I want to welcome Suz deMello! My very first guest on There's all this stuff in my head...
I'm excited to start these author interviews I always love learning something new about my favorite authors. I hope you will too!
First, I’d love you to meet Suz. I've asked her to give us her bio so you can get to know her better.
Best-selling,
award-winning author Suz deMello, A.K.A. Sue Swift, has written over sixteen
romance novels in several subgenres, including erotica, comedy, historical,
paranormal, mystery and suspense, plus a number of short stories and
non-fiction articles on writing. A freelance editor, she’s worked for
Total-E-Bound, Liquid Silver Books and Ai Press, where she is currently
Managing Editor. She also takes private clients.
Her books
have been favorably reviewed in Publishers
Weekly, Kirkus and Booklist, won a contest or two, attained the finals of the RITA and hit several bestseller lists.
A former
trail attorney, her passion is world travel. She left the US over a dozen
times, including lengthy stints working overseas. She’s now writing a vampire
tale and planning her next trip.
--She tweets her reading picks @ReadThis4fun and @Suzdemello
Tell us about your latest release:
Queen’s Quest is one of my favorite books. I love
the characters, the story and the setting. What’s interesting about it is that
I wrote it while living in Thailand, but the settings could not be more
diverse.
Here’s the
blurb:
Janus is a planet which lacks both tilt
and spin, and its Shadowlands are the pewter band of dusk dividing the
violently hot Lightside of the planet from its Darkside, imprisoned by eternal
night. Because of the peculiar conformation of the planet, birthrates are low
and indiscriminate mating encouraged.
Audryn, Queen of Shadow has reached that
time in her life when she must choose a King to rule with her or fail to bear
an heir, casting not only her realm but all of Janus into chaos.
Despite her duty, she is reluctant to
share power, even a bit distrustful. Janus’ nobles vie for Audryn’s hand.
Although she enjoys trysting with all her suitors, none seize her heart.
Then Storne, the warrior Prince of
Darkness, arrives to claim her as his bride.
Will his masterful ways allure or repel the willful Queen?
Now I have a
few questions for you, Suz – I have found interviews to be the most fascinating to me so here we go!
1.) Who is your favorite villain – it
can be from a book (even one of yours), movie or TV show. And why?
Alan Rickman
as the Sheriff of Nottingham. First off, I love Rickman. Secondly—it’s funny.
It’s rare that Rickman gets a comedic role and he nailed this one. He also was
so funny in Galaxy Quest.
Humor goes a
long way with me.
2.) Who is your favorite character
out of your books? Why?
Wow—only
one? That’s tough. I write strong, intelligent women, women who are the way I’d
want to be. And I always fall in love with my heroes. I feel as though you’re
asking me to choose among my children!
I’d have to
say Queen Audryn in Queen’s Quest.
She’s able, strong and intelligent, yet is smart enough and humble enough to
doubt herself. She unexpectedly must rule and she rises to the enormous
challenge beautifully. She is thoughtful, poised and kind.
3.) What do genre do you write? What
made you pick that one?
I write
erotic romance, but my journey to the sexier side of romance was a long one.
After my first book was published, a sexy Regency currently entitled Lord Devere’s Ward, I made an about-face
and wrote traditional, sweet romances for the now-defunct Silhouette Romance
line. When the line closed, I was adrift.
The
challenges in my personal life—death, divorce and menopause—brought my writing
to a halt until a friend suggested I write erotic romance for the online
market. Et voila! A new career.
4.) What are you working on now?
I’ve been
writing historical vampire tales set in Scotland. I’ve written three novels in
the series plus two short stories. I expect to produce a novella and start on
another novel in the series this year. Then I’ll be done.
I don’t know
in which direction I’ll go after I finish the Highland Vampire series for Ellora’s Cave, but I’m sure something
will come up. Something always does.
5.) What got you to start writing?
I had always
sensed a creative wellspring bubbling inside me, but didn’t know how to express
it. I tried all kinds of creative outlets—I majored in art at college, sung
with rock bands and concert choirs, even refinished furniture. I didn’t think I
could write because at age thirteen in middle school, I was a dismal failure at
the creative writing assignment set by my then-English teacher.
In 1996,
while I was still practicing law as a trial attorney, I took a class called Writing for Publication taught at a
local community college. I learned about those wonderful things called “Writers
Guidelines,” which are put out by every publisher to tell writers what they
want. I looked at the guidelines and said to myself, “I bet I could do that.”
So I did.
I focused on
romance because it’s the largest fiction market, and I wasn’t interested in
non-fiction. As Rita Mae Brown put it, non-fiction always smacks of a book
report. I already had very analytic work, and I preferred to dream sexy dreams
about romantic relationships.
Thus, a new
career was born. After I sold three books, I quit practicing law. And here I
am, with seventeen books out there.
6.) Where do you get your ideas from?
I buy them
at Sears. They sell them by the dozen on the lower floor between the barbecues
and the exercise machines.
7.) What would people who read your
work be surprised to find out about you?
Good
question! I don’t consider myself out of the ordinary. Here’s a tidbit: though
I write very sexy books, I live with my 84-year-old mother to keep an eye on
her—she has Alzheimer’s.
8.) Do you have any special talents?
Other than
writing? Not really. I’m considered bright, though.
9.) What was the one piece of advice
you received when you were an aspiring author that has stuck with you? Why?
The best
piece of advice that I have ever been given about writing was delivered to me
by Judy Myers, another writer who I think has retired. She was one of my first
critique partners, and when she looked at the first chapter of my first
manuscript, she noticed a lot of info dumps. She told me, snippets, not chunks. Weave the information that you think readers need
to know—and they need less than you think—throughout the manuscript in
snippets, not chunks.
Why is that
important? Because a major sin in my line of work is being dull. Don’t bore the
reader—that’s fatal.
10.) If you could talk to any famous
figure (present, past or fictional) who would it be and what would you talk
about?
I’m not
religious, but I’d want to talk with the Dalai Lama, Jesus or Buddha. I’m
always trying to be a better, happier person, and I’d love to hear their
advice.
Thanks so much for visiting Suz! I love your answers and I'll have to check out Sears next time I'm looking for a story idea ;-)
Here's an excerpt from Queen's Quest:
“My seventeenth starturn approaches. On that day, I am
determined to crown my mate as king,” I told my ministers at our morning
meeting. “Gather the best candidates from the Three Lands so that I may make an
informed choice.”
Arrayed at a carved and polished wooden conference table facing
the Golden Throne, the Ten grumbled and muttered. Their voices mingled with the
crackling fire in the big stone hearth at one end of the wood-paneled and
tapestry-clad room. Smoke spiced the air.
“What is it?” I asked. There were moments, I believed, that
managing the elderly coterie, the Ten Ministers, was the most onerous task of
my monarchy. Dispensing justice was, by comparison, easy. Running the
bureaucracy in an efficient manner was also difficult, as was the collection of
revenues. These were tasks allocated to the ministries, but even so, they
required oversight. They needed one strong hand on the reins of government. My
hand.
That I was many starturns younger than most of my ministers was
only the beginning of my difficulties with them. When I ascended the Golden
Throne, I had not been educated for my role. Nearly four starturns later, the
Ten had become accustomed to teaching me rather than obeying my commands.
So I had designed garments which emphasized my authority. High
heeled boots and shoes so I stood taller than any of them. Long sweeping
skirts, some with hoops and panniers to broaden my slender silhouette. The
finest silks and furs, velvet and brocades. Wherever it was moved, the Golden
Throne was set on a platform above all.
Still, the Ten were knowledgeable, and had to be handled with
every shred of my tact and diplomacy. “What say you, Lord Kloutt?” I asked my
uncle, the Minister of the Interior, seated at my right.
He struggled to his feet, and I fancied I could hear the
creaking of his arthritic bones beneath his purple and gold-embroidered
doublet. Poor fellow. He said, “There are some who believe that an alliance
with an aristocrat of Shadowlands would strengthen the Royal House and thereby
solidify the government.”
Next to him, Lord Frayn, Minister of the Exchequer, remained
silent, but I knew what he wanted.
I fixed a slight smile on my face. “That is a possibility, of
course. There are many noble candidates within the Shadowlands. What say you,
General Parlous?”
Parlous was my Minister of Diplomacy, and I already knew that
he favored an alliance with one of the Lords of Darkness, fearing their
military might. “The Royal House has long had the complete allegiance of the
people, and because of the tragic deaths of Their Majesties, you are an
especial favorite.” He faced the others. Middle-aged but vigorous, with
iron-gray hair that curled at the collar of his black doublet, he had a
sonorous, impressive voice. “The Queen is beloved already, and the Golden Throne
sits on firm ground. I respect the Interior Ministry’s concerns, but there is
no need to marry within, and there are many reasons to bring in fresh seed from
Outside.”
“Outside,” I said. “That would mean an alliance with either the
Darkness or the Light, unless we are so fortunate as to witness a visit from
the long-absent Progenitors.”
Chuckles ran throughout the room, dispelling tension.
“Past alliances with the Prince-Scientists of the
DesertDwellers have proven fruitful,” stated Caducia of the Health Ministry.
She wore healing green, the color affected by all HealthGivers.
“Their technological prowess could also contribute to the
welfare of our people.” This was the opinion of the Education Minister.
“And there are always those rumors…” Lady Mercourie, in charge
of transportation and communication, said.
“I do not put stock in rumor and myth,” Frayn said. “If the
Children of Light possess the secret of eternal life, they have not shared it
with us during past alliances. I do not believe it.”
“Nor do I,” Caducia said. “Immortality does not exist.”
I leaned my chin on one hand, gloved today in orange satin.
“But it is true that as time moves on, much is lost and forgotten, and we lack
the ability to regain the knowledge of the Progenitors or to reinvent their
tools and machines,” I said. “The Children of Light excel at such tasks, while
we do not, and technology is at an even lower ebb on the Darkside.”
“But an alliance with the Darkside would bring us many
advantages in terms of trade,” Geoman of the Elements Office said. “Their lands
are abundant in natural resources that we, and the DesertDwellers, lack.”
“We cannot forget that the man selected will not only sit on
the Golden Throne, sharing power with Her Majesty, but will be her mate,”
Caducia said. “I do not see how a choice can be made without seeing the
candidates.”
“Then it’s decided.” I stood, delighted that at least one of
this hidebound group shared my opinion. “Parlous, order our emissaries to the
Darkness and the Desert. Invite them to send their best. Lady Caducia, attend
me.”
I swept out, and Caducia followed. Maia, who had sat silently
on a stool next to the Throne, scurried in our wake.
“I wished to thank you for your wisdom and insight,” I told
Caducia as we walked.
An older woman with dark hair webbed with silver, she shrugged
and smiled. “It is self-evident. Our ruler’s happiness is paramount. How else
can you effectively reign?”
I remained silent for a moment. “I had thought that I must
subvert my own happiness for the good of the people.”
“The people’s happiness is dependent upon the Queen’s joy, for
in the Shadowlands, the people and their monarchs are one. You felt that
already, on your first mating day.”
“You witnessed the ceremony?”
“Yes, and your parents’ marriage and first mating as well. The
people must be convinced of your contentment and security on the throne with a
strong and trustworthy king, or they will lose confidence in the monarchy. And
if your house trembles, the Balance will be lost. All of Shadowland, indeed all
Janus, will fall, so you must choose well.”
We reached the Dining Salon, where we would take the noontime
repast. “Sit with me,” I said. “Speak more of your insights, for I am greatly
burdened by the significance of my task.”
“There is little more to say.” Caducia followed me to my seat,
set higher than the others. She took the nearest stool, and Maia went to fetch
victuals. “It is not my insight but yours which will be crucial. Permit me to
speak freely.”
“Granted.”
Servants snapped open serviettes, spread them on our laps.
“Queen Audryn, you are intelligent and deeply feeling. Make no
hasty decisions, but at the same time, trust your instincts.”
