Did
you always want to be a writer?
Yes.
I’ve been writing for as long as I can
remember. I wrote my first play when I
was only nine. Then I hand delivered it into RTE – Ireland’s
National Radio & television Network http://www.rte.ie/
It was during the troubles in Ireland and the Irish Army were protecting
the place from behind sand bags but I didn’t mind as I marched up with my pencil
written manuscript. I remember the
receptionists looking amused when I explained why I was there. They probably
thought it was a hoot. Not me, I was
very serious about my career. In due
course, I got an incredibly kind and supportive rejection letter. They
explained that the plot needed a little more development. I wish I still had that letter – my first rejection.
When
did you first consider yourself as a “writer"?
A
job becomes a real job when you do it five days a week and get paid for
it. I reached that stage with writing
about twelve years ago. Then I had to
stop because our family life got too hectic. I have five kids. Now they’re all at school, I’m
a writer again – phew.
Did
it take a long time to get your first book published?
No,
I was very lucky. I got a publishing offer half way through my first book. I was living in Ireland at the time and sent
the first ten chapters to Irish Publishers, Poolbeg http://www.poolbeg.com/ They offered me a three book deal.
Do
you have a process or routine that you follow when writing
This
is what I aim for but don’t always achieve. I drop the kids to school and then get my bum
on that seat but it so easy to get distracted - Emails, phone calls, group
texts – waghh. I always start with new writing. After lunch I deal with editing. Midafternoon
it’s time to get the kids and 3 – 8pm I’m
a full time mom, homework monitor, cook and taxi driver. After 8pm I often head back to my desk for
fun stuff like marketing, PR, interviews like this.
What
books can we expect from you in the future? Any
works in progress?
Lincoln
Ladies is the 3rd book in my New England Trilogy. I love the story and thoroughly enjoyed
writing it. I wrote three books in three years which was a big work load so
after that, I took some time out. Now I’ve just begun a series of books set in
Silver Strand, Sligo, Ireland. I grew up
in Sligo and know it well. I’m very excited about it and will post
more on my FB page as the plot develops… https://www.facebook.com/Suzyduffybooks1
What
genre do you write? Do you stick with this religiously?
I’ve
always written romantic comedy, with a strong sense of Irish humor because as a
race we really do laugh at life. Years
ago, starting my broadcasting career, I worked with a fabulous man called Ian
Dempsey http://www.todayfm.com/The-Ian-Dempsey-Breakfast-Show He gave me some excellent advice,
telling me to be myself and not try to mimic anybody on air. An audience can
sense if you’re fake. They may not be able to put a name on it but
they’ll know. That advice served me well on air and I think
it’s equally valid for books. If you’re
going to make a success of your profession, no matter what it is, be true to
your inner voice. If it rings true and
you persevere - chances are you’ll succeed in the end.
Do
you have a favorite book out of the ones that you have written?
Right
now it’s got to be Lincoln Ladies. I love Tuscany which is why I used it as the
backdrop. There’s
a magic quality to the countryside there. It’s
the perfect place to enjoy all that amazing fresh pasta, super Tuscan wines,
and maybe fall in love? You’ll have to read Lincoln Ladies to see
what I mean.
How
important is humor in you works?
Very.
I think we are what you read - at least I am. If I read a depressing book, it
makes me depressed. I’m
reading The Secret Garden with my youngest daughter at the moment. Written in
1910, the language is quiet old fashioned. Yesterday I found myself “fetching
some afternoon tea,” like
the Lady Dowager of Downton Abbey - instead of just “grabbing a coffee.” That’s the power of books and so; I choose
to right humor into my books. It’s my gift to the reader. I write funny escapist female fiction. If I give the reader a few giggles and the
odd belly laugh along the way, I’ve done my job.
Do
you get feedback from anybody close to you before you submit them?
I
have literary agents. I aim to get a story well written, very well edited and
polished. Then they take it to the market. It’s
an exciting and terrifying time. Once it’s
with a publishing house, I’ll work with the in-house editors. They’ll have particular views on strong and
weak characters/plotlines. I listen to them and usually obey. This is a
business. Books are the product. It’s not a time to be precious. Sorry if that
sounds hard-nosed but it’s the difference between writing being
a hobby and a job.
How
do you approach reviews? Have you had many negative ones? Do you read them?
I
read them all. I’ve been very lucky with the New England
Trilogy. Most were very complimentary but I can’t
take all the credit. My publishers The Writers Coffee Shop, http://www.thewriterscoffeeshop.com/library/index.php have an amazing team of editors. A book is a team effort. I have had a few bad reviews. Meh. Let ‘em go, I say. You can’t
please everybody.
Tell
me about the covers for the New England Trilogy; you seem to use a particular
theme and style?
I
LOVE LOVE LOVE them. I used the company http://quartsoft.com/ out of Donetsk in Ukraine. I’m
thinking of them a lot at the moment because that is the town in the center of
the Russian/Ukrainian conflict right now.
I’m in touch with the girls in the office
and they hear bombs going off nearby. It’s surreal – their word not
mine. Love and prayers for them
please. One of their artists came up
with the animation style. I love it
because; as you well know you can’t tell a book by its cover only with
mine, you get a few hints. There was a black cat and a red Ferrari in Wellesley
Wives - just like the book cover. We have a little white dog and a house on the
lake, in Newton Neighbors and yes there are hairy sheep in the Tuscan hills in
Lincoln Ladies. Enough said, you’ll have to read the books to get the
full story…
Lots
of love Suzy
XXX
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