Interview with Susan Hanniford Crowley!

Today, I'm beyond pleased to welcome my friend Susan Crowley to Paranormal Romantics. Susan's got a book releasing tomorrow, but I'll let her tell you all about it!

SS: Tell me a little about yourself.

SC: I'm married, have two grown daughters, a dog, a cat, and a rose bush. I have a bachelor's degree in Theater and a master's in education. I'm a part-time webmaster for a day job. For fun I take long walks along the beach with my hubbie of 30 years, and I collect dragons.

SS: How long have you been writing? Have you always wanted to be a writer?

SC: LOL. Oh, Sandi, I've been a writer since I was eight. My first attempt was a spy novel when I was around 12. It was greatly appreciated by my classmates who read it in installments as I wrote it. I do think that I've always wanted to be a writer. I did at one point think I wanted to be an actress but decided I wouldn't do a scene in the nude. However, as a romance novelist, my characters are in the nude a lot. What can I say? I'm shy. They're not.

SS: What genre do you like to write best in and why?

SC: Paranormal romance is my niche. I've published in science fiction and fantasy but I feel total abandon when I write a romance for my creature characters. They're just so much fun. I've always been a Poe devotee. You know someone who loves Edgar Allan Poe, and I've always believed that Poe was really writing his attempt of unrequited love, forevermore mourning his lost love. Combining the dark, supernatural side of life with science fiction and fantasy is paranormal romance, a perfect blending of worlds.

SS: How do you find ideas for your books?

SC: I dream them. Then I go and do research based on the dream to get at all the details. For WHEN LOVE SURVIVES, I went through a lot of old newspapers. When I told my best friend I was writing a paranormal romance set on September 11th, she loaned me all the newspapers she had collected. I didn't know about the collection until she told me just then.

SS: How difficult is it for you to get into “writer’s mode”?

SC: I write every single day, so my brain is primed. It will find stories while I sleep and I'll write in the morning and then again in the evening. I also keep a journal with about 14 summaries of books I haven't written yet. I keep a notebook in my purse, and if something comes to me in the doctor's waiting room, I write it down. Actually I'm always in writer's mode, but I think it's because of the years of training my brain to be that way. It's similar with doing exercise. You get into a good habit.

SS: Tell me a little about your new book.

SC: My new book WHEN LOVE SURVIVES is a novella or small book being released by Tease Publishing LLC. (http://www.teasepublishingllc.com/) It can be purchased at All Romance Ebooks http://www.allromanceebooks.com starting Thursday afternoon.

WHEN LOVE SURVIVES is a story of courage and hope. That's why I've dedicated it to all who rescue. It takes skill, bravery, and a love for humanity to rescue people during a disaster. The story focuses on two supernaturals, who meet on September 11th, and join the rescuers that day.

Regina O'Malley, a college student who's discovered she's magic, will walk into Death to save others. Gregor Vasiliev is a financial advisor and shapeshifter on a donut run from his office. He finally sees the love of life. Then disaster strikes the World Trade Center. Will he lose her forever?

SS: Do you identify with the characters you write about?

SC: Regina is half leprechaun and half elf. My family is mostly Irish, so writing Regina was easy. I was also part of a family joke. When my youngest daughter was in college, she told the girls in her dorm that her dad was a leprechaun and I was an elf. We were stared at to the point of ridiculous. I figured out that she was being mischievous again.

We also love Maine and that's where Gregor's family is from. I won't say more I don't want to spoil the book for anyone.

SS: What do you love about your publisher?

SC: I really love the stories and books they publish. When I was submitting, I decided to be honest and only submit to publishing houses that I read. Tease Publishing has been a pleasure to work with them, and I read a lot of their authors before I got there.

SS: What piece of advice do you have for aspiring writers that you wished someone told you when you started?

SC: Develop a self-survival strategy plan for yourself. Here's a little checklist. I hope it helps.
1. Believe in yourself.
2. Don't give up.
3. Join a writer's group in your genre. If you want to write romance, join the RWA and also your local chapter if your can. Attend all the workshops. Learn.
4. Join a critique group like Rom-Critters which is online. Learn.
5. Don't give up.
6. Believe in yourself.

SS: What is your next project?

SC: Tease Publishing is currently editing my vampire romance, which is a full length novel, and as we speak I'm working on a holiday romance.

SS: That has been one of the most informative interviews I've given. Thanks so much for dropping by, Susan! I wish you much success! I had the pleasure of reading this book in a critique group and it's a must buy.

SC: Thanks, Sandra. It's been fun being on Paranormal Romantics.


For more information about Susan Hanniford Crowley, visit:
Nights of Passion blog: http://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com
Her website: http://www.susanhannifordcrowley.com
The Writing House blog: http://thewritinghouse.blogspot.com
She's on Twitter as onlyladyknight and on Facebook as Susan Hanniford Crowley
All Romance Ebooks http://www.allromanceebooks.com