ANNOUNCEMENT: The Winner of Suzanne's giveaway is Jemi Fraser. Congratulations, Jemi.
Meet author Suzanne Ross Jones, who is visiting us all the way from Scotland today.
Suzanne's Web Links:
Blog/Website Facebook Twitter Amazon Goodreads
Suzanne, you write both romance novels and short stories. Do you explore various themes in your short stories or are they romance stories too?Some are romances, others are family orientated stories and some have twist endings (although I write fewer of those these days). I also like writing ghost stories, but these are less popular with magazines, so I don’t write many of those. The stories in this collection were all published in The People’s Friend and so are feel-good stories suitable for a family audience.
I notice that you write romance specifically as Suzanna Ross and your short stories are published as Suzanne Ross Jones. Do you feel the need to keep the short stories and the romance novels separate? A much respected editor offered advice and suggested I use both these names to differentiate the (slightly) warmer stories from the cosy and more traditional ones.
This is your first short story anthology and you recently had your first romance novel published. Do you intend to continue writing short stories in the foreseeable future or will you concentrate on romance fiction now? I love writing short stories and don’t think I could stop writing them if I tried. Even if they were never published. Even if editors wrote to me personally to tell me to stop. But writing longer fiction is time-consuming and I’ve had less time to devote to short story writing in the recent past. So I will write both in future, only maybe not quite as many of either as I’d like.
Can we look forward to another short story anthology of yours in the future? I haven’t ruled it out. It did take me a long time to pluck up the courage to publish this first collection. The actual self-publishing process was much easier than I’d thought it would be, but the editing and proof reading took a long time and I was eager to make sure it was as perfect as I could make it. Luckily I had help: My editor at The People’s Friend gave me permission to use their edits, so the stories are as they appeared in the magazine. And I’m lucky enough to know some very sharp proof-readers and they kindly volunteered to help.
I know that you have a job as well as being a writer. Is your job writing related in any way? Oooh, a writing related job – wouldn’t that be good? Sadly, my day job isn’t at all creative. I run my own small business where I assist other small businesses and charities and I also have a part-time employed post.
Does your job ever help you find inspiration for your stories? I’m a bit wary of using real people in my stories in case they read them and recognise themselves. However, I have used a couple of people who upset me in the past – and I’ve had a great time making horrible things happen to them. It’s terrific therapy. And I no longer need to get angry, I just store the incidents up and use them in my fiction.
I know you're doing the 100k in 100 days writing challenge on Facebook. How are you doing? Okay (said she tentatively). It’s still early days, obviously, but I hope I’ll keep up for a good while yet. Last year I slowed down considerably once I went back to the day job after the holidays and I didn’t manage the 100k words in the time allowed. But I still managed to write many, many more words than I would have written otherwise. I hope I’ll write even more this year.
Can you tell us a little about your recent romance novel, TRUST IN ME and your upcoming romance novel release HIDDEN HEARTACHE which will be out soon under your name Suzanna Ross? TRUST IN ME is about Rosie, who's battled for years to keep her family’s manor and estate running – only to find her older brother has sold the place to an annoyingly handsome man. When she refuses to move out, he moves in. And that’s when the fun begins. HIDDEN HEARTACHE is both a medical romance and a reunion story. Nick comes back to town to claim the girl he left behind, but Emma’s keeping her distance. He's sure she’s hiding something – and he’s determined to uncover the secret that’s changed her from the happy girl he remembers.
Thank you so much for inviting me to visit your blog today – and for the terrific questions.
THE BABY OF THE FAMILY AND OTHER STORIES
A collection of short stories by Suzanne Ross Jones, about life, love and other things.
Get your copy at: Amazon Amazon UK
Fantastic post ladies really well done!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Desere. x
DeleteHi Desere, thanks for your kind words.
DeleteLoved the post, Suzzane and Maria!
DeleteI really like to read, even this interview is so nice...
ReplyDeleteGreat to see you here today. Thank you for dropping by. x
DeleteYes and thanks for stopping by from me too....
DeleteThanks for stopping by.
DeleteHi from NZ Suzanne, it must be cold over there at this time of year. I loved your answer for the inspiration question... maybe I need to take up writing (to myself, I could never write what I read), I think I would find it quite therapeutic ensuring some characters accidentally got run over hahahah. All the best for your collection o f short stories.
ReplyDeleteHi Tash
DeleteIt is a bit chilly (though not as cold as it could be) - and also very dark and miserable :0(
You should give writing a go :0)
Thank you for visiting today. x
Tash, I used to do that too. I wrote an article once on mean guys who ask you out for coffee and make you pay for your own. I submitted it and to my surprise, it was accepted. I made 100 Irish pounds and it made a much better revenge for the eighty pence I'd been forced to fork out for the coffee. Yes, writing is therapeutic all right....
DeleteThat's really funny, Maria - and a great way to get your own back :0)
DeleteI thought so too Suzanne. That was back in the day when you could make some nice money from writing.
DeleteGreat interview you two.
ReplyDeleteLove the "getting revenge" bits!
I'm looking forward to reading 'Hidden Heartache', Suzanna and all your others stories whatver name you use!
xxPat
Hello Pat, thanks for coming over. I'm delighted to see you here...
DeleteHi Pat, lovely to see you. I have got a couple of other names I sometimes use, too - some days I don't even know who I am :0)
DeleteWow- she is one busy woman! I enjoyed reading about the differences in writing the short stories and the books. I would like to know what is Suzanne's favorite type of thing to write since she is so diverse in her talents?
ReplyDeleteHi Shelly
DeleteThank you for dropping by and for your question. I actually just like writing and love both short stories and longer fiction equally. In fact, it doesn't always need to be fiction - as those on the receiving end of some of my rambling emails will tell you :0)
Hi Shelly, you're very welcome. Thanks for coming over.
DeleteBrilliant interview girls. Inspiring and, as usual, lots of lovely humour. Lots and lots of luck with all your endeavours Suzanne. :o) xx
ReplyDeleteHi Sue
DeleteThanks for dropping by and for your comment. xx
Great to see you, Sue. Thanks for coming.
DeleteI really enjoyed the interview. I'm always inspired by writers with a day job and yet they find time to write novels. It must take a lot of discipline. All the best with the novels Suzanne.
ReplyDeleteHi there, Wes - so lovely to see you :0)
DeleteWriting is something I enjoy so that does make it easier.
Hope your writing is going well. xx
Good to see you here, Wes. Thanks for dropping in....
Deletegreat interview! lovely getting to know Suzanne. I'm always amazed at authors who write both short stories and novels at the same time :)
ReplyDeleteNutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
Hello Nutschell, you're very welcome.
DeleteHello, Nutschell - lovely to meet you. :0)
ReplyDeleteHi Suzanne. Great interview. I downloaded The Baby of the Family last night. Looking forward to reading it! Best of luck with your writing - not that you need it! Caroline x
ReplyDeleteHi Caroline, great to see you...
DeleteAw thank you, Caroline. xx
ReplyDeleteLovely interview!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and Nas! :)
Great to see you here, Liz. Happy New Year. :0)
DeleteHello Liz, thanks for stopping by.
DeleteGreat to meet you, Suzanne, and learn more about you. Good luck on all your books.
ReplyDeleteHi, Nas!
Thank you so much, Carol. It's lovely to meet you :0)
DeleteHi Carol,
ReplyDeleteNice to see you. Thank you for stopping by....
It's hard not to write about those certain peeps that make annoy us, and I agree it's an amazing outlet for frustration!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThank you for visiting and for your comment.
DeleteI do wonder just how many fictional characters started out as real people who annoyed the writer :0)
Hi Pk Hrezo,
DeleteNice to see you over here.
Nice to meet you Suzanne!
ReplyDeleteWelcome Lydia, thanks for stopping by.
DeleteHi Lydia, lovely to meet you, too :0)
ReplyDeleteI admire anyone who writes short stories. They're so tricky and difficult to do well. Great to meet you :)
ReplyDeleteHello, Shelley. Nice to see you; thank you for stopping by....
DeleteLovely to see you here, Shelley. Thank you for your comment. :0)
DeleteLove the sounds of the stories - especially the premise in Trust in Me! Lots of fun!! Good luck with all your releases :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Jemi. And thanks for dropping by :0)
DeleteI agree writing is a great place to vent those frustrations from everyday life - in a "harmless" way! Great interview.
ReplyDeleteIt can be tough to balance writing short stories with longer ones. I tend to focus on one or the other, and I want to write a novel I'm happy with so I haven't written many shorts lately. I'm hoping to mix things up more this year.
Hi Nick - thank you for dropping by.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to mix the two I agree. I find there are separate mindsets for novels and short stories and hopping between the two isn't always productive. I've also written fewer shorts since working on longer stories.
Lots of luck with your novel. And with your future short stories.
:0)
I loved 'Trust in Me'and can't wait to read 'Hidden Heartache'. Great interview, ladies.
ReplyDeleteGood to see you here Romy. Thanks for stopping by....
DeleteAw, thank you, Romy :0) xx
DeleteCongrats! Love that you write short stories too! Great interview. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Cherie, thanks for coming by. Nice to see you again.
DeleteThanks Cherie. And thank you for stopping by. :0)
DeleteI love the idea of getting revenge on someone by writing them into a story and doing terrible things to them. lol
ReplyDeleteHi Stina - it's great fun. :0)
DeleteReading and writing short stories is a great way to take a break from novel writing. I don't think I could stop as well ;)
ReplyDeleteVery true, Lynda - a change is as good as a rest :0)
Delete