someone to be creative? My disclaimer here is that I’m assuming what such a course would be like.

11.  You're stranded on a deserted island and it will be at least six months before you're rescued. Who is with you? What would you have to have in order to survive mentally, spiritually, and physically? 

Without a doubt it would be my wife and kids. I travel fairly often for my job, and the most difficult part is being away from my family. They may find that hard to believe because when I’m home I’m so often isolated in my office writing, but it’s the comfort of knowing they’re nearby that makes the difference. It’s so hard for me to write in a hotel room when I’m away from home for some reason. What would I need to survive? A laptop that would run on solar power, I suppose, because I can’t read my own handwriting. And food. I eat a lot of food.

12. If there is a question you wished that I had asked, then ask and answer it. ;o)

Question: Why do you think Suzan stole your trademark question?

Answer:  Because it’s a pretty awesome question. J

Amazon Book Link:  http://www.amazon.com/The-Night-Train-Carl-Purdon/dp/1470185830

Website:  http://www.carlpurdon.com

Blog:  http://www.carlpurdon.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @CarlPurdon

And The Winner of the FREE Copy of Findley's Lass is.......

BETTY HAMILTON! Come on down!!! You've just won a free copy of Findley's Lass!!!

Betty is the winner of the Special Contest held in honor of releasing Findley's Lass. Betty will get a signed paper back copy of the book -- before its even released to the public in November.

Betty: send me an email by clicking here so that we can make arrangements to get the book to you. ;o)

Thank you to all who played! Don't worry, I'll have another contest soon!

Suzan

Suzan Tisdale : A Double Shot of Jack Daniels...

Suzan Tisdale : A Double Shot of Jack Daniels...: I'm sitting back with a double shot of Jack Daniels. After months and months of writing, weeks and weeks of edits, more than one nuclear mel...

A Double Shot of Jack Daniels...

I'm sitting back with a double shot of Jack Daniels. After months and months of writing, weeks and weeks of edits, more than one nuclear meltdown wherein I cursed Bill Gates and damned Microsoft and its obscure formatting glitches to the bowels of hades, and after far too many sleepless nights and even more days where I was up well before dawn, I can breathe a deep, contented sigh of relief. I can kick back and languidly sip at my double shot of my favorite drink. I will sleep the sleep of contented bliss that only comes when one is finished with their current work in progress.

My little 125,032 word novel, Findley's Lass, is finally, unequivocally, undeniably complete.

On the morrow I will submit my latest creation to the wonderful people at Lightning Source Publishing.  I shall also spend the day preparing my baby for release to Kindle, iBooks, Smashwords and B&N's Nook.  Thankfully the formatting for iBooks and Nook are the same. However that can't be said for Kindle and Smashwords as each have their own little formatting standards that I must heed.

I swear at times that writing is similar to being pregnant and giving birth. Minus the actual physical labor pains of course. And minus the epidural or shots of demerol. (Toward the end, when I was having my nuclear meltdown over page numbers not numbering correctly, I would not have turned down either!)

It is with great anticipation that I look forward to releasing Findley's Lass to the great big world. I an proud of this second book and I do feel the writing is significantly better than my first published piece. I can only hope and pray that my readers feel the same. If the beta readers are to be trusted, (and they always are) it is much better than the first.

The whiskey, along with the satisfaction of finally completing the book, leaves me with a warm, fuzzy sensation. ;o) And before you ask, I was feeling this way before I poured the double shot!

I cannot express enough my gratitude to my beta readers, my fellow author friends, and my family as well as my readers. Without all of you, Findley's Lass would not have been nearly as much fun to write! A special thanks to Carl Purdon (who I truly do hope to write like someday!), Laura Howard for her wicked sense of humor, for Ashley Barron for her keen mental intellect and savvy business sense, and last but not least, Melissa Foster for having such a sweet and positive attitude.

I cannot forget my beautiful editor, Judy. She is one of the most remarkable women that I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. She is, beyond a shadow of a doubt, someone I look up to. While I don't particularly pay attention to the technical side of things, Judy does. She caught everyone of my dangling participles. (I'm still trying to figure out what the hell those are exactly! lol) She is just an amazing woman and I hope to be as kind, thoughtful, and technically keen as she someday.

And if it weren't for my husband and son, who happily dined on hot dogs and macaroni and cheese more times than I care to admit that I served, I'd still be plugging away somewhere in the middle of the book. My husband and son are just beautiful men and I can't thank them enough. This book is for them, and all the meals I didn't cook, for putting away all the dishes and laundry that I didn't wash, and for keeping my spirits up when I felt like crying.

I'm thankful for my dad, my brothers, and all the strong men in my life. I'm thankful for friends and family whose faith and belief in me I still find quite amazing.

I am also quite thankful (and more often than not quite humbled by) for my readers. Without all of you, this dream of mine would not be coming true. I owe it all to each of you.

I'm also thankful for quiet moments like this, where I quietly sit back and think about the whole writing process. I look forward with giddy excitement at writing the story of Wee William's Woman. I've learned even more about writing with Findley's Lass, but I do look forward to learning even more as I write Wee William's story. ;o)

I'm also quite thankful for Jack Daniels whiskey. Smooth, warm, rich....mmmmm...good stuff Maynard.

Happy reading, happy writing, and happy dreams to all of you.

Hugs,
Suzan

Why The Re-Write?

Sometimes an idea is handed to you, one that is just too good to pass up! That is what has happened with the Prologue to Findley's Lass.

A very dear author friend of mine, Emery Lee -- whose opinion I highly value -- made the suggestion that perhaps I should show how Findley and Maggy met. I didn't need to think twice about it. Don't worry, I've simply moved the original prologue and it is now happily taking the spot of Chapter One. ;o)

Not everyone reads prologues, but I do happen to be one of those that do! I think the prologue -- if it gives insight to the story you're about to read -- helps set the pace for the rest of the book. So it only made sense to re-write the prologue to Findley's Lass. And since it hasn't actually been released, I felt it was still my prerogative to change it. ;o)

You can read the prologue here, under the page titled "Findley's Lass". 

Suzan