Tell us about you and your books
How did you
do in English as a kid?
Not too
well. I was completely confused over participles, modifiers, gerundives,
clauses and subordinates. And
‘qualifying’ verbs? What does that even mean? I hated it.
When did you
decide to become an author?
When I
was sixteen, out of nowhere, I had a desire to write a soap opera set in an
all-girls’ school (guess who was at an all-girls’ school at the time?).
Whenever anyone asked what I wanted to do when I left school, I’d say,
“author”. They always replied, “Good luck with that.”
Do you have
set times during the day that you write?
No, I
freelance so the work comes first. I squish my writing into the spaces that
free up between projects.
What tips
would you give a new writer?
Enjoy the
journey because it’s all journey. There’s no destination, it’s all one long
winding road with peaks and valleys. If you kick back and relax, you’ll enjoy
the rolling along but if you’re looking for an end point, you’ll be
disappointed.
Are your
books or characters based anyone you know, or events in your own life?
Always to
both. The only emotional reference point we have is our own experience.
Characters end up amalgams of people I’ve met or watched on screen, rather than
one particular person. As for ideas or themes, as a writer you’re always
writing through your own ‘stuff’ in some way or other. It’s impossible not to
because you’re going to be attracted to themes that speak to your own emotional
wounds.
and for a little fun
What's the
most blatant lie you've ever told?
“I have
no idea what happened.” When I know exactly what happened and why. This lie might get used a
lot more than it should.
What did you
want to be when you grew up?
When I
was a kid, an air hostess. The uniform, the hair, the make-up! So glamorous.
Now I know better.
Do you ever
wish that you had an entirely uncreative job, like data entry or working in a
factory?
Yes. I
worked in a nursery, keeping inventory, taking plant orders, and generally
wandering around through the rose bushes. I loved it. I was outdoors under the
hot sun learning about plants, and getting paid for it (not a lot, admittedly).
When I went home, work didn’t follow me – no email to check or meetings to
schedule.
Do you ever
go around in a corset, high heels, and a whip to get you in the mood to write
something naughty?
Absolutely,
all the time! Sometimes it really unsettles the rest of the customers at
Starbucks.
And where can we find out more
Website: www.suzannejefferies.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SuzanneJefferiesAuthor
Twitter:@suzannjefferies
Sign up for Suzanne's newsletter at http://bit.ly/2PE7zhw
And download Heard today on Amazon https://amzn.to/34rutxa
and other online retailers
You do realize you are now going to have a LOT of gentlemen searching for your Starbucks location? Enjoyed the interview!
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