Around the Fire In-depth Interview with Susie Black.

Welcome to Around the Fire. I’m so glad you could join me today. Before we get started, I want to tell you about a unique opportunity I have coming up. Whitespace Art and Event Gallery in Hackettstown, NJ, is hosting a book signing on November 18th. Members of NJRW will be on hand amidst the beautiful art displays, helping you get a head start on your holiday shopping. If you’re in the area, check out https://www.facebook.com/whitespaceartevent/
I’m so happy for you to meet today’s guest. We did a book spotlight on her a few weeks ago, but now you get a chance to meet the lovely award-winning author, Susie Black. Hey, Girl, come on and hunker down by the fire while I grab some nectar of the gods, otherwise known as coffee. And while I do, please introduce yourself to our other guests.
I am a curious, nosy, funny, irreverent, compassionate, driven woman who succeeded in a traditionally male-dominated industry and broke every glass ceiling I faced.
 
I can attest to much of that, and the sound of shattering glass is music to my ears. What interests besides writing do you enjoy? For instance, what do you read or hobbies you have?
I am an avid stamp collector, voracious reader, sailor, and dedicated walker-3 miles a day.
 
Ahoy there! So, a philatelist. Hah, I looked that up. I knew there had to be a unique name for it. As you know, Pete is my rock as far as a support system. Who is your network or support system?
First and foremost, my family. My husband and son are both helpful, especially in making sure my depictions of male characters are accurate. Then I have a group of author colleagues and super readers who I bounce ideas off of. 
 
An author gets inspiration from many different places, ideas, and characters, often in other books and authors, which is why we also read so much. Who or what books or authors are your inspiration?
I have a ton. Joan Hess, Nancy J. Cohen, Elmore Leonard, and Janet Evanovich are just a few.
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Do you have any fun or outrageous talent?
I can single-sail a sailboat.
 
We watched the movie True Spirit, about a teenage girl who sailed alone around the world. Rather scary. I love our home area. Even though it’s in New Jersey, we’re still quite rural. What is your neighborhood like? Are there any places you frequent? What makes them special? 
I live in a gated community in the California desert. We live on a golf course, and I enjoy watching the duffers make fools of themselves. Great entertainment that has given me some wonderfully funny one-liners that have shown up in my books.

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?
Yes. Several. A ring and earrings from my Nana she made for my sister and me. My grandfather’s ruby and diamond pinky ring. My wedding band. And a pin my son made in school when he was 6. 

What is your favorite mug or teacup?
A mug my wise guy Nana gave me when I got into the swimwear biz that says “Things could be worse. We could be trying on swimsuits.”

What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?
A large-screen computer

What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book? 
All my stories are based on the daily journal entries I kept during my apparel sales career. If I need additional research, I go to the California Apparel Mart and speak to sales reps or buyers.

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
I read them all. I revel in the good ones and try to learn something from the bad ones…but I never responded to any of them.

What does literary success look like to you?
When a reader says I stayed up all night to read your book because I couldn’t go to sleep without knowing how it ends.
Susie, I know how busy you must be with Rag Lady only a week away from release, but could you leave us a bit about where to find out about the book and more about you?

Rag Lady A Holly Swimsuit Novel
by
​Susie Black
Release Date November 15, 2023
Contemporary Women's Fiction
Recent college graduate Holly Schlivnik dreams of being a writer, but fate has other plans. A family crisis throws her into an improbable situation and her life will never be the same. Determined to make her own luck when things don’t happen the way she plans, the irrepressible young woman takes a sledge hammer to the glass ceiling and shatters it to smithereens. The wise-cracking, irreverent transplanted Californian takes you on a raucous, rollicking rollercoaster ride of her hysterical adventures as a ladies apparel sales rep traveling in the deep South as she ends up finding herself along the way. 
https://www.amazon.com/Rag-Lady-Holly-Swimsuit-Book-ebook/dp/B0CHG62W5V​
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rag-lady-susie-black/1144031749

Goodreads reviews  www.goodreads.com/book/show/198973127-rag-lady#CommunityReviews
Susie Black’s hilarious Rag Lady, is book #1 of the Holly Swimsuit Series. It depicts the trials and triumphs of a very competitive business. The author keeps you on the edge with details so vivid you’ll swear you’re standing right in the middle of an actual trade show. Her attention to specifics, are second-to-none. The reader will be laughing out loud one minute, then taking a sober look at society the next.
The entire series is binge-worthy, and Rag Lady is no exception.
Highly recommended.

And you can follow the author here.
authorsusieblack.com/
https://www.bookbub.com/search?search=Susie+Black
https://facebook.com/TheHollySwimsuitMysterySeries
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57877534-death-by-sample-size
Susie Black (@hollyswimsuit) • Instagram photos and videos
https://www.linkedin.com/in/authorsusieblack-61941011
https://www.pinterest.com/hollysusie1_saved/
http://twitter.com/@hollyswimsuit