​D: Susie Black is back Around the Fire today. We have coffee brewing and some wonderful insights into her life, writing, and advice to others. While I pour, Susie, why don't you introduce yourself and let us know the you behind the official bio?
​SUSIE: I am a curious student of human nature who sees each day as a gift, an opportunity, a mystery, an adventure, and a challenge. I strive to find something to laugh about every day. 
​
D: What a great outlook on life. Other than writing, how do you fill your day?
SUSIE: I am a voracious reader. I read all types of mysteries, but favor the same kind of stories I write-cozy mysteries. I am an avid stamp collector, sailor, jazz and oldies Rock N Roll fan, and an enthusiastic walker.

D: I'm a fan of Jazz and Classic Rock too, though I've never sailed, I admire those beautiful boats out on the lake. Who is your network or support system? 
SUSIE: First and foremost, my very patient and supportive husband and son, who tirelessly answer my incessant questions like, “How does this sound?” or “Is this funny or am I the only one who’s going to laugh at the line?” Secondly, a cabal of generous author colleagues whom I call on for their opinion, knowledge, and information. Thirdly, “the Aprils,” my trusty two super readers who read and critique my final manuscripts before I submit them to my editor.
D: I love that, the Aprils. Who or what books or authors are your inspiration?
SUSIE: I have many authors who are my inspiration: Joan Hess, Anne George, Carolyn Haines, Carl Hiaasen, Dave Barry, Nancy J. Cohen, Janet Evanovich, S.V. Date, Donald E. Westlake, and Elmore Leonard are my favorites. Books that inspire me: The Axe by Donald E. Westlake, Maximum Bob by Elmore Leonard.

​
D: Let's talk about your world personally.

• Do you have any fun or outrageous talents?
• SUSIE: I can single-sail an obstacle course without flipping the sailboat over.
• What is your neighborhood like?
• SUSIE: I live in a gated community in Palm Desert, CA., on a golf course with a water hazard inhabited by ducks & geese.
• Are there any places you frequent?
• SUSIE: I walk the gorgeous grounds within our community with a variety of palm trees, and desert flora and fauna in a riot of colors that look like a painting.
• What makes them special?
• SUSIE: I am continuously amazed at what not only grows in this challenging climate, but thrives. 

​Lightening Round

• Does writing energize or exhaust you?
• SUSIE: Both
• What are common traps for aspiring writers?
• SUSIE: Telling, not showing. Overuse of words.
• What is your writing Kryptonite?
• SUSIE: Not listening to my characters.
• Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
• SUSIE: Both. I write a series with continuing characters and locales, but each book can stand on its own.
• If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
• SUSIE: Trust your gut. Don’t be afraid to fail. You can’t please everyone.
• How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
• SUSIE: I have nine published books. Number ten is contracted, with no release date yet, and I have just submitted number eleven to my editor.
• What does literary success look like to you?
• SUSIE: When a reader says, “I stayed up all night reading your book. I could not put it down.”
• What’s the best way to market your books?
• SUSIE: Target your specific audience and reach the largest number of potential readers at one time: Blog and Podcast spots and interviews.
• What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book? Or for example, along with my friend "Google" I’ve visited sites and museums to get a feel for several book scenes
• SUSIE: Since all my books take place in the LA garment district, I go to the California Apparel Mart in downtown LA, visit stores, talk to buyers and sellers.
• What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
• SUSIE: Getting their reactions right to situations and making sure they speak like a man
• How do you select the names of your characters?
• SUSIE: All of my characters are based on real people I knew, so I do a variation or a play on their name. For example, Mr. Newman/ Mr. Oldham; Mr. Turpin/Mr. Tyne; Mr. Arbetman/Mr. Workman(Arbetman in German means workman.)
• If you didn’t write, what would you do for work?
• SUSIE: A stand-up comedienne.
• Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
• SUSIE: I read every review, but I do not respond to them. The good ones I revel in. I try to learn something to improve my writing from the bad ones if they give constructive criticism.
• What was your hardest scene to write?
• SUSIE: The scene where the protagonist realizes who the murderer is.
• What one thing would you give up to become a better writer?
• SUSIE: Chocolate
• What is your favorite childhood book?
• SUSIE: Nancy Drew -Series
• Does your family support your career as a writer?
• SUSIE: Yes, I am so fortunate. 150%
• How long on average does it take you to write a book?
• SUSIE: Three months.
• If they made a movie about your life, what would the title be, and who would play you?
• SUSIE: Rag Lady and Melissa Rauch (Judge on the new TV show Night Court) would play me.
• Do you have a particular object, like a piece of jewelry or a keepsake of some sort? Can you tell us what makes it special to you?
• SUSIE: A bookmark my son made for me in kindergarten for Mother’s Day.
• What is your favorite mug or teacup if neither T-shirt with a graphic or Meme?
• SUSIE: A mug that my wise-guy nana gave me when I started selling ladies’ swimwear. The mug says: “Things Could be Worse: We Could be Trying on Swimsuits”        
• Years ago, there was a commercial that talked about a “Kodak Moment.” It’s a moment in time you catch in a picture. One you never want to forget. What is yours?
• SUSIE: When the Rabbi pronounced Larry and me husband and wife, and he stepped on and broke the wineglass with his shoe, according to Jewish tradition.
• If you could only choose one song to play every time you walked into a room for the rest of your life, what would it be?
• SUSIE: My Way, by Frank Sinatra. 
• If you could eat anything in the world right now, what would it be?
• SUSIE: Stone Crabs
• Worst household chore?
• SUSIE: Cleaning the toilet bowl.
• Would you rather have unlimited international first-class tickets or never have to pay for food at restaurants?
• SUSIE: Unlimited international first-class tickets.
• Did you ever win something? What?
• SUSIE: Yes, a pastrami sandwich at Nellie’s Deli
• Do you play board games? What games do you like?
• SUSIE: Yes. Scrabble, Monopoly, and Clue.
• Who is the most interesting person you’ve met and talked with?
• SUSIE: Best-selling Author Harlen Coben
• What was your first job?
• SUSIE: As a girl, a babysitter. As a young adult, a sales clerk in a department store.
• What’s the most amazing natural occurrence you’ve witnessed?
• SUSIE: An earthquake.
• What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?
• SUSIE: A large flat-screen computer.

Thank you Susie for spending time with us. I know everyone will enjoy your pictures. 

Death by Dreidel 
Holly Swimsuit Mystery Book 6
by 
Susie Black 

Amateur Sleuths/Cozy Mysteries 
 ‎ May 21, 2025

Mermaid Swimwear President Holly Schlivnik attends an industry Hanukkah party to honor Rapido Swimwear CEO Leni Waxman as the Mount Cedars Hospital Woman of the Year. The guest of honor collapses and dies in the middle of the event. An autopsy confirms that Leni expired as a result of poisoning by coming in contact with a purposely contaminated dreidel. There is no shortage of suspects—Leni had no problem destroying anyone who threatened her top-dog swimwear industry position. When Holly’s business partner is wrongly arrested for Leni’s murder, the irreverent sales exec can’t mind her own beeswax. The wise-cracking snoop sticks her nose everywhere it doesn’t belong to flesh out the real killer. But the trail has more twists and turns than a rollercoaster and nothing turns out how Holly thinks it will as she takes on a ruthless killer hellbent on revenge. 
Grab your copy today!
Amazon
Walmart
Target
BooksAMillion
Indie Bound
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Google Books
ITunes

​Welcome back to Around the Fire. This is a place where we can discuss all types of things. Books, yes, but also life. Our “glamping” seasons are Spring and Fall. I’m going out a little early this year by heading to the Saratoga Springs area, more specifically, Corinth, New York. We love Upstate. The Adirondack’s the Catskills. Just like New Jersey, when you mention NY to people unfamiliar with it, they think of the city. But NYS is huge and so historical. One of the places we go is near Corinth, which has no light pollution. One night, we sat out at camp with friends and overhead we could see the Milky Way, satellites, and shooting stars. But even here in Northern NJ, you and still look up and enjoy creation. I love walking out on my deck and seeing the moon and stars. On my phone, I installed an application that scans the sky and tells you what’s what. The heavens make me feel very small.
This visit, we’ll be parking at a more amenities-based campground. My husband, Pete, is volunteering to help replace a roof at a nearby girls’ summer Christian camp. I usually join them, but this old gal is not getting on any roof, so Hali and I will be enjoying camp life, and I’m looking forward to some pool time. I’ll be making a couple of trays of food ahead of time for the workers so I won’t feel guilty for not contributing.
In November, we head to one of our favorite places, Lancaster, PA. My daughter-in-law bought us tickets to see Noah at the Sight and Sound Theater.

After this trip, I have a busy fall with several appearances scheduled and a few more possibilities. I’ll be in Branchville, Hackettstown, Hoboken, Ledgewood, and Newton. I need to order more books. I no longer do the huge author/reader events. As someone who is hearing impaired, the noise becomes almost unbearable. Hitting the road and meeting new people in a more intimate setting is fantastic. You never know where a conversation will go.​

Until next time, have a great day, and don’t forget to look up at the sky. ​

Welcome to Around the Fire—New Release Spotlight!  I'm thrilled to have you here and introduce you to Ghosted by Lori Matsourani. This paranormal second-chance love story is set to release on August 13th, and trust me the early reviews are outstanding.
One of my favorite camping trips was to the Chesapeake Bay where seafood is always on the menu. I made a boil with all sorts of tasty treats and poured it out on rolled brown paper on the picnic table. Lori's not only shares the inspiration that brought her first novel to life, but also a delicious recipe straight from Annapolis, Maryland.
​So grab a cozy seat and settle in. There’s a story, a spark, and maybe even something savory waiting for you.

Ghosted
by
Lori Matsourani
Available 8-13-2025

Paranormal Ghost Romance/Second Chance Romance
​PG

​A haunted inn, a first crush, and a second chance for love with “help” from the resident ghost…

​Back Cover
When her fiancé’s infidelity prompts Bethany Hendren to map out a new path forward, her plans are disrupted by an unexpected encounter with Nick Dorsey, who convinces her to help search for the remains of a troubled eighteenth-century ghost. Nick is the handsome summer boyfriend who ghosted her years ago, and now he wants to rekindle their relationship.
Despite her reluctance to trust him, Bethany discovers he’s still the funny, caring person who captured her heart as a teen, but giving him a second chance is risky—it could lead to love and happiness or result in another devastating heartache.
Although Bethany wants a happily ever after with Nick, does she have the courage to trust him with her future?
Grab your copy today!
https://books2read.com/lorimatsourani
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F9XCPLYD/thewildrosepr-20
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ghosted-lori-matsourani/1147463084?ean=2940184606941
https://books.apple.com/us/book/ghosted/id6746414091
https://wildrosepress.com/product/ghosted/
Goodreads Giveaway (Runs from August 1 to August 30):
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/418301-ghosted

 Need more? A Look Between the Pages
As Mrs. Snowden spoke, a tall, dark-haired man entered the foyer. He wore jeans and a soft blue crewneck sweater that accentuated his lanky, yet solid, build. As soon as he saw Bethany, his face lit up.
“Bethany!”
He walked toward her as though they were long-lost friends, and she half expected him to pull her into an embrace. Then she recognized the dark chocolate eyes behind the black-framed glasses and her stomach lurched.
Nick Dorsey. He’s Mrs. Snowden’s nephew?
“Aunt Margaret told me you were checking in today.”
Stunned, Bethany stepped backward, bumping into the edge of the desk as her heart thudded. A white-hot flush scorched every inch of her skin as she stared at Nick. Of all the people she could run into, it had to be the first guy to break her heart? And why did he have to be so handsome, with that bit of hair curling over his forehead and late-day stubble?
She inhaled deeply to rein in her composure, hating her can’t-catch-your-breath reaction to him, then dipped her chin in a neutral acknowledgment.
“Hello, Nick.”
His smile morphed into a full-on, lopsided grin. “It’s been ages since I’ve seen you. Ten years, I bet. Not since the summer Zach and I got our drivers’ licenses.”
Mrs. Snowden laid her hand on Nick’s shoulder. “Bethany is staying in the Howard Room. Can you help her with her bag?” Then, turning to Bethany, she said, “Come back down when you’re ready and I’ll give you a tour of the house.”
As Bethany followed Nick to the second floor, the pain, questions, and self-doubts she’d buried years ago reemerged, seeping into her belly like liquid concrete. The last thing she needed was Nick Dorsey invading her healing zone. It had taken her months to get over the summer romance they’d shared—and he’d abruptly ended—when they were teens. And even longer before she could bring herself to date again.
And now he was in her safe space.

From Lori about inspiration and BONUS! A recipe!
Thank you for the opportunity to appear on your blog, Around the Fire. 
I grew up near Annapolis, Maryland, although I live in Texas now, and I’m a coastal person at heart (Maryland has 3,910 miles of tidal coastline as calculated by NOAA). A big part of summer for me was crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to get to the Eastern Shore, where the vibe is pure sun-and-sea coastal, with the tang of salty air, the squawk of sea birds gliding overhead, and corn fields on either side of the highway.
​ 
Ocean City on the Atlantic coast was my go-to Maryland beach town as a kid, a teen, and a parent. When stress threatens to take over my mind, I stop and remember Maryland’s Eastern Shore and the beach—the clear sky and endless horizon; the feel of the icy water on my toes; the scent of sunscreen mingled with boardwalk French fries; and the background drone of the waves (along with the rumble of vintage prop planes towing ad banners along the shoreline) that accompanied the blare of a dozen different radio stations (Use headphones? No way!) emanating from an endless patchwork of blankets strewn across the sand.
 
It’s this Maryland coastal feeling that permeates me as well as my characters and inspires my writing (my second book is set in the same fictional Maryland Eastern Shore town).
 
And yes, I’m a crab lover: steamed crabs, crab cakes, crab soup, hot crab dip, crab imperial, crab-stuffed anything, etc. And since everyone loves, or should love, Maryland crabs , I’m sharing the recipe for steamed crabs used by my character, Nick, who is a true Marylander!
 
Steamed Maryland Blue Crabs
Water
Vinegar
1 dozen live crabs
½ cup OLD BAY seasoning
 
In a pot with a raised rack (minimum of 2 inches high) add equal quantities of vinegar and water to just below the level of the rack. Bring to boil. Carefully layer live crabs on rack (any dead crabs should be discarded), and sprinkle each layer with OLD BAY. Cover and steam 20 to 30 minutes depending on size of crabs or until crabs turn red.

Welcome back to Around the Fire. It's been a lovely week in Northern New Jersey. Warm days and cool nights make me very happy. I even went to the NJ State Fair for the first time in years. The first stop was the goat barn, where goaties bleated in all sizes and colors. Goats are one of my favorite animals. When I lived on the farm, my goat was named Abigail. Next up were the chickens. The roosters kept up a chorus the entire time. What an amazing array of breeds. Who knew? The cow barn. As I mentioned above, I lived on a farm. I was a working dairy back in the mid to late 70s. Yes, I'm that old. Let me tell you. These cows are not the ones I remembered. They were huge! Some I couldn't see over their backs. There was one, though. She decided my shirt looked better than her hay. We had a tug-of-war. I did win, but barely because I was laughing so hard. When I finally got it back without a complete wardrobe malfunction, bossy decided I tasted good too. She licked my hand while onlookers laughed. They didn't think it was so funny when I offered to shake hands with several. Good thing there were wash stations readily available. Well, the fun's not over yet. Today's guest is Susie Black. She visited a while ago, but now has a new mystery series. Susie's style is mystery with a dose of humor on the side. 

The Case of the Croaked Coach 
Hannah White Mysteries Book 1
by 
Susie Black

Amateur Women Slueths 

The Case of the Croaked Coach Blurb 

Back Cover
There wasn’t an honest bone in Buzz Bixby’s body. The Encino High School’s head football coach was an equal-opportunity scoundrel. Bixby cheated and lied his way to the top and screwed anyone and everyone in his wake. So, the question wasn’t who wanted the bastard dead. The question was, who didn’t? Student reporter Hannah White’s interview with the coach is a nonstarter when she discovers varsity football hero Dean Snyder standing over Bixby’s battered corpse holding a bloody trophy. Despite how guilty Dean looks, Hannah is convinced he’s innocent. When Snyder is arrested for Bixby’s murder, the wisecracking, irreverent amateur sleuth jumps into action to flesh out the real killer. But the trail has more twists and turns than a slinky, and nothing turns out how Hannah thinks it will as she tangles with a clever killer hellbent on revenge.
Grab your copy today!
www.amazon.com/Croaked-Coach-Hannah-White-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B0DXDDK3MJ

Named Best US Author of the Year by N. N. Lights Book Heaven, award-winning cozy mystery author Susie Black was born in the Big Apple but now calls sunny Southern California home. Like the protagonist in her Fashion & Foul Play Mystery Series, Susie is a successful apparel sales executive. Susie began telling stories as soon as she learned to talk. Now she’s telling all the stories from her garment industry experiences in humorous mysteries.  She reads, writes, and speaks Spanish, albeit with an accent that sounds like Mildred from Michigan went on a Mexican vacation and is trying to fit in with the locals. Since life without pizza and ice cream as her core food groups wouldn’t be worth living, she’s a dedicated walker to keep her girlish figure. A voracious reader, she’s also an avid stamp collector. Susie lives with a highly intelligent man and has one incredibly brainy but smart-aleck adult son who inexplicably blames his sarcasm on an inherited genetic defect. 
For more about the author click the links below.

Blue Sky: @hollysusiewrites.bsky.social
Facebook: Susie Black, author of The Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series | Facebook
Facebook: https://facebook.com/TheHollySwimsuitMysterySeries
Instagram: Susie Black (@hollyswimsuit) • Instagram photos and videos
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/authorsusieblack-61941011
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hollysusie1/
X: Susie Black (@hollyswimsuit) / X​

When I first began my writing journey one of the first people I met was today's guest. We both had the same publisher, The Wild Rose Press. Since then both of us have continued writing. I've enjoyed several of Ambers stories, especially the Arresting Onyx series. She also became a lifeline to me helping tighten up my books and making sure they were the best they could be. Welcome back Amber. I'm pleased to have you Around the Fire once again. 

Note from D.V. this is not your Hallmark type of book. It's gritty. And if that's not your cup of tea, then reading further is on you.
From the author. Genre: Dark Romance~ Heat Rating: 5 Flames. – Scenes featuring forced seduction, drug distribution, torture/violence, kidnapping/captivity, and attempted sexual assault may be uncomfortable for some readers.

​Impersonation Scams.
Welcome back to my don’t get burned by the too good to be true scammers. You may already know we are a hound family and Becky the Beagle is with us today, impersonating a Basset Hound. Take a look at her. She’s got the floppy ears and the color, but the second she opened her mouth, you knew that was not Basset ahh-roo. It was more of an annoying yodel.  And here we are impersonating pirates. Don't you love the patch? It gives her a certain je ne sais quoi, don't you think?

​Recently, a person followed me on social media. I was excited. It was a well-known author whose books I’ve read. It started simply enough. She followed me. I, in turn, followed her. I received an instant message thanking me.
1st Red Flag – the infamous IM.
I then looked closely at the profile. Still, it seemed pretty legit. I didn’t respond, though. I rarely answer IMs unless they are from people I genuinely have a connection with. A short while later, this famous author, who I’m sure has so much time on her hands to chat with little ole moi, reached back out, and then came the
2nd Red Flag- “I’d love to talk about your writing journey.”
A friend from long ago once told me I was a Lollypop Face. What in the world did that mean? It meant I was a sucker.
What Is an Imposter Scam? This is according to https://consumer.ftc.gov/features/how-avoid-imposter-scams#imposter-.
An imposter scam is when a scammer lies and pretends to be someone they’re not to trick you into giving them money, access to your financial accounts, or your personal information. Scammers often pretend to be from a business you know or from a government agency — or both. They try to gain your trust and get you to believe they are who they claim to be.
Sometimes it’s really easy to spot these losers. I can’t tell you how many celebrities, both dead and alive, follow me. Can we add the princes, generals, and the occasional king of whatever? Those ones are relatively easy to identify. But why would the author impersonator want to chat me up?
Because they eventually will refer you to some service that promises you the moon. Things like

1. Getting you in front of thousands of readers.
2. Guaranteed marketing to sell hundreds of books.
3. Make you a bestselling author.
4. They know an agent who’s the best and only charges a small fee.

So my canine cohorts recommend

1. Be skeptical, don’t be a lollypop face.
2. Dig up the dirt. Check websites.
3. Don’t give out any information about your private self.
4. And finally, sorry, but be humble. Why would a famous person be reaching out to you? I’m not saying it’s impossible, but it’s improbable in most cases.

There are many sites dedicated to scammers of all sorts. Here are two I am aware of. 
www.sfwa.org/other-resources/for-authors/writer-beware/
www.facebook.com/prededitors/  (This used to be a website called preditors and editors. They look like they're revamping the site.)
Look, even Hali is skeptical.