A LITTLE ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Susan James Pierce has a degree in Marketing Management, works for a Fortune 500 company in Atlanta, Georgia, and devotes her precious, spare time to writing Fantasy and Sci-fi novels.
Even though her full-time career has nothing to do with books at all, she has always enjoyed complex story telling with fascinating characters, and has had a penchant for the written word since grade school. As a matter of fact, her only publishing credit to date was a poem she wrote at the age of twelve. Why her love for writing never translated into a career, she can only attribute to 'life happens', but her wish is that she can redirect her career path into something that satisfies her creative inner-self.
“The most important story
you will ever write is your own.” ~Bev
Davis, Columnist
THE INTERVIEW
What is your name, where were you born and where do you live
now?
My name is Susan James Pierce. I was born,
raised, and continue to live in the suburbs of Atlanta, GA. Although I enjoy
traveling and dream of visiting many more places to come, I’m a Georgia peach through
and through.
Did you always want to be a writer? If not what did you want to
be?
No. Though I’ve always enjoyed writing – I
had a poem published at the age of 12 and have won contests for essays – I’ve
aspired to be everything from a ballerina (I’d danced for many years), to a
psychologist, to an interior designer. I’ve even dappled in cake decorating and
jewelry making. I didn’t circle around to writing again until about a year or
so ago, and my life has been forever changed. I couldn’t imagine doing anything
else.
What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarize
it in less than 20 words what would you say?
Marked for Vengeance (Book One of the Alyx
Rayer Chronicles). It’s about a 300 year old angel that was sent to Earth to
capture her “Marked” human when summoned.
What genre would you place your books into?
Paranormal Romance/ Urban Fantasy
Do you gift books to readers to do reviews?
Absolutely. Reviews are one of the single most
important aspects of a book’s success, especially the first in a series. I
always welcome requests for a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review to
be posted on their blog, Goodreads, and Amazon.
Do you read all the reviews of your book/books?
Yes. There is always something to be gained
from others’ POV, even if the review isn’t a glowing one.
Would you ever ask a reviewer to change their review if it was
not all positive about your book/books?
Never. Everyone is entitled
to their opinion. What a boring world this would be if we all loved and hated
the same things!
What do you do to unwind and relax? Do you have a hobby?
Coincidentally, writing and reading. Nothing beats letting
your mind escape into a different world for hours on end.
Did you have a favorite author as a child?
C.S. Lewis. He’s the reason I love to both read and write in
the Fantasy genre.
What piece of advice would you give to a new writer?
I’m pretty wet behind the ears myself. But
from what I’ve learned so far, my advice could be summed up in two words: perseverance
and professionalism. Like many others, this is a tough industry. You have to work hard to get your book
noticed through soliciting reviews, networking, advertising, etc. And if you’re
someone who doesn’t have a thick skin and quits easily, you won’t make it. Just
remember to push through, be open to criticism to better your writing, and
above all, remember why you write in the first place – because you love it!
As far as professionalism goes, you also
have to remember that whatever you put out there is a reflection of you whether
it’s a remark on your blog or someone else’s, or your response to a review or
critic. Always conduct yourself professionally. The internet has a lengthy
memory and you’re stamping your “brand” for a long time to come. Nobody wants
to work with an author who is ungrateful and attacks others.
Where can we follow you?
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