eInk Reviews: Author Interview – Suzanne Anderson @seakiev

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Author Interview – Suzanne Anderson @seakiev

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?
I once went to a teddy bear making class and made a blue bear that became the inspiration for God Love You, – Chester Blue. Or if you want really quirky…before I step onto a downward moving escalator, I stop and count to three, so I can gauge when to step onto the next step.
When did you first discover that you were a writer?
I ‘wrote’ my first book at the age of five. As a child, reading was my favorite pastime. I’ve always thought the best career in the world would be to create that pleasure for others.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
Lately I’ve been enjoying inspirational books, such as One Thousand Gifts and anything by Joel Osteen, John C. Maxwell, and Debbie Macomber. I alternate between reading them before bed, listening to them as I walk the dogs, and listening in the car. I find that inspirational books help me to focus on my goals and keep me motivated. I’m always listening to books on while driving around town. Right now, I’m listening to The Wednesday Sisters, and absolutely love it! Next I’m going to listen to Brideshead Re-visited.
It’s a challenge, but I like to alternate between reading new fiction (any trying new authors) as well as catching up on the wonderful classics that I missed reading in high school and college. I always have a stack of books on my nightstand. I have found the reading challenge app on Goodreads.com has been a great motivator to not only track what I’m reading each year, but to inspire me to read more books.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?
When I am feeling completely overwhelmed I have two strategies that help me to feel grounded:
1) pour my heart out in my journal in the form of a letter to God and then end with a list of five things I am most grateful for. 2) I take my dogs to the off-leash dog trail, which is a one mile loop through beautiful woods.
How do you choose your characters’ names?
Generally, the name appears with the character in my mind. Then their personality becomes more developed as I write their story. However, in one story, I specifically chose the name of the character to serve a purpose (that novel is in the works).