It is an honor to introduce you to contemporary women’s fiction author Susan Beatty. Her novella Carmen’s Journey of Courage releases tomorrow, so I am thrilled to be able to share a little of her writing journey with you as well as the links to connect with her and/or purchase her book. At the end of the interview, be sure and enter for a chance to win an ebook version of Carmen’s Journey of Courage.
Welcome Susan. Could you please tell us what inspired you to start writing?
In previous careers, I was a journalist, tech writer, and nonfiction article author, but writing novels has been my lifelong dream. I began writing fiction in 2017 as a response to my daughter’s journey with breast cancer. I watched her faith grow and her courage abound through three separate bouts and a metastatic diagnosis (no cure). Storytelling connects readers emotionally in ways that nonfiction can’t always accomplish. I wanted to capture the essence of her strength through fictional characters to encourage women who were going through tough times, knew someone who was, or will probably go though in the future. I think that covers everyone. Besides cancer, my books cover domestic abuse, abandonment, loss, and moral failure.
How many books have you written? And can you tell us a little bit about each?
I have published three novelettes (the third releases tomorrow), and one novel which released in May of this year. I have completed a second novel slated for May 2022 and am working on a third. I also wrote a unique little book called Courage for Your Everyday Life–a flash fiction devotional.
What is the most surprising thing you discovered while writing your books?
I discovered writing fiction is really hard work, particularly if you want to genuinely connect the reader and the characters emotionally. You need to plunge deep into your own emotional well to do that. It can often leave you empty. But I also discovered it is worth it to have a reader say the experience touched them in some way.
Tell us about your first published book. What was the journey like?
Thanks to the wisdom of my publisher, I had two novelettes published before my first full-length novel, Faces of Courage. I began writing the novel full of passion for the subject of courage and the breast cancer journey. When I realized how much I needed to learn about crafting fiction, my zeal often degenerated into a pity party and writer’s block. I found myself doing every chore around the house to keep from writing. Through the encouragement of writer friends and a huge dose of Scripture, I pulled up my big girl panties and got down to the business of learning and writing.
I became immersed in the writing community and made many more writing friends. I was in a heaven here on earth. Through a local writing group, one of my new friends was the owner of a small publishing group. I finished the first draft of the novel and she asked to look at. She shared it with her publishing board, and I was eventually offered a contract. Talk about heaven. It took three rounds of editing over about two years before it was ready for publication.
God worked a miracle, because He knew at my age, I probably didn’t have time to find an agent and spend years making the rounds of publishers.
What was the inspiration for Carmen’s Journey of Courage?
Carmen’s Journey of Courage is about a character from the pages of the novel, Faces of Courage. Carmen appears there as the best friend of Olivia, the one with breast cancer. As I explored Carmen’s background, I realized at her core was the need for forgiveness. I believe this is an all-too common problem in life, and I was moved to explore how it affected this character.
What is the key theme and/or message in the book?
Carmen’s journey has to do with accepting family members who think differently than she does, seeking forgiveness for a tragic incident from her teens, and truly accepting Christ’s forgiveness. That last is the key theme. The journey to forgiveness can be as difficult spiritually and emotionally as negotiating a bad medical diagnosis.
Earlier, you stated that you have completed a second novel and are presently working on a third. Could you tell us a little about that?
I recently delivered a second novel manuscript to my publisher also centered on the theme of forgiveness. But in this novel, The Fragrance of Violets, the main character, Fiona, must find a way to forgive the father figure in her life for the hurt of abandonment. Although it’s a little more complicated than that.
I’m writing a third novel about a different kind of abandonment and a moral failure that the character believes can only be atoned for by finding a kidnapped child. While Carmen’s journey had a small mystery element, this novel will be my first real venture into writing mystery as I combine it with women’s fiction elements.
If you would like to connect with Susan, you can find her social media links on her website at www.susankbeatty.com
You may also purchase her book, Carmen’s Journey of Courage here.
Comments 3
Great look at the backstory!
I enjoyed reading about your journey to publication.
This hadn’t occurred to me before but it is so true, “Storytelling connects readers emotionally in ways that nonfiction can’t always accomplish.”