How do you combine writing romance novels with writing short stories, Suzanna?
I used to be able to work on both simultaneously, but now I find it best to concentrate on one or the other. Short stories fit into the months between longer projects. Which invariably means I'm writing fewer. But I enjoy writing both novels and short stories, so I'm reluctant to give up either.
Where do you get the inspiration for writing your stories, long or short?
This is a very difficult question to answer - and I suppose, I could say that I wish I knew. Some of my stories are inspired by real life people or events. Others by snippets of conversation or an article in a newspaper... It's quite a skill to work out which ideas have the legs to run for the length of a fully story and I still have some false starts.
Can you sum up the essence of HIDDEN HEARTACHE in 140 characters? (That's the size of a Tweet).
Two doctors, a shared past + a motorbike and a tragic secret = a love that not even fourteen years apart can destroy. (I think that's less than 140 characters - is that okay?)
My hero, Nick, is lovely. I'd run away with him in a heartbeat - if he wasn't spoken for (and if he was real). Emma, the heroine, is perfect for Nick - she's vulnerable but also has inner strength that's helped her to survive a very difficult past.
What's next for you?
More of the same with short stories and the longer romances. I have a new pocket novel (currently called Sean McIver's return) due to be published by The People's Friend in April and also some short stories awaiting publication in various womags. I'm also hoping my critique group, The Minxes of Romance, might work together on another anthology - putting Blaze together was so much fun. There's also a non-fiction project in the background which I'm hoping to have some time to work on.
Thank you so much for inviting me to visit you here today - and for these great questions.
SUZANNA ON THE WEB:
HIDDEN HEARTACHE
Dr Emma Bradshaw’s life is disrupted when
Nick Rudd arrives back in town to take up a post at the GP practice where Emma
works. The bad boy attitude is still very much in evidence, but Nick is a
doctor now – against the odds – and Emma’s forced to work closely with him. Not
so easy to ignore the love of your life when you have to see him on a daily
basis. And Nick’s getting perilously close to breaking down the barriers Emma’s
built to protect herself from the tragedy in her past.
Nick thought, as a doctor, it would be easy
to command respect from the residents of his hometown – and most are pleased to
see how well he’s done. But, the one person he wants to impress remains
unmoved. Emma is keeping her distance. And she’s changed – the fun loving girl he
knew has gone. She’s hiding something big, he’s sure, but she’s not telling. He
can’t blame her – he knows he let her down badly in the past. But now he’ll do
anything to rekindle the trust and love she once showed him.
