A mysterious 15-year-old girl, a missing husband, and a dead body! That’s just a glimpse at what you can expect from Susan Page Davis, writer of mystery and suspense novels. She’s here to talk about her writing life, and she’s also giving away a free copy of her book! Read to the bottom for more details!

Welcome, and thanks for chatting with me. Let’s start with what genre you write and how you picked it.
I write in several genres, and I have published books in historical romance, cozy mystery, and more. Right now I’m doing romantic suspense and mystery. This genre was my first love, and my Maine Justice series is close to my heart.

What are your favorite genres to read? Why?
I love to read mystery and suspense too, but I read all across the board. Right now I’m reading a dystopian novel, and before that it was a historical series. I love variety, and I especially enjoy going into a new place and staying there a while.

How long did it take you complete your first manuscript (published or not)?
My first book took me about three months to write. I didn’t know what I was doing, and after that I revised it several times before it was finally published.

Have your follow-up novels been easier or harder to write? Why do you think that is?
In some ways, it gets easier as you learn the craft and become more comfortable in it. But as you learn, you also realize how important it is to do it well, and that takes effort.

What’s surprised you the most about the book-publishing process?
That publishers don’t print a book exactly the way the manuscript is when they buy it. Most books undergo many revisions before they see print.

What’s been the most challenging part of getting a book published?
When I started, it was conforming to what the publisher wanted.

What’s your favorite part of the publishing experience?
Getting that first box of books and seeing the finished product.

For learning the writing craft, which do you prefer – books or conferences? Why?
Conferences are great for networking and motivating, but for actual writing I prefer books. I can look back at them over and over, taking my time to absorb what they teach.

If you could recommend one writing conference, what would it be? Why? (If you haven’t attended one, which one would you like to attend? Why?)
ACFW is great, especially for beginning writers, and I’m partial to the small KenTen Writers Conference, sponsored by my own writers’ group.

If you could recommend one writing book, what would it be? Why?
There are so many great ones, it’s hard to pick! I go back to James Scott Bell’s books over and over—especially Plot and Structure and Writing Your Book from the Middle. Right now I’m preparing a workshop on writing scenes, and I’m re-reading Jordan Rosenfeld’s Make a Scene and Randy Ingermanson’s How to Write a Dynamite Scene Using the Snowflake Method. I could go on; my bookshelves are overflowing.

If you could pick any of your novels to be made into a movie, which one would you pick? Who would you want to play the lead roles, and why?
Frasier Island. It has a small cast, a limited setting, and an exciting plot. I think I’d take Alex O’Loughlin (Hawaii 5-0) for the main character, George. He’s the right age, and he has the look.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Thanks for inviting me over, Karin! I hope all your readers have a great reading day.

Thank you so much for appearing on my blog! Have a blessed day!

Susan Page Davis is the author of more than eighty published novels. She’s a two-time winner of the Faith, Hope, and Love Readers’ Choice Award and the Will Rogers Medallion, and also a winner of the Carol Awards and a finalist in the WILLA Literary Awards. A Maine native, she now lives in Kentucky with her husband Jim. They have six grown children and ten grandchildren.

Ransom of the Heart
Captain Harvey Larson is on guard when a fifteen-year-old girl approaches him during his lunch hour. Leah thinks she has proof that he is her father, but Harvey needs more evidence. A few hours later, his sister-in-law Abby stumbles upon a body at Hobart Chevrolet. Her husband, Peter, is missing, and the Priority Unit turns out to investigate. When she finally gets a call demanding ransom, Harvey goes into high gear to set up a ransom drop. Unfortunately, things don’t go as planned when they try to deliver the money. This is Book 7 in the Maine Justice series, but can be read on its own. It you want to start at the beginning of the series, The Priority Unit is the first volume.

Links:
Ransom of the Heart on Amazon
The Priority Unit on Amazon
Susan’s Website: www.susanpagedavis.com
Find Susan on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanpagedavisauthor

Leave your name and email address below for a change to win a copy of Ransom of the Heart (or your choice of books from the Maine Justice series). Your choice of ebook or paperback (US only for paperback). We’ll pick a winner next week!