Susan Landers Interview Published on: 20, Feb 2023
Where were you born, and what was your childhood like?
I was born in Baton Rouge, LA and grew up in South Carolina. I had a typical 1950’s childhood, playing outside in the woods, riding bikes, enjoying living in a neighborhood filled with children. My father was an authoritative mean person and my mother a passive, sweet school teacher. I had three siblings and fought quite a lot with my younger sister.
What school did you attend as a child and how do you think your time in elementary and high school helped shape you and your career?I attended public schools all throughout my childhood. I have always had a love of learning and excelled at science and math.
Who is the most supportive person in your life when it comes to your writing?My best friends supported my writing. Since I wrote my memoir after I retired, my husband was not supportive. He considered that my writing “took me away” many hours of the day. We have been married for thirty-nine years and both retired for six.
Who is a neonatologist? Why did you choose this career path?A neonatologist is a pediatrician with specialty training in intensive care. I cared for thousands of critically ill full term and premature babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).. Intensive care medicine is exciting and very rewarding, and I liked working with new parents.
What does your creative process of designing a social media post look like?I hate social media. It has consumed too much of my time since I wrote my book. I am not creative in that way at all.
Your book, "So Many Babies" was much loved and appreciated by the readers. Why do you think so many people resonated with the book?People who know me loved and appreciated my book. NICU nurses loved the book because it was an honest portrayal of the stress and strain of life in the NICU, emergencies, severe birth defects, terrified parents, death and dying. My book has not sold well and has not been appreciated by a broad audience.
How much did you research while writing your book, So Many Babies?I contacted all the parents of the patients whose stories I conveyed in the book to ask their permission. Otherwise, there was not research necessary to write my book. I told true stories from my memory.
What is your ideal setting to write in?I prefer quite time at my desk in the morning after I have exercised (to get my energy flowing.) Writing is very much unlike my signature strengths of medically caring for patients and their parents. That is mostly doing and talking and listening.
What is your writing kryptonite? Inversely, what is something that never fails to inspire you?My writing kryptonite is social media postings. My life as a grandmother and observing my older daughter being a mother has been inspiring to me.
What do you think is more helpful to a writer: Good reviews due to their encouragement or bad reviews due to the (sometimes) constructive criticism?Since I consider myself to be more a physician and less a writer, I prefer the encouragement that comes from good reviews. I am still a novice writer.
Do you write to escape or to focus more? Can an author ever have "vacation" weeks or months where they don't write or is it something you just always want to do?I write to focus more and go deeper into motherhood issues. I write to support other working mothers who are struggling to balance their work-life and family-life responsibilities.
Do you maintain a planner for scheduling your social media posts?I tried to do that in the beginning, but found it too frustrating. I really hate social media.
Why do you think a lot of very beautiful stories never get to see the spotlight?There is too much information out there that is pure junk, so that people really miss seeing or reading the really great stories.
Which is the next book you are working on?I want to write a book about “the other side of mental illness,” that is what is feels like to be the parent or partner or sibling of a person with mental illness. Those positions place one alongside the disease, feeling the effects of the mental illness, but being nearly unable to help your loved one. That inability to help, or helping too much is a human struggle that needs examination and explanation. The pain associated with it is intense.
When did you sign up as a member of AllAuthor? What sort of impression has the website left on you?My editor advised me to join AllAuthor. I am sorry to admit that I have not used the website very much. I do love the book cover mock-ups. They are quite wonderful!
