Ask the Author: Susan Marlene
Answered Questions (10)
Susan Marlene
How a young mom, afraid of teenagers, accepted a job for at-risk students.
Susan Marlene
I entered the kitchen with a dream in mind. I began to cook.
Susan Marlene
I would love to go to Scotland in the 1800s and work among the common folk sewing and cooking for family and friends and while I was at it...solve a mystery or murder or two!
Susan Marlene
Candles in the Rain by Becky Melby
Bushwacked (book 4 in Mystery at Point Beach series) by Deborah Ann Erdmann & Kate Jungwirth
Masquerade by Carl Gallups
Eight Cousins & A Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcot
If There Were No Losses by Thomas Caldecot Chubb
Uncommon Character by Douglas Feavel
When the Smoke Clears b Lynette Eason
Bushwacked (book 4 in Mystery at Point Beach series) by Deborah Ann Erdmann & Kate Jungwirth
Masquerade by Carl Gallups
Eight Cousins & A Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcot
If There Were No Losses by Thomas Caldecot Chubb
Uncommon Character by Douglas Feavel
When the Smoke Clears b Lynette Eason
Susan Marlene
Going for a walk in the park with family, researching the area I wish to write about, and reading scripture assist jarring me from writer’s block! Calling friends or visiting them is quite helpful. Also—and I’ve not had to do this much—using a technique called freewriting. You just write whatever comes to mind without punctuation or form. Just keep writing for a whole page or more. Plus, enjoying a delicious chai tea and chocolate sweetens the road to finishing a manuscript. 😊
Susan Marlene
Beyond the perks of heightened senses, meeting extraordinarily inspiring individuals, and enjoying piles and piles of research are two of the most important incentives of being an author by far. Those benefits are helping others carry their burdens by sharing their significance (per example of my character’s struggles and growth) and a deepening of my knowledge and relationship with the Lord as I write devotions and stories.
Susan Marlene
Embrace the journey! When I became a writer, my senses improved. Both the beautiful and ugly qualities about human nature sharpened as well as awareness of my surroundings. Write with abandon, and don’t be afraid of the white screen of your computer. Write what you are passionate about and don’t pick a genre just because you believe it will sell well. Study the genre(s) you love to read and where you wish to entertain and express your heart. Mark up your favorite author’s novels! Attend conferences if that is a possibility for you. What is vital for me is to pray before I start to work on any writing project—large or small!
Susan Marlene
I’m working on a historical Christmas fiction, which I hope to publish this year. I’m also working the sequel to SISTERS & FRIENDS in which Natalie is the main character. Behind the scenes, I’m gathering ideas and information for a cozy murder mystery!
Susan Marlene
Sometimes observing how people handle life or reading about someone’s account in the Bible has inspired the first budding of a story or stories. For example, I wrote two short stories for students who were struggling with significance. I’ve even been inspired by characters in movies. I was able to ask my Grandmother Bell about family history, and I have a series planned where the main character is modeled after her.
Susan Marlene
SISTERS & FRIENDS was birthed out of concern for students who had begun to succeed for the first time in their high school career and then sabotaged their success by avoiding school altogether. Some students allowed the teacher or me to encourage them to finish their requirements. Others drifted away, not yet escaping the negative situations and words that had discouraged them in the first place.
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