A Visit with Bestselling, Award-winning Author, Susan Page Davis

Happy Wednesday!

I’m so happy to bring you an interview with a good friend of mine and one of my favorite authors, Susan Page Davis! 

Living about 70 miles apart, Susan and I met when I was invited to join her and Kathy Cretsinger for lunch to discuss starting a writing group, which later became KenTen Writers Group, a mix of published and unpublished authors. We met for over ten years, learning, brainstorming, and critiquing our work, hosting writing retreats, and seeing several new authors (including myself) become published. It was a great learning experience. Susan is always willing to help out fellow writers, and I’ve been proud to work alongside her in some of these ventures! 

Susan is the author of more than one hundred novels and novellas in the mystery, romance, and historical genres. She has won many awards, including the Carol Award, three Will Rogers Medallions, and two Faith, Hope, and Love Readers’ Choice Awards. A Maine native, she now resides in western Kentucky with her husband, Jim.

Keep reading to the end—Susan is generously providing a giveaway of the winner’s choice of either paperback (US only) or eBook (anywhere) of Kate by the Book!

Regina: Hi Susan! Welcome to the Diamond Mine of Christian Fiction! What inspired you to write, initially, and what encouraged you to continue?

 

Susan: I’ve always loved stories and reimagining them in different ways. And I’ve written stories since I was a child. When I’d written my first novel (not the first published, by the way), I sent it to several publishers. Rejections came back, but enough had encouraging words that I felt I should keep trying. I’ve been writing fiction ever since.

 

Regina: Sometimes those rejections are the most helpful advice we can get, and if you get someone willing to share their wisdom, all the better! What is one story from real life that you’ve included in one of your books?

 

Susan: My father was a game warden in Maine, and I’ve actually adapted several tales from his adventures. Once he was called out to tend to a deer that had jumped through a window into a church. In my book Off the Record, I made it just a little more exciting than the real life version. 

 

Regina: It’s fun to take a real event and spice it up in the name of fiction! I’ve done that at least once in every book I’ve written. What is your favorite Bible verse, and why? 

 

Susan: It’s hard to choose just one, but I do love John 6:39, “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me but raise it up on the last day.” It reminds me of God’s faithfulness. Things that are out of my control are His to take care of, and He will.

 

Regina: Amen. I often remind myself that we’re only here temporarily! I’m happy to not be in control! A lot of interviewers ask for your favorite book. That’s just not fair! What has been the most recent book you’ve read that excited you or moved you in some way, and why?

Susan: I recently read and enjoyed The Last Bookshop in London, by Madeline Martin. It takes place in World War II and follows a young woman who moves to the city and soon finds herself amid the blitz and a terrifying time. I love historical novels, and this one touched me.

 

Regina: I love a book that I keep thinking about long after I’ve finished it—sometimes after I’ve started another book! I’ll have to look that one up! Is there someone, alive or dead, who had a major influence on your writing life, or on your life in general?

 

Susan: I have three sisters, and they are precious to me.  We try to get together for Sister Week yearly, or when we can. They are creative in other ways, and they always encourage me.

 

Regina: Sisters are the best! I only have one, but she’s precious to me, too. I like the idea of Sister Week!

Thank you for sharing with us today, Susan! 

 

Today's featured book:

 

From Susan: Kate by the Book is one of my newest releases. In it, Kate Pierce, a children’s librarian, meets police officer Charlie Abbot when he comes to conduct a fingerprinting clinic at the library. She is soon drawn to his four-year-old son, Alex, who has a big secret. Charlie’s attracted to Kate, but his job and his family situation make him keep his feelings in check. But a mystery keeps taking him back to the library, where Kate may be in danger. 

In the print version (the paperback and the just-released hardcover from Center Point Large Print), Kate by the Book is paired with my sweet, clean novella, The Mailboat, also set in Central Maine, where I grew up. 

 

Connect with Susan in the following places: 

SusanPageDavis.com

Amazon

BookBub

Twitter @SusanPageDavis

Facebook

BookCave

Goodreads

 

And, here’s how you can purchase Kate by the Book and The Mailboat, as well as the large print volume that contains both books!

Paperback (both titles in one book)

Ebook, Kate by the Book

Ebook, The Mailboat

Large print hardcover (both titles in one book)

Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win either an ebook or paperback of Kate by the Book!

 

An Interview with Author Nancy J. Farrier

Welcome everyone! Come sit and have a chat with me and author Nacy J Farrier on this lovely Wednesday!

Michelle: Welcome, Nancy! Let's start with your writing process. What is your favorite way to write and place to write?

Nancy: I love writing on my laptop. My husband gave me a gaming monitor (my last birthday gift) which is hooked into my computer. The larger monitor allows for several screens to be open at once for writing and research, so everything is easy to access. I love it so much.

When writing, I'm not sitting at a desk or on a couch. Sitting down for any extended time is uncomfortable for me. Instead, I write while walking on my treadmill. It's set to a slow pace but keeps me moving. I spend several hours a day walking slowly and typing away. This helps me to keep fit as I'm working.

Michelle: Wow, that's quite an innovative setup! So smart. So what is your creative process like? Do you have an unusual place where you find inspiration for your writing?

Nancy: Okay, you're going to think I'm totally weird, but I'm being honest here. I often find inspiration in church during the message. The pastor will say something that sparks an idea to include in my current story, or for a brand new idea. I often wonder if people around me think I'm diligently taking notes, when in fact I'm jotting ideas before I forget them. Getting this flood of ideas can be both exciting and exasperating. It's exciting because new ideas are always fun, and exasperating because I really just want to listen to the pastor's message and take regular notes on the sermon so I can look them over during the week.

Usually, the ideas are quick to jot down, and I miss very little of the message. But if you even see me taking notes somewhere, now you'll have to ask if that was a new story idea. :) 

Michelle: I’ll definitely be curious if I see you with a notebook! Inspiration can strike at the most interesting times and carry us to some intriguing places. If you could live in any fictional world, what would you choose and why?

Nancy: There are so many books that have drawn me into the world and fascinated me. Still, I think the one I would choose is J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle Earth. I don't really like fireworks, but I'd love to see Gandalf's fireworks show for the hobbits. And the hobbits, so fun with their round door on the houses and their laid-back lifestyles.

Seeing the Ents, the trees that talk, would be amazing. And what about the trolls that Bilbo kept talking until the sun came up and they turned to stone? Or the elves walking through the woods, singing. I'm not sure I'd do well in the mines of Moria, but I might brave them just to see the wonders there.

Tolkien built one of the best fantasy worlds I've ever read. It would be a pleasure to see that world firsthand.

Michelle: Yes! His worldbuilding is...out of this world, lol. Middle Earth would be an amazing travel destination. And I love the way he wove elements of faith into his stories as well. Do you have a favorite verse? Why is it meaningful to you?

Nancy: There are many verses that are favorites, but the one I'm thinking of now is the verse God gave me when I started writing.

"…Write down the vision and write it on tablets distinctly, that the one who reads it may run." Habakkuk 2:2

I love this verse because I want my writing to be words or stories that encourage the reader in their faith. My hope is that the person who reads my books will feel lighter and refreshed after reading, will be encouraged in their walk with God, and will be able to run—or at least walk faster—spiritually.

Michelle: It's beautiful to see how deeply your faith influences your writing. I'd love to know more about you beyond your writing life. What do you enjoy doing besides writing?

Nancy: Spending time with my family or church family is at the top of this list. I love when the grandkids come to visit or we have a family vacation. Such fun.

Other than that, I love walking/hiking. I walk four or five miles every morning out in the desert. Hiking on the weekends, weather permitting, which in Southern Arizona means only in the winter months is my happy place.

Things I enjoy: playing music—piano and guitar, crocheting and knitting, and playing video games has become a fun pastime. I have a Nintendo Switch with some fun games that I play for an hour or so in the evenings. I am not a fanatic, but fighting those bad guys and exploring different worlds relaxes me.

And, of course, there's reading. Reading is my super power. I read all the time, mostly ebooks and audiobooks. I love story and am always looking for my next great read.

Michelle: Four or five miles every morning? Wow, that's impressive. And you certainly have a diverse range of interests! I love hearing hear how you balance your creative pursuits with outdoor activities and family time. Now, I'm sure our readers are eager to know - what are you working on now? Can you give us a hint about your current projects?

Nancy: I just finished the last book in my Driftwood Cove series. The Memory Quilt is now in the editing process. I feel like I'm at Crossroads with multiple choices of which road to take. It's exciting and a bit terrifying. lol

A friend invited me to submit a book for a collection they are putting together. The book will release in 2025 and is a suspense collection. My story is a romantic suspense that I've had in mind for a while. I'm so excited to put this story out in the world and to try my hand at suspense.

My passion is to write stories that resonate with readers and encourage their faith. I believe that is possible no matter the genre. I've written historical and contemporary, and now romantic suspense. They are all so fun to imagine and write.

Michelle: They sure sound fun! Nancy, it's been such a pleasure talking with you. Your eclectic interests, your passion for the written word, and your dedication to encouraging readers through your work is truly inspiring. Thank you for visiting and giving us a glimpse into your creative world. We'll certainly be looking forward to your upcoming projects!