Could you tell us a little about what kind of child that Susan Horsnell was? Were your parents big readers?
Inquisitive, individual, loved the written word and was an excellent student of English at school but a lousy student at Mathematics. My parents, apart from my dad reading the newspaper daily, weren't readers until later in life.
Where do you live? Does the city find a place in your writing?
I live in a small rural village in Queensland, Australia. The population is around 400. No, I don't set stories here yet but plan to in the future.
What made you decide to start writing contemporaries? How is it different from Western Historical Romance?
Western Historical Romance requires more research. Although fiction, what facts I do include, I like to be accurate. My dad was a huge cowboy and Indian fan and I spent hours watching movies and documentaries with him. It gave me a love of the Old West. A couple of years we travelled extensively through Texas and South Dakota and it is where my books are set. I started writing contemporaries because my imagination was less restricted, I use a lot of my own life experience,family members and friend's experiences in those.
Who are some of your favourite authors and have you ever reached out to any of them?
My favorite author is Margaret Mitchell, Maeve Binchy, Bryce Courtney. Unfortunately they are all deceased. I also love books by Donna Michaels and CJ Bishop. I have connected with CJ.
Is it important that an author have other friends that are writers as well? Do you have any?
I think it is important to have friends who are authors. We can bounce ideas off each other and offer support. I have many friends who write and I mentor quite a few young ladies and men. I am always happy to help young authors and those just starting out on their writing journey.
What are some resources you use for your book research? What are some of your most fruitful researching methods?
I use places we have travelled to. We travel in Australia quite a lot with our caravan and my new Outback Series is set in one of the towns we visited. I speak with those who are relevant to my books - eg: I spoke with the Royal Flying Doctor Service and used my experience as a nurse for this series of books. The second in the series is about an Aboriginal Nurse and I have organised to return to the town and speak to some of the Aborigines there about their local customs and beliefs. As I said, although my books are fiction, if facts are included, I like them accurate.
What inspired the Annabelle? Which of the books in the series had the most impact on you?
Annabelle is no longer available. The ladies involved in this series and I decided to dismantle the series, rewrite the books and release separately. Annabelle has yet to be rewritten.
Is the character of Laura in “Laura: The Soiled Doves Series Book 4” based on anyone you know in real life?
Laura in the Soiled Doves Series was written by Margaret Tanner and is now a part of her Women Betrayed Series.
How do you like to portray your women characters? How has their portrayal in literature changed over the years?
I like my heroines with a backbone, but also vulnerable. I think women have become stronger as time has passed. They are no longer weak and dependent on men. Unfortunately, they are portrayed in some books as not needing anyone. As being aloof, almost nasty.
When did you start writing the American Mail-Order Brides Series and how was writing this series different than The Soiled Doves Series?
The Mail Order Brides Series was a collaboration by 45 authors and I began writing it in early 2016. It was very different to the Soiled Doves Series as there was a prequel which joined all the books together. The Doves Series only had a common theme - about women who had been taken advantage of. They were not Mail Order Brides.
Do you have any advice on how to balance different elements in a story when blending genres together? Besides historical romance, what other genres do you love to write or read?
I would not presume to give advice on how to blend different genres in a book. My writing sticks to the one genre throughout the books although I do write a wide range of different genres within the romance genre- Western Historical, Western Contemporary, Contemporary, Male/Male, M/F/M Menage, Crime, Australian Outback, Australian Mystery, Paranormal,Sweet Contemporary, Sweet Western, Non-Fiction and Children's Books. I love to read Westerns - historical and contemporary, Male/Male and Steamy Contemporary. I try to read as many Indie Authors works as possible. The only genre I am not fond of is Sci-Fi but I will read it if requested to do so by another author.
If you had to change anything about your writing career from the past, what would it be and why?
I wouldn't change anything. I have made mistakes and learned from them, they have helped me to grow and become a better author.
What is the farthest you've ever gone to promote a book? What are some tips you have for new indie authors that don't know how to marketing world of books works?
New Zealand. Promotion is difficult but my advice for anyone new is apply to book signings, if accepted these can give your career a kick start or a boost. Readers want someone who will chat with them but also, ask them questions. Show you are interested in them and appreciate their time in visiting your table. I have made many readers because I show them, their time is every bit as important as mine and they are as important as me. In my opinion - and only in my opinion, no-one, not even a million dollar author has the right to look down their nose at a reader or any person for that matter. We are certainly no better than anyone else and this is one of the things I hear the most after I attend signings. Readers will make contact with me after the signings to thank me for being warm and receptive and complain that a number of authors were quite rude and disinterested. I urge new authors to always embrace their readers and remember, they can take you to the top, or leave you wallowing at the bottom of the pile. Don't underestimate their power. I love to speak with them, even if they don't read or buy my type of books - they may sing my praises to someone who does and for this I am always grateful.
You are currently writing an outback Australia Series focused on the Royal Flying Doctor Service. When can we expect the book to release?
Andrew's Outback Love released on 26 June 2018. It is the first book in the Outback Australia Series and is about a team who treat eye problems in the outback. Andrew is an Eye Surgeon at a large hospital in Sydney. He gives up his time to spend one week every month in the outback town of Bourke NSW where he treats mostly the indigenous community. He restores the eyesight of the young, the elderly, and treats problems before they can become permanent in those in-between. Cameron is his Anesthetist and he has a reputation as a playboy, he has an eye for the ladies. He works at the base hospital in Dubbo as does Linda, one of his nurses and his love interest. Ruby is an Aboriginal Nurse with a Doctorate in Nursing. She works with a doctor in Bourke and helps the team when they're in town. She helps to break down the barriers between her people and the Doctors who want only to help. James is a Doctor and Pilot with the Royal Flying Doctor Service as is Finn. They alternate flying the team from Dubbo to one of the remote properties they operate a clinic from. Once done at that property, they move to another and then into town. The RFDS then flies them back to Dubbo. From here, Andrew drives back to Sydney. Ruby's story is second in the series and I have a meeting with local Aborigines in Bourke in late February to discuss customs, rituals and beliefs in the local tribe. Once I have this information, I will write her story and hope to release in June 2019, maybe earlier. Andrew has had an incredible response and I know a lot of readers are anxious for Ruby. Cameron will release in late 2019. James in early 2020 and Finn mid 2020. Sounds good in theory, let's hope it stays on track.
