It is with very great pleasure that I welcome Susan Wiggs to Reading Reality today. She is here to celebrate the release of her new book, Return to Willow Lake. It is indeed a return: this is her first visit back to her bestselling Lakeshore Chronicles series in two years. Susan’s fans have really been waiting for this one. Now that I’ve made my own trip to Susan’s beautiful creation in the Catskills, I completely understand what the fuss is about. Return to Willow Lake is terrific! (Check out my review for details)
But let’s hear it from Susan…
Marlene: Hello, Susan! Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Who is Susan Wiggs when she isn’t writing?
SW: Like my readers, I wear lots of hats–wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend. When I’m not writing, I’m thinking about writing or feeling guilty about not writing…but I try to stay balanced. You might find me on a paddleboard in the Sound in front of my house, or hiking with husband & dogs, fixing dinner for my sweet old parents, or traveling the world.
Marlene: And now for the fun stuff. I want to hear how kickboxing mixes with butter sculpting? Or maybe it doesn’t?
SW: It would make quite a mess! I do a lot of different things, but not simultaneously!
Marlene: Who first introduced you to the love of reading?
SW: My mom. She also transcribed the stories I dictated to her when I was a tot.
Marlene: Who influenced your decision to become a writer?
SW: All the amazing, wonderful books I read and lived inside as I was growing up. I couldn’t imagine a better calling in life than telling stories.
Marlene: What book do you recommend everyone should read, and why?
SW: I don’t do that. Reading taste is such an individual thing. One person’s favorite book is another person’s snoozer. When I read and love a book, I like telling people about it. I do it all the time on my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/susanwiggs
Marlene: What was the writing road like from Kathleen Woodiwiss’ Shanna (I remember that one well) to Willow Lake?
SW: Long! I discovered Shanna while in college, sold my first book in 1986 and the first Lakeshore book was published in 2006.
Marlene: Who is your favorite fictional character who loves books? And why?
SW: Belle, in Disney’s Beauty & the Beast. I don’t know if she was a booklover in the original fairy tale, but she brought the sexy back to books!
Marlene: Now, if you would, introduce us to Sonnet Romano and Zach Alger, the characters in Return to Willow Lake.
SW: Sonnet is a wildly successful, driven career girl with a fabulous life in the city. Zach is a hometown boy with big dreams. They knew each other…once upon a time. They had a little too much fun at Daisy Bellamy’s wedding. Now they’re having to figure out where to go from there.
Marlene: Do you plan everything, or do you just let the story flow?
SW: I plan everything AND let the story flow. Sometimes I stick to the plan and other times, the story wanders away from me. I can never predict. Sonnet and Zach took me completely by surprise when I got into their heads and started writing their story.
Marlene: Speaking of plans, what projects do you have planned for the future?
SW: A new series, starting with The Apple Orchard in 2013. And more Lakeshore books. I just can’t seem to stop!
Marlene: Morning person or night owl?
SW: Both. I get up early and stay up late. Life is just too much fun to spend sleeping.
Life is too much fun to spend sleeping. Mmm…that sounds like something Sonnet might say.
~*~*Giveaway*~*~
As part of her blog tour, Susan Wiggs has generously offered one print copy of Return to Willow Lake to one lucky participant. (US only)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I like the people, usually they are so humble and the story involved the close knit family in town.
What I like about small town romances is that everybody knows everybody else and they all try to help. It’s like a town full of busybodies and matchmakers but in a good way. The people involved always try to think about what the townfolk would think and try not to embarrass themselves or anyone else(even though it doesn’t always work).
e.balinski(at)att(dot)net
This book sounds great!
I think the fact that the whole town gets in on the action. It makes it like a family affair, sometimes good and sometimes bad.
Jo @Mixed Book Bag recently posted..Musing Monday’s September 3, 2012
Ok i am still laughing imaging Susan kick-boxing a butter sculpture !! Awesome interview thank you both! Thanks for the chance to win a copy 🙂
I love small town romances, and especially in a series. I love getting to know all the characters and town. Each time I open one it’s like going home to see old friends and meet new ones.
kimbacaffeinate recently posted..Isolation by Dan Wells