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Interview Author Suzanne McLeod + Giveaway
Filed in Giveaways , Interview , Suzanne MacLeod , The HEA Lover Posted on November 15, 2010 @ 7:00 am
36 comments
Today we’re very happy to welcome again Suzanne McLeod on Book Lovers Inc. We originally planned this interview for the release of The Bitter Seed of Magic (Book #3 in the Spellcraker.com series), but the release date has been pushed back to February. In the meantime, this is the occasion to get to know the fantastic Suzanne a little more *wink* and maybe win the first 2 books in the series. Let’s give Suzanne a warm welcome!! =)
The HEA Lover: Suzanne can you please tell us a bit about yourself?
Suzanne: Hi, Book Lovers, and thanks for having me back again. Umm, so you want to know about me? Well, I’m a writer (no surprises there, then *g*), and I do other stuff to earn a crust (which is too boring for here *sigh*), and I occasionally bake skull-shaped cookies; always take the household hound for walks; sometimes watch TV (especially if it’s something supernatural! Current fav is Merlin); and when I’m not writing/working (and sometimes when I’m supposed to be *looks innocent*), I read lots and lots and lots of books!
The HEA Lover: Describe a typical day of writing? Are you a planner or pantser?
Suzanne: I toddle off to my Writing Cave* and plug into my laptop first thing (after the usual dragging myself out of bed, necessary ablutions and breakfast of porridge – no sugar – tea and orange juice), fiddle around with yesterday’s words for half-an-hour or so as I psyche myself up to start bleeding typing new words, then keep going (fuelled by numerous cups of tea) until it’s lunch time. Then after lunch and walkies with my dog, I rinse and repeat until tea time. Then I either watch TV or read, or the closer I get to DEADLINE HELL (which always deserves to be in capitals!), I do another rinse and repeat in the evening until about ten when I fall – with a zombified brain – into bed.
Oh, and I’m what Jaye Wells (my crit partner) calls a planster. I plot away, then once I start writing, pull on my creative pants and follow whatever trail my muse, a.k.a. subconscious mind, comes up with!
The HEA Lover: What do you think is the difference between a reader and a real Book Lover?
Suzanne: Hah, that one’s easy! A reader is someone who picks up the odd book, but might put it aside to watch TV, or eat, or whatever, whereas books come first for real Book Lovers, and they never leave home without one (or two if they’re getting close to The End!)
The HEA Lover: What can you tell us about the London of your book? What make it special?
Suzanne: A lot of the time I use the real London in my books, which is what I think makes it special. It means that once you’ve read the story, you can go visit the setting and see where the story happened. Of course, I can’t guarantee that you’ll meet a witch in Covent Garden market, or see the pixies animate lions in Trafalgar Square, or party the night away with the vamps in Sucker Town (if you can get past the Beater goblins) … but it’s always possible … in my Spellcrackers’ world!
The HEA Lover: Your world is full of different paranormal creatures like vampires, trolls, satyrs and brownies. Where can we find those brownies? *puppy eyes* We swear to not tell anyone- EVER.
Suzanne: Well … brownies are shy creatures and y’know, I’m not sure if I should tell you this, but …*lowers voice* … forget that old myth about putting out saucers of milk and loaves of bread in your kitchen, instead go straight for the single malt whisky and fancy cup cakes, and the brownies will love you forever *g*.
The HEA Lover: Why did you decide on a world where the paranormals are “out” in the open and not only hidden in the dark corners? Is this your favorite while reading Urban Fantasy, too?
Oh, it’s not so much my favorite – I love all types of UF – but I naïvely thought that having everything out in the open would be the easy way! That I wouldn’t have to worry about my characters keeping secrets, or about “normal” folk believing in things. Boy, was I wrong! Having all my paranormals “out” meant I had to create this whole alternative history, and decide what “actions” would be legal, or not. And work out how all my different paranormal creatures had interacted with each other over the centuries, and what it meant for my story lines … *tears hair out*.
The HEA Lover: You’re series got its name from Genny’s employer: spellcrackers.com. In your series you combine the magical world with modern technology. I think this is really inventive. We usually only get the technology hating magic users. Why did you decide to combine this in your novels?
Suzanne: Thank you :- ). I combined magic and technology because Spellcrackers exists in the “real” world, and because my supernatural creatures have always been around. So as technology progressed they would have had to find some way of working with it, otherwise they would have got left behind. So for those who are either magical, or deal in it, they’ve devised ways – Buffer spells and surgical gloves to name a couple – to protect those areas of modern technology (such as computers and mobile phones) that are more susceptible to going wonky around magic. The HEA Lover: Your heroine Genny is a Sidhe fae with no skills when it comes to making a spell. But she knows how to break the magic of others. What is different about her? What makes her personality special in your eyes?
Suzanne: Genny is brave, loyal, and ready to fight to save her friends (or even those who aren’t her friends if she thinks it’s the right thing to do), and she’s not too worried if it means doing something that lands her in more trouble. She’s also very independent and used to relying on herself, though as the books go on she’s learning that “going it alone” isn’t always the answer. What makes her special to me is she can’t rely on magic to get her out of things, so she has to think on her feet to beat the bad guys. Not only that, she’s got her own moral code – it’s more grey than black and white – so she’s not above using tricks, threats, or occasionally violence if she thinks it will help her; though sometimes this ends up making things more dangerous (and more interesting).
The HEA Lover: What can we expect of The Bitter Seed of Magic? Will we have our fix of Hot Finn and Sexy vampire Malik al-Khan?
Suzanne: Genny’s got her work cut out finding a way to crack an eighty-year-old fertility curse that’s afflicting London’s fae – and not in the way that the fae want her to. On top of that, a faeling – a teenage girl – is fished out of the River Thames, dead and bound with magic, and Genny is called in to see if the curse is at fault … which ends up with all sorts of dangerous secrets being exposed, and Genny at risk of being the curse’s next victim! *cue ominous music* :- ).
The Bitter Seed of Magic is published 17th February 2011 in the UK, and in April 2012 in the US – I’d love it to come out the same time everywhere, but sadly it’s not my decision :- ( – But you can always order it from The Book Depository with free worldwide delivery! *looks hopeful* : -). And yes, Finn and Malik are both in the book, and they both [redacted for spoilers] *teases*.
The HEA Lover: Will there be more books in this series?
Suzanne: Yes, there are three more books scheduled: The Shifting Price of Prey (#4), The Hidden Rune of Iron (#5), and The Sharp Bite of Ritual (#6). All of them are from Genny’s point of view, and they all feature Genny, Finn and Malik :- ).
The HEA Lover: What is next on your schedule?
Suzanne: I’m currently writing #4 (The Shifting Price of Prey is the title, just so you don’t forget *g*), and having a lot of fun with some new paranormal creatures, like garden fairies, unicorns, and [redacted for spoilers**] *teases again*.
The HEA Lover: Have you already plotted out the whole series and know where it will take Genny and all the others? Will there be a HEA at the end?
Suzanne: Yes, the series is plotted out to the end of book #6. I know what’s going to happen to all the characters, though, I’m not entirely sure how they will get there ;p – and as for a HEA … well, that would be telling :- ).
The HEA Lover: Now a couple of ‘mean’ questions *wink*:
Who’s your favorite secondary character? And most importantly, why?
Suzanne: Umm, my favorite secondary character changes from book to book. Usually it’s a walk-on character who just turns upon the screen, and with whom I can have a lot of fun with. My current favorite is a vampire called Francine (she’s in book #3) who loves red leather, does a mean line in illusions and kicks ass with the best! *g*.
The HEA Lover: Now can you tell us 3 reasons why people should read your books?
Suzanne: Finn (a hot, horny satyr), Malik (a cool, seductive vampire), and Tavish, (a tricky, soul-tasting kelpie). *g*.
The HEA Lover: Could you summarize the series for us twitter style(140 characters tops)?
Suzanne:
Spellcracking plots full of magic, mayhem, and murder – all liberally sprinkled with hot guys, kick-ass chicks and super-cool supes.
Thanks so much for a great interview, Book Lovers, and for having me over to play again. I had a blast with the questions, and I hope you all enjoyed my answers!
*my Writing Cave is a corner of our lounge.
** The clue’s in the title!
The HEA Lover: Thank you Suzanne for answering all our questions. You are welcome on Book Lovers Inc, whenever you want! =)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~*~*Giveaway*~*~
Suzanne is generously offering a signed copy of either one of the first 2 books in the series, The Sweet Scent of Blood or The Cold Kiss of Death to 2 lucky commenters.All you have to do is ask Suzanne a question
or leave a meaningful comment about the interview.
Please leave us a way to contact you
(email in blogger profile or twitter name-
no way to contact you – no entry).
This giveaway is International
Giveaway ends on Saturday, November 27th and we will announce the winners on Sunday.
Good luck!
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Hi 🙂
Thank you for the fun & informative interview. It's good to know that there will be (at least) 6 books in the series. I liked how Suzanne revealed she is a plotter/pantser.
🙂
Loved the humour too.
All the best,
RKCharron
This is the first I have heard of your books. I really like Kim Harrison's The Hallows world and this sounds like it is in the same theme. Open world with magical creatures . I love your idea for the main character Genny and did I hear mention of hot sexy men? 😉 That is about all you need to get my interest (shallow, yes).
who are some of your favorite authors and stories?
Hi Suzanne!
Your books look great. I am adding them to my TBR.
What were your influences/inspiration in writing the series?
Misha
mishamary@gmail.com
Thanks for the interview! Wow, the series sounds awesome! I am going to have to add it to the wishlist!
Thanks again!
Katie
bigferret at email dot com
Lol, I do not know who to like more, the prospect of that horny satyr or a tricky kelpie.
Btw, what was a kelpie now again?
Sounds like a great series indeed.
blodeuedd1 at gmail dot com
We need a serious pixie war here, Suzanne.
She really seems to have fun writing. That sells it for me more than any summary or advertising. You can tell she loves what she's doing.
Hi Suzanne, I enjoyed the interview. I love that a lot of the time you use the real London in your books so that I could go visit the setting and see where the story happened. I think that's fantastic.
Barbed1951(at)aol(dot)com
RK Charron: Hi Rob, glad you enjoyed it, and great you liked my plantser tips :-)Thanks for commenting.
Sharon S: Yep, definitely 'hot, sexy men' can't do without them! #isshallowtoo *g*. Ooh, favs? Well, Kim Harrison, Charlaine Harris, Ilona Andrews, Carrie Vaughn, Patrica Briggs, Jaye Wells … and lots more … Thanks for the question 🙂
Misha1989: Hi Misha, and thanks for adding my books to your TBR, I hope you enjoy! I've always loved fairy tales, myths, and urban fantasy, so when I started writing, I put it all together and put my own twists on it. Thanks for the question 🙂
Katie said: Glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for adding it to your wishlist! I hope you enjoy! Thanks for commenting 🙂
Blodeuedd: Well, I love them both, so I can't choose between them *g*. Kelpies are water horses who Charm unsuspecting folk into the water, and then munch on their souls … O_o! Thanks for the question 🙂
Rob Blake: Hah! Bet my pixies can take yours!! *g* Thanks for commenting 🙂
Desquebrado: Aww, thank you, and yes, I do have a lot of fun writing … and being an evil, nasty author when it comes to my characters *g*. Thanks for commenting 🙂
Barbara E: Hi Barbara, glad you enjoyed it. London's a fantastic place to visit, and has some great shops … err, sorry, great places for research *g*. Thanks for commenting 🙂
Oh I hadn't heard of these books, but they sound really interesting! I'm all curious now!
Thanks for the interview! 🙂
My question is: do you use character sheets or profiles for your characters or do they just roll out of your head (i.e. are they created in your head?)
Great interview, the comment about making skull shaped cookies made me laugh. I haven't read this series yet but I would love to get the chance to read the first book because it sounds good.
Thanks for the giveaway!
apk1princess@live.com
Hi Suzanne!
can't wait to read The Bitter Seed of Magic, February is so far away right now >.<!
What are you currently reading? Do you plan to ever write a YA novel?
Hope you have a great day 🙂
Van
Littopandaxpress(at)yahoo(dot)com
Hi Suzanne!!! With London being the location of all the action, do you currently live there, or is just a favorite travel destination. I visited London a few years back, and loved it. My best friend currently calls it home.
heatwave96(at)hotmail.com
The books sound fantastic. I love the twitter questions. YAY for kick-ass chicks! Looking forward to the reads!
robin [at] intensewhisper [dot] com
Hi Suzanne, Thanks for sharing! Your books sound great. Im looking forward to getting the chance to read them.
What are the best and worst parts for you of being a writer?
bacchus76 at myself dot com
Suzanne–You're a new author for me. Thanks to you and Caroline, I'll be adding your series to my TBR list. I really like that you combine modern technology with magic. And Genny's role is intriguing. Thanks for visiting.
Hi Suzanne,
Great interview! Although I have not read your books, they seem to be very interesting! I'm putting them on my "to read" list. You had me at "magic, mayhem, and murder…sprinkled with hot guys" 😉
angeldream3(at)gmail(dot)com
Her books seems really good books and looks like it will be a very fun read 😀 And seh seems a nice and sympathetic person 😀
sweet.sayumi@yahoo.com.br
Haven't read your books yet but after reading your twitter description I will definitely do so. Enjoyed the interview and agree with your description of readers and real book lovers. My husband is a reader and I am the real book lover!
Ooh, we're getting there for book 3! Can't wait to find out what happens next.
More Finn & Malik is good – but what about Tavish? Will he stay in the rest of the books too?
~Ailsa
Hi, Suzanne
Your books sounds wonderful. I am going to put them on my to be read list. How did you know you wanted to be a writer. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com
Lis: Thanks, Lis! No, I don't use character sheets. For my main characters I spend a lot of thinking time – a.k.a. staring out the window/daydreaming :-)- but for my bit characters, they just appear on the page, which is always exciting … then they want a bigger part and I have to get the writing whip out *g* Thanks for your question 🙂
Alexa: Thanks, Alexa, glad you enjoyed it! The link for the recipe for the skull cookies is on my blog (along with my *artistic* attempts at icing if you want a giggle *g*). Thanks for commenting 🙂
Van_pham: Hi Van, great to e-see you here and thanks for looking forward to TBSoM, I hope you enjoy it :-)I've just started Devon Monk's Magic at the Gate; I *love* her books. I haven't any plans to write YA just now … maybe one day 🙂 Thanks for your questions 🙂
Heatwave16: London *is* fantastic! I was born there, but I live on the South Coast now, which is a 2 hour train trip, so it's not far to go for those 'research' trips *g* Thanks for the question 🙂
Robin K: Thanks, Robin, and cool you liked the twitter questions – and the kick-ass chicks *g*. I hope you enjoy the reads. Thanks for commenting 🙂
donnas: Thanks for reading 🙂 Umm, best part is the actual writing when it's going really well and unexpected things appear on the page. The worst has got to be Deadline Hell! (caps req! *g*) and worrying about making the story the best I can. Thanks for the question 🙂
Just stopping by to say hi. Unicorns? Really… that's frigging awesome. Looking forward to the next one. (I'm reading Cold Kiss of Death right now).
Julie/Phoenixfirewolf
JACampbell4 (at) gmail (dot) com
LSUReader: Thanks for adding my series to your TBR list! I have a lot of fun writing it, and I hope you enjoy the read as much 🙂 Thanks for commenting 🙂
Amy: Hi Amy, glad you enjoyed it, and I hope you enjoy the books too :-)Along with the sprinkling of Hot Guys *g*. Thanks for commenting 🙂
-petit: Aww, thank you :-)And thanks for commenting, glad you like the sound of the books 🙂
Beth: Thanks, Beth, glad you enjoyed the interview, I had some great questions to answer, and I hope you enjoy the books too :-)Yay! Real Book Lovers Rock 🙂
Ailsa: Hi Ailsa, great to e-see you here. I hope you enjoy #3 :-)Oh, and Tavish will be around, he's definitely not the type to take a backseat! *g* Thanks for commenting 🙂
Tore: Aww, thank you, Tore, glad you like the sound of them 🙂 I wasn't sure I wanted to be a writer until after I started writing, then I got addicted, and now I can't stop 🙂 Thanks for the question!
Julie: Hi Julie! And yep, unicorns, or rather there's just the one, so 'unicorn' *g* Hope you enjoy TCKoD :-)Thanks for dropping by!
Now I'm really looking forward to reading the next one. I'm very interested to read your take on Unicorns. 🙂 I am enjoying it.
Great interview, I really love the covers to the books. They sound very interesting!
Res498(AT)aol.com
I love London as a setting for UF. If there's one place that I could see as a setting for paranormals that would be it. The books sound great.
Jen at delux dot com
rachel445: Thanks, Rachel, glad you enjoyed it, and the covers. Thanks for commenting 🙂
JenM: Thanks, Jen, glad you like the sound of them! London is a very cool setting, with tons of history, which is why I chose it … nothing to do with the odd bout of retail therapy at all *g*. Thanks for commenting.
Hi Suzanne,
What's your favourite tv show beside Merlin ?
raluk.93 at gmail (doT) com
I'm almost embarrassed to say that I haven't heard of these books before but I'm definitely intrigued and look forward to reading them. The fact that there is a hot satyr is very original and interesting. Thank you for the interview!
spettolij AT gmail DOT com
Hi Suzanne, does writing help you grow? If yes, then how?
aikychien at yahoo dot com
PinkStuff28: Other fav TV shows are anything that Joss Whedon has a hand in, or if the programme features 'fangs' *g*. Thanks for the question 🙂
jmspettoli: No worries if you haven't heard of them, and great you like the sound of Finn, my hot satyr; he's a fab character (even if I do say it myself *g*). Thanks for reading and commenting 🙂
Aik: Oh, good question! Short answer is I think it does because writing makes you think about different situations and how different folk might react to them, and why they might react as they do. Which widens your view on life 🙂 Thanks for the question!
I have never heard of these books before, but I gotta say, I am intrigued. Your characters sound fascinating. I would love to win the first book in the series, but either way I am adding this books to my must have list 🙂 Thanks for the interview
june111@att.net
Oooh, a series I haven't read yet! Your twitter summary makes me want to start from the beginning and dive in. Great interview!
Emily
whatbookisthat at gmail dot com
Jolene Allcock and Family: Thanks, Jolene, and glad you like the sound of them, I have a lot of fun writing their adventures! Thanks for commenting and adding them to your list, much appreciated 🙂
Emily: Great you enjoyed the interview, Emily, and the twitter summary – those Book Lovers make you work in their interviews *g* – Thanks for commenting 🙂