A Wild West Peek at Romance Author Susan Payne

Who - History, especially the 1800s of western United States, has always held a draw for me.  Regency England with their women encircled by social restrictions juxtaposed with the American west where woman had to be as strong and independent as a man to survive. These are the women I write about.
Since my first published work in December 2019, I have completed the Sweetwater Series and gone on to several novels both in historical western romance and Regency romance. So far, I am enjoying the writing enormously. My recent book, #15, In From the Cold will be released on September 13, 2021.
Interests vary widely but tend to be more sedate rather than sports or activities.  I have loved learning new things which often takes me on hour-long reading sessions on the internet.  One thing leading me to another such as the Russian foods I learned about. I used them in several novels afterwards including the special wedding bread ceremony.  I collect recipe books and old recipe cards so that fits in with another hobby.  I often use mealtimes and women talking in the kitchen preparing meals when telling my stories.
Network - Two of my daughters have been my supporters and Beta readers since I began.  They read for the entertainment value and characterizations. Pick out any inconsistencies or question a motive. I am a student of people and often can hear multiple conversations if I’m in a crowd. I have always ‘people watched’ and studied psychology. Especially how the mind grows and matures.  The differences between male and females in brain usage.
I had the same song going through my mind for years.  I later heard things like that referred to as a ‘ear worm’.  It was I Did It My Way by Frank Sinatra.  Not that I loved the lyrics or the music – it simply never left me. Regrets, I have a few but then again too few to mention…
Desk -  As far as research for my writing – I may or may not do anything. As I wrote previously, I love to get new information of anything that catches my attention. Sometimes I use it right then, but most often I store it away and it pops up when a storyline needs it to. I’m a pantser which means my stories are written as they ‘come’ to me.  My characters, many times as a couple, introduce themselves and tell me their story.  I write down as much as I can as quickly as I can – like a stenographer on steroids. Where we are, how they are dressed, their manners and demeanors. Many times something I’ve read about becomes part of the story.  I do need to check on historical accuracies as far as laws of the times and things like that since I most often write historical romances. I love the internet for that.
Outrageous talent - I can roll my tongue and bend it backwards to stroke my tonsils…interesting party game.  I can also take-off my bra without removing my top, but at my age it isn’t very exciting any more. LOL.
What I like and love - I always have room for a hot fudge sundae. Yummm. Now I want one and I don’t have the fixings.  I purposely don’t keep the topping on hand due to this type of thing.
As a child, I loved playing all sorts of card games. I met some kids who came up to the lake where I grew-up and taught me Canasta.  I couldn’t get enough – we would play from dawn to dusk. I’d get my housework done (we all had chores) and go to their screened-in back porch.  Now I play Hand and Foot – 7 decks of cards and similar game skills needed - with my daughter and her husband.  We play for hours several days in a row when we can get together.  
Some Character insights - The names for my characters are of their own choosing.  I don’t mind having a name re-used.  After all there were six other Susans in my graduating class of 100 total. Some chose Sue or Susie – I stuck with the name on my birth certificate. I pretty much allow my characters to do the same.
The most difficult scene I ever wrote was when the heroine died. Granted she was in her late 80s maybe even 90s; but I found it difficult to say goodbye.  Even now I am tearing -up over her demise.  She had her HEA and loving husband for years (he died a year before her and she missed him); but it is always difficult to know they are gone.  I much prefer to leave them as they are just learning about life and how it will play-out for them.

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A Peek Inside
In From the Cold
by
​Susan Payne
Steamy but not erotic.
Matthew left his family ranch to make it on his own. Alaska seemed far enough away from his brother’s wife to heal his broken heart.

A Peek at what others are saying
From Wild Women Reviews: In From the Cold  9/13/21     
Recently, we had the privilege to meet Luke Foster from Susan Payne’s An Unexpected Wife. Luke, a hard-working Nebraska rancher with a slew of younger brothers to ride herd on, rescues the town librarian Lorelei from desperate straits and thereby forges a deep and everlasting future for himself, the woman he comes to love, and starting a new branch of the Foster family tree.
One of those ‘branches’ was Luke’s younger brother Matthew who, after one look at Lorelei, knew he needed to make a life for himself—and that Nebraska was not the place to do it. Hence, we found Matthew traveling to Alaska in the historical romance, In From the Cold, written by Susan Payne, and released by the Wild Rose Press.  
https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Susan-Payne/dp/1509237488
https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Susan-Payne-ebook/dp/B0994P5D88

A Peek Further
http://www.authorsusanpayne.com 
https://www.amazon.com/Susan-Payne/e/B001JXROQK http://twitter.com/susanreid460  

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