Critique_This_WIP

Today's Author Interview is with CritqueThisWIP member, Suzie Bethell-Thompson. Here is a little Suzie bio:

"I’ve lived in a small town west of Oklahoma City. I’ve lived in California, Missouri, and Texas but dream of running away to Colorado. I’ve been blessed with a husband that puts up with far more from me then most men would, three kids that drive me insane, but love my insane ass just as much as I love them, and a close family that sometimes makes me what to go ahead and run away to Colorado, but I’d die without them because they are as much a part of me as my fingers are."

To read a little bit more about Suzie, click on her tab at the top of the page.

Jill: Hi Suzie! I’m looking forward to getting to know you today. Let’s dive right in. To pen name, or not to pen name…what is your opinion?

Suzie: I’m not sure if it’s considered a pen name or not, but I write my novels under my maiden name, simply because my married last name (Thompson) is so common. I did research on my name and learned there is already a Suzie Thompson website. Now, Bethell… much less common, much easier to remember… I’m hoping.

I’ve written several articles under a pen name, but as for my novel writing – for now, at least – I’ll just stick with my maiden name. Since I dabble in several genre’s I may one day take up a pen name for genre’s not related to paranormal romance or romantic suspense.

Jill: So spill, when did you start writing?

Suzie: I started writing many, many years ago. At first it was poetry, then I moved on to short stories. Actually, No Shame for the Wicked is the first full-length MS that I have completed… you know… beginning, middle, end.

Jill: What’s your favorite genre to write?

Suzie: So far, paranormal is my favorite to write. The possibilities are endless, and the only limits are in your imagination. But I love to write suspense also. Something about good versus evil in a more “realistic” setting is very exciting. Then you have to come up with more believable plot twists.

Jill: What’s your favorite genre to read?

Suzie: As with most people, I’m sure. I write what I read. Since paranormal is my most recent obsession, I’d say that’s my favorite to read, as well.

Jill: How do you come up with your characters?

Suzie: Creating characters varies for me. Sometimes it’s the character that comes to me and then I work on the plot. Sometimes it’s the plot and I develop characters that would best be put in that plot.

As for coming up with characters, it’s a variety of different things – sometimes a simple phrase I hear someone say, or an action that I see someone do. I’ve even come up with characters because of a traumatic event I seen on TV.

Jill: Where have some of you best ideas come from? (dreams, real life, music, tv, books, etc…)

Suzie: A majority of my ideas come from everything in my life. Same as when I'm creating characters, life – hell, mine and everyone’s around me – gives me ideas on a daily basis. No one is safe when I’m near!

Jill: Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Suzie: I’m a both-ster! Which is a new concept for me, because before I started NaNo last year, I was a panster through and through.

Having to wait a month before I could actually start writing the novel for NaNo, with an idea rattling in my head, demands some action. I started with an idea and began plotting it. By the time NaNo started, getting the fifty thousand words were pretty easy, on the days I got to really sit down and write.

Now, I essentially start every idea – whether it’s a character or plot idea – as a panster. I write and write and write until I have absolutely nothing left in me… no idea where to go or what to do next. Then I sit down with a notebook, sticky pads, highlighters, pens, and printed out copies of everything I've wrote so far and start plotting.

Jill: What project or projects are you working on now?

Suzie: I’m more devoted to working on No Shame for the Wicked and getting it edited. But I have several others that I’ve worked on here and there. I hate editing. And the urge to drop No Shame and work on the others is very strong. But, perseverance is the only way to complete a novel, right? And complete isn’t just beginning, middle, end… it’s the polished beginning, middle, and end. So that’s what I’m trying to focus on right now.

Jill: Are you published? If so, what is the name of the novel?

Suzie: I’m not published. Not yet. But I will be. I want publication too badly not to become published one day. I’m hoping for one day soon. That’s my dream. I’d love for No Shame to be my first published book. We’ll see what Fate has in store for me and No Shame.

Jill: I can’t wait! Which of your characters do you most relate with…and why do you relate to him/her?

Suzie: The character I most relate with is from Secret Denied. The female MC, Mariah Sullivan. She’s known love, loss, and pain but she’s too damn stubborn to admit defeat. She’s a little bossy, a lot pushy, and always looking for that “happily-ever-after” – even though she won’t admit it for quite some time. I found my happily-ever-after… and she will, too.

Jill: I love a strong woman! How important is it for a character to have the right name, or will any name do? Do you spend much time finding your character’s names?

Suzie: I believe names are very important to character development. Any good writer can make any name mesh with the character traits and have the reader agree with it. But you don’t want to name you’re hero Wilfred if he’s supposed to be some badass vampire assassin. At least I don’t. Because then I’d spend more time trying to “man him up” to make up for the name.

I name my characters like I name my pets (yes, in real life… not just in novels). I let them tell me what their names are. Most times, shortly into the characters back story, they will tell me their names. I tend to struggle the most with last names. While the characters will tell me their first names…very, very few (I mean, like a handful, maybe) will tell me their full names. When they don't, I’m left to find out what it is.

Jill: How do you “get in the zone” when writing? Do you listen to music? Look through art? Something else? What is your writing environment like?

Suzie: My writing environment varies. Some days it’s me sitting on my bed with my laptop and other days it’s me at my desk in the living room at my PC.

Sometimes, being in the living room with the loud TV and louder kids and hubby is a challenge. On those days, I hightail it to the bedroom in peace and quiet. But other days, the background noise of my family motivates me.

It’s weird. I believe my muse is bipolar as well. She changes her likes and dislikes more than I do… one consist thing is, she will not be anywhere in the room with me if there is music playing. I don’t know why she hates music, but she does. If I’m listening to music while I’m at the keyboard, you know I’m flying solo doing character development, plotting, or editing.

Jill: Do you have a writing playlist? Admit it—we all do it. What’s on yours?

Suzie: If I’m in character development, I listened to whatever my character would listen too. If they’re big into country… I am. Thankfully, Luc and Olivia are into the same kind of music as I am.. . for the most part.

If I’m editing or plotting, I listen to my own music. Everything from Shinedown, Blue October, Papa Roach or Rob Zombie to Eminem, Nelly or Tupac to Zac Brown Band, Toby Keith, Reba, or Carrie Underwood.

I’m not a single genre type of girl in any aspect of my life. I like variety.

Jill: Do you use critique partners, groups, or beta readers to help you with your story? Why or why not?

Suzie: Ha! Trick question! I’ll skip the critique partners and groups because we know I use those! Though I do have to say, the feedback I’ve received from you girls here on CTW is invaluable and I couldn’t imagine not being a part of CTW from now on.

As for Beta readers… I know this is gonna sound silly… but what the hell is that? No, seriously. I have no clue what a beta reader is.

Jill: Suzie, don’t feel bad, I don’t know what the heck a beta reader is either! So how do you respond to criticism? Love it? Hate it? Learn from it?

Suzie: I wouldn’t say I love criticism… does anyone? I appreciate it, that’s for damn sure. Anyone that takes the time to read my work and tell me their honest opinion is part angel, in my opinion. That is something they've done out of the kindness of their hearts to help see you realize your dreams.

And I have a very thick skin. I don’t get my feeling hurt easily at all. Unless someone is intentionally trying to be mean, any criticism I received doesn’t faze me. If they are intentionally being mean… well… that’s another story.

When I critique another person’s work, I critique as I’d want my work to be critiqued. And I would never, ever, try to hurt someone’s feelings. Even if it was something that bored me to tears… they put their heart and time into it and that alone deserves respect.

Jill: I know what you mean and I love to hear I’m part angel in your opinion. :) It’s all about making our dreams a reality and I can’t wait to see your work in the bookstore! How many projects do you work on at once? Do you write one book at a time, or do you have a few going at once?

Suzie: I rarely have only one novel going. Though right now, as I mentioned earlier, I’m only working on No Shame’s edits. I have several others on the back burner, but when I’m in the process of writing, I write on a couple. Aside from No Shame, I have Secret Denied and Broken Edge that are my other two dominate ones. Then I have a contemporary that is nearly 30k words and about six other suspense and contemporary “starters”.

Jill: How about Blogfests? Do you participate? If so, do you write a new scene for the fests or do you use scenes from your WIPs?

Suzie: OMG! I’m hooked on Blogfests. Seriously. Being new to the blogger world, I found my first blogfest not to long back and joined every blogfest I could find! You know what I learned… you join that many blogfests and you don’t get ANY writing done!

I’ve used scenes from my WIPs in them; it’s a great way to get feedback on your story. But I’m thinking from now on I’ll just write something new for each blogfest. Kind of like a writing exercise.

Jill: What’s your favorite part of being a writer?

Suzie: Creating. Whether it’s character development, plot or world development… I love the creating aspect of writing. The learning something new to add to what you already have. That little moment of excitement when you put another piece of the puzzle in place. That’s awesome!

Jill: What’s you least favorite part?

Suzie: Editing. Hands down. I hate editing. I’d rather just do it right the first time.

Jill: Do you ever have trouble with writers-block?

Suzie: Oh yeah. My muse is a touchy lil’ bast- uuuhhh… Yes, Yes I do.

I also get “novel block”. That’s when I can write anything creative, come up with new ideas, start an entirely new novel… just not come up with one single new word for my existing novel.

Jill: Most of us write part time. How do you spend your time when you aren’t writing?

Suzie: I’m fortunate to have a supportive and loving husband, so I don’t work outside the home. When I’m not writing I’m refereeing two brawling boys, answering to the whims of a three year old princess, trying to potty train said princess and new puppy, keep the house from looking like a tornado hit it and actively battling the intuition to become one of those hermit people that lock themselves in one room for the rest of their lives just to simply write, write, write!

Jill: Favorite books? Authors? Movies? Songs?

Suzie: My favorite books would have to be V.C Andrews, some of Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter series, most anything by Debra Webb, and Karen Templeton’s What a Man’s Gotta Do. And I think Beverly Barton is truly a gifted author. I love most anything she writes.

Favorite movies are much easier to list. The Notebook, Gone with the Wind, Young Guns, The Sweetest Thing and Goodfellas.

My favorite songs are the most difficult. I like too many to list. I’d Come For You by Nickleback, Not Afraid by Eminem, Call Me by Shinedown, Reckless by Papa Roach and The One by Gary Allan would have to be my top five.

Jill: Want to share a favorite line from one of your books?

Suzie: Wow. You’re gonna make me think, huh… Hmmm… Okay. This scene is from Sara and Ben’s story. One of the contemporary romances I’m working on. It’s dialogue between Sara and Ben.

“We used to be best friends, Sara. You were my best friend for most of my life. I want that back.”

“I’m sorry, Ben. That was a long time ago. That girl, that Sara, she don’t exist anymore. And I think it’s best if we both act like the past never happened.”

Jill: Would you like to share anything else with the readers?

Suzie: Follow your heart and it’ll always lead you to your dreams. And thanks for taking the time to learn a little more about me. :D

Jill: Thank you Suzie! It has been great chatting with you and getting to know you better. Texas isn’t far from Oklahoma…maybe we can have a coffee shop writing session one day. :)