Kristabel Reed: #Interview with @SusieCWarren for Ruthless Perfection

Susie Warren writes contemporary romance. Besides being an avid reader, she spends much of her free time crafting intense and complex stories about falling in love. When she is not writing, Susie works as an administrator in a small, independent school while caring for three teenagers and keeping tabs on her inventor husband. With the launching of her first book, The Forgotten Heiress, she has slowly begun to navigate the social media realm.

Susie loves to hear from readers and responds to each email and Facebook post. Please reach out to her via Facebook or Twitter.

For more information on her upcoming releases, new excerpts and other related postings, or to sign up for free promotions, please visit www.susiewarren.com

What is your story's heat level? How do you approach the sex scenes?

I think it is somewhere in the middle between a sweet romance and an erotic romance. It is reflective of a couple beginning to date in their late twenties or early thirties. My characters are not having sex on their first encounter but they are also not waiting for marriage.

I’m getting more comfortable writing sex scenes. I approach the intimate details of their physical relationship with the idea that I want to give readers enough information to understand a deepening of the relationship without pulling readers out of the story.

How do you maintain activity as a writer when sitting at a desk all day?

I’m plagued by a weak lower back so I take Pilates classes and purchased a fabulous pedometer on Amazon. The link is on my twitter page if you are interested. Basically, I push myself to walk 10,000 steps by the end of the day. Other friends, who are not writers, have purchased it and found out that they walk 7,000 steps a day without trying. Not me. I walk about 700 steps unless I get on the treadmill or go for a walk.

What is it that you loved about the main characters in your story?
I loved that they kept putting themselves out there even when they were scared. Fear is a difficult thing but most people when challenged to confront their fear, will tell you that it was the best thing that they ever did. I hope to keep writing about characters that will push past their fear and find their happy ending.

What do you feel is your strongest type of writing? Humor? Angst? Confrontation scenes? Action? Sex? Sensuality? Sweet Romance? And why?

I’m interested in exciting plots and good dialog. I have a tendency to write the first draft in all dialog then have to go back and add in narrative. I have to remind myself to not limit conflict but to use it to push the story forward. I’m becoming more comfortable with writing sex scenes. Recently my editor said she felt the heat coming off the pages. I had to remind myself that this was a good thing.

Are you social media savvy? If so what do you suggest for others? If not, why not?

I’m getting there. I was a little reluctant to share too much at first but I’m beginning to find the balance between sharing interesting or insightful comments and boring readers. I would suggest listening to yourself and make sure that whatever you post, it feels helpful and informative and not just a pet peeve or rant.

What are some things from your life or things you have observed that you've infused into your stories?

Family dynamics. I come from a large family and I think that can shape who your characters become. As a parent, I’m always fascinated by the conscious and unconscious messages that parents pass onto their children.

If you had an unlimited budget, where would you like to visit for story-related research?

I’d love to go to Bora Bora. The images are stunning and it must be incredibly relaxing.

Any fun facts about the research for your book?

I wrote the opening scene after traveling to Martha’s Vineyard. It’s a beautiful, remote place and I could easily imagine a reclusive, well-known business owner seeking anonymity there.

I liked all the imagery around the marble. It is such a tangible, solid and beautiful element in the novel. By setting some of the novel in Carrara, there was the historical backdrop of the marble industry. There is inherent risk in dealing with marble and whoever worked in the industry had to be somewhat fearless and a risk-taker. I used these traits when imaging the hero and heroine that would inhabit this setting.

Finally, tell us a little about your newest release!

The second novel in this series, The Exiled Jeweler, is coming out in December. It tells the story of Isabel Neri’s cousin, Emilia Berceto. She is a shy heiress to a jewelry empire and captures the attention of a celebrated business entrepreneur when she attends a gala at his mansion in Los Angeles. Images secretly captured of her partially nude are released to the tabloids and her overly protective family sends her far away.

Amazon

Excerpt:

She took the glass of cabernet sauvignon he offered her and tried to dispel the growing attraction she felt for him. She reminded herself he was just a man. A man who prized perfection over everything else.

“To your film.”

Taking a sip, Isabel noticed he held her gaze and she felt her heart skip a beat. She needed the project and reminded herself not to be charmed by him. He would be repulsed by her body if she ever let him get too close.

Isabel placed the wine glass on the table.

“I don’t know why you invited me here.”

Marc shrugged his powerful shoulders. He had removed his suit jacket and tie and looked less intimidating in a white button-down dress shirt and gray trousers.

“I’d like to get to know you better before we leave for Carrara.”

Isabel turned away from him. She felt underdressed in her white, button-down shirt and jeans. She had dressed for a long day of filming, not dinner with a perfection-seeking industrialist.

She glanced back at him and said, “There isn’t much to know. I’m a filmmaker from Boston.”

Marc took another sip of wine and his gaze seared into her. She felt her skin warm and resisted moving away from him. She was completely covered but suddenly felt exposed. Why did he have this effect on her? She normally held men at a distance, but she could feel herself being drawn to him.

“You hide yourself behind your beauty. You reveal almost nothing about yourself yet expect others to reveal everything.”

Susie will be awarding a $50 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.