Attention, bookworms and lovers of all things thrilling! Meet Susy Smith: not just an author, but a veritable scribe of suspense. Our dame of dystopia doesn’t just write stories; she conjures worlds. And with a title like “curriculum specialist for the Kanza Tribe” under her belt, you know she’s packing more than just ink in her quill.
Beneath her writer’s cloak, she’s armed with the resilience of every protagonist, the linguistic sorcery from her English degree, and enough storytelling mojo to leave readers on the edge (or even falling off) their seats!
Her claim to literary fame? “Asylum,” a spellbinding saga that didn’t just win hearts, but the 2020 Writer Con crown too. But she didn’t stop there. Susy’s sequel, “Ascendant,” plunges even deeper into the human psyche, making us question: are we reading the book, or is it reading us? Let’s learn more:
Q. If your book was turned into a film/TV show, who would you tap to play the lead(s)? Why?
– I would love for my books to be turned into a movie or a Netflix series! I’d pick Tanner Buchanan (He’s all that) or Chase Crawford for Jace Cooper, and Kathryn Newton (Big Little Lies) with dark hair for Lacy.
Q. What’s one secret about you that you’ll share with the world?
– I don’t want to get old! Sadly, it’s happening anyway. The older I get the faster time seems to go. I didn’t use to get the old adage, ‘youth is wasted on the young,’ until I turned 50. Then I was like, ‘yeah, I get that.’ My brain still thinks I’m 20. Unfortunately, my body doesn’t agree!
Q. What is the core message you want to deliver to the world through your writing/books/stories?
– I’d like to see the younger generation think for themselves and not take what they see and hear on social media/TV/news on its face. There’s always more to the story than what’s being told. School is not set up to teach kids to think for themselves and that’s doing them a disservice.
Q What makes your book unputdownable?
- I think it’s suspenseful enough to keep readers turning the page, at least that’s something for which I strive. I think the characters will stick with the reader as well.
Q Tell us something about you that no one else knows
- I’m left-handed and proud of it!
Q What book has made you cry, why?
- When I was a kid, one of my favorite books was Where the Red Fern Grows, and I cried each and every time I read it.
Q What is your dream vacation?
- I’d really like to spend some time in Ireland and the Scottish Highlands. Some of my ancestors come from those places. I’d like to learn some Gaelic and some of the druid culture while there. After that? I’d love to spend some time on a white sand beach, doesn’t really matter where, Fiji, Maui …
Q If you had 3 wishes, what would you wish for?
- This is a tough question. I’m not going to go all selfless and say world peace, but I’ll list the first three things that come to mind:
- For my kids to live happy, prosperous lives.
- I’d like to live a long time, myself.
- I’d like to know the secrets to the Keys of Solomon.
Q Who/What is your biggest inspiration in your writing?
- The biggest inspiration I have when I write is music. One of my favorite quotes is “I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music …” by Albert Einstein. My musical tastes are eclectic. I might get hung up on a folksy song by This Wild Life then turn around and listen to Bad Omens – which is what I’m stuck on now. I enjoy making playlists for my books and characters.
Q If you could give your book to one person in the entire world to read, who would it be and why?
- If I could give my book to anyone in the world, it would be my Nanny. She walked on long before I published Asylum, but I think she’d like to know I’m writing which is something she always wanted to do. She encouraged my love of reading from a young age, buying me books every time she got the chance. I dedicated Asylum to her.
Rapid Fire Questions and Answers
Q. Movie or TV Series?
A. TV Series
Q. Long walk or long car ride?
A. Long Walk
Q. Comedy or Drama?
A. Comedy
Q. The city or the country?
A. Duh, Country
Q. Baking or Cooking?
A. Baking
Q. Margarita or Cosmo?
A. Neither
Q. Holding a Puppy or Holding a Baby?
A. Puppy
Q. invisibility cloak or sparking skin?
A. Invisibility cloak, no question
Q. Coffee or tea?
A. Tea
Q. Dinosaurs or princesses?
A. Dino’s
Q. Laptop or phone?
A. Laptop
Find a copy now on Amazon!
Want more fun? Take a look at this author interview next.