Big Happenings! by Susan Sands

 I'm happy to announce I've signed with Harpeth Road to write a new book! Harpeth Road is a new

romantic imprint started by bestselling author, Jenny Hale. So far, I'm completely impressed by the detail and care HR is taking in building my author brand. No detail is too small it seems. To that end, I'm finally collecting emails from readers and will send out my very first newsletter soon!

The book I've signed on the write for Harpeth Road is a low country romantic women's fiction set in coastal South Carolina. It's actually based on real place called Fripp Island, where I've vacationed for years with my family. We have friends who live on the island and this story has its origins with that family. I can't wait to share more as things progress!

I've decided a newsletter should be fun and not spammy, so I'm planning to include some interactive items and always a yummy recipe or two. I've just finished making a newsletter crossword puzzle! Fun and games! I do hope you will sign up at susansands.com!

I'm busy finishing up my second Louisiana novel for Tule Publishing and it's a real edge-of-your-seat mystery. My hero and heroine are having a hard time finding a moment to fall in love. But they will. You know they will. I can't wait for you to visit Cypress Bayou, Louisiana!

I hope the weather is nice where you are and that everyone is safe and healthy!

Take care!

Susan

First Time Flying Since COVID! by Susan Sands

I've been on a two-week trip, first to Monterey, CA, and surrounding areas, and now I'm here in Draper, Utah (Salt Lake area). I fly home to Atlanta tomorrow. Like nearly everyone else, I haven't gone anywhere much this past year besides the grocery store and the tennis court. 

Several friends have asked how it's been. The flying, the moving about, and whether there are people out and about. I have to say that things have been more open than I believed. American Airlines was at full capacity, which meant there were no seats blocked off. The flight was full. The Atlanta airport was hopping, as was the Phoenix airport, where I made my connection. Everyone wore masks throughout the airport and on the flight unless eating and drinking. All expected. My second flight was from San Francisco to Salt Lake on Delta. Delta is still blocking middle-row seats unless you fly with a companion until the end of April, which was nice. But the San Francisco airport was pretty deserted.

In Monterey, the pier was open and pretty crowded. Hiking trails were open and we dined indoors several times as it was unseasonably cold and windy. We drove down the coast to Pebble Beach and Big Sur, and both were less crowded than normal, according to my friend.

Here in Utah, people are out, wearing masks, and eating indoors.

So, not so different from where I live in Georgia. Certainly, not as different as I thought it would be. I haven't watched the news since I left home two weeks ago, so I have no idea what's happening in the world. Here's hoping it's still turning. 

I wish everyone the very best!

Susan Sands

In Two Years by Susan Sands

I don't like or want to rush time. Every day is a gift and is meant to be lived to its fullest. Having said that, I look ahead some days. With the hope that the storms of today will be over by then. Maybe not in a year, but in two years?

So, if I indulge in a little fantasy today about two years from now, if the good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise, it might look a little something like this:

In two years:

We'll be settled in a new house.

All my kids will be out of college and gainfully employed.

COVID will be a cringe-y nightmare we look back on.

I won't have to wear a mask in the grocery store, or anywhere else.

I can travel.

I'll be outside more than inside.

Kids will all be back in school face-to-face and there will be laughter and learning.

Businesses won't be boarded up and cities will begin to thrive again. 

People will make strides in acceptance and happiness.

I will have a bestselling book. :-) 

These are only a few of so many fast-forwards I hope for. There are lots of bigger and more important things the world needs that aren't here on my first-world list of happy thoughts.

My wish of hope and joy for you all is a given. There will always be struggle and strife and tragedy--the bad and the good together. 

I've started writing book two of my Louisiana series. So, I'll keep you posted on that front.

Since we're not two years into the future, let's all try to live our best lives right now. Pay it forward, be kind, and try to love the ones we're with. Life is nothing if not unpredictable, so we should treasure our days.

All the best!

Susan Sands

Two Steps Forward by Susan Sands

 So, I made a top ten list last month of all the 2021 goals for the coming year. Thus far, I've managed to do pretty well with turning off the news to stop obsessing over all the political noise. That was number one. I'm certain my blood pressure has come down several points.

But I bought a bread machine. One of the things on my list was to eat healthier. And stop baking so much. Um, the bread machine... So, a decade or so ago, I had a bread machine. I used it a lot at first, but my impatience for immediate gratification had me putting it away for the convenience of Fresh Market a half-mile down the street. So many delightful choices at my fingertips without the wait. 

I sold the old machine in my estate sale when I moved two years ago. My new place doesn't have Fresh Market or Whole Foods quite as close and I've stopped going out to shop and begun to order my groceries most of the time. Mostly because I'm lazy. But let me tell you what's nice about the new bread machines: Bread machine MIXES. Yes, they have yeast already in them and you add warm water and press a button. There's still that stinking wait time but OMG, the smell and the results are amazing and so not what I planned for my top ten list for 2021.

I ordered about fifteen different kinds so I could try a wide variety. Cinnamon rolls, pizza crust, English muffins. There are endless options. I will report back with my favorites.

As far as the rest of the list goes, well, that's still a work in progress. It's been especially cold here in Georgia, so getting out and walking more--getting out period--hasn't really happened. I'll just say, I'm looking forward to springtime. 

My eighty-four-year-old mother-in-law battled COVID here at my house a couple weeks ago and fortunately came through it like a champ. She was only symptomatic for four or five days. We were all still antibodied-up, thankfully, and no one else got sick. I went and got tested for antibodies again (seven months post-COVID) and was still positive. I needed to know how close I could care for my MIL. I say this because I know there are those of you who want to hear how others get through the virus. 

We've been very lucky, and for that I'm thankful. I'm still waiting for my mom to find vaccine availability in our area. She's seventy-five and still no luck in getting it. 

I've enjoyed our chat today. I hope you all remain safe and healthy. 

Susan Sands

Top Ten Goals for 2021 by Susan Sands

My mom's Christmas cookie recipe

We've made it! At least we've made it through 2020. 

Politics, pandemic, and loss. There's still a virus, but now we've got a vaccine, which hopefully will help get the thing under control soon. It won't help those who've suffered and lost their lives. It won't help those who've lost their homes and business and who grieve over lost loved ones. But turning a page on this year might help us all mentally do a hard reset.

I've written two books this year, which don't even mention a virus. How can that be possible? My characters don't wear masks or social distance. Strange really. The distraction of writing has been a life-saver to be sure. 

Moving forward with a new year, I honestly need to make some changes in my thinking, and there are things I've decided to consciously do to improve my attitude and my life.

To do:

1) Stop watching the news. (The talking heads are ridiculous)

2) Exercise more. (Just a walk every day, aside from tennis)

3) Stop baking so much and eat healthier. (I love to eat baked goods)

4) Leave the house more. We aren't locked down here, so there are ways to get out. (Staying home ALL the time has become a habit)

5) Contact friends. (I have good friends, but I'm not great at reaching out as much as I should)

6) Only wear pajamas at night. (Self-explanatory)

7) Do some long-range planning on new projects.

8) Visit my son in North Carolina.

9) Have more patience. (With everything and everyone)

10) Emerge from 2020 with new ideas and more energy and find my joy!

What will you do in 2021 to take back your life? Get the vaccine? Make some personal changes? 

I hope you can find your joy in 2021! 

Happy New Year to all!!

Susan Sands

Does Age Matter? by Susan Sands

 Of all the terrible isms out in the world, some are far worse than others. While we're not all directly targets of the worst discrimination, at some point we do experience bias in our lifetimes. Discrimination because of factors we can't control about ourselves is frustrating and terrible. 

Things change as we go through life. If we have acne when we're young, at some point, hopefully, it goes away. Some things get better, and others, not so much. Those stages and experiences shape us for the better or worse.

When we're young, we believe we'll never get old. Looks fade, no matter what. The way we're treated in the job market changes as we age even though technically it's not allowed. As we age, we gain a better perspective about the balance of our life experiences. But our ability to find gainful employment decreases.

As a writer, I believe I'm improving my skills with every book I write. I'm constantly reading books, taking craft classes, and using my life experiences to enrich my stories. But does my age make a publisher pause? Will it? This is theoretical. I worry for the coming years, I guess.

We all want to remain relevant. And we can, given the flow of information all around us. But will be considered relevant. I've watched older people be dismissed as they try to contribute to conversations. It's heartbreaking to see the impatience all around. 

Ageism is age discrimination. And it's rampant in our world. Life doesn't end because we're not cute any longer. Most of us know this, but we are a society that still celebrates youth and beauty. That's okay as long as we can also celebrate age and wisdom. 

Let's be comfortable in our skin and help others to do the same.

Susan Sands

No Waffle House! By Susan Sands

My how the world has changed since my last post! Did we ever imagine we'd be on almost total

Photo Credit: AP

lockdown in our homes? Unable to get toilet paper or paper towels? Told we can't go to our favorite restaurant or catch a movie on the big screen? Or GO TO WAFFLE HOUSE?

Waffle House never ever closes. But they are shut tight now. The term "social distancing" hadn't crossed my ears until recently. I wonder if I have COVID-19? I wonder if you do? Maybe we already did and don't know it. Those are the questions that run through my mind. I haven't let my own mother in the house in over two weeks. For her own good. For our own good. She doesn't stay home. We are all careful if we have to run the dreaded errand, but mostly we order our groceries delivered. But what about those poor delivery shoppers? Do they have it?

This is frightening and the complete unknown. The health aspects of it for the country and for our mothers, and for everyone. And the ruination financially at our age. We already went through it in 2008. It has been an uphill climb to recover ever since. We aren't young either. We have two kids in college. The market is crashing. Our savings is at risk as is the health of our nation.

I know that my concerns are everyone's concerns. Except that we won't starve to death. Some people will. We have great health insurance as long as we can afford to pay the crazy-high premiums. Some people don't. So, pardon my slightly freaked-out post. It's a freaky time.

I'm praying next month's post will contain great news and great hope for a flatter curve and new cures and vaccines. And small business relief for dentists.

Stay safe and healthy!!

Susan

Blending Genres by Susan Sands

I'm currently writing a contemporary Christmas romance. Or I'm supposed to be. The other books in

the Alabama series are a blend of women's fiction and romance, which means there are other storylines and concerns within the stories. They are less firmly focused on the main couple's romance than what I'm writing this time and include many more characters and details of their lives.

With this latest work in progress, I must control the urge to stray from the couple's romance. It's like writer's attention deficit. I get distracted by all the pretty things I want to explore along the way. Like the characters who are becoming so incredibly interesting and fun. I feel compelled to give them more time on the page and explore their lives. But that's what one does in women's fiction. This is about the amazing main characters. This is a focused, deep dive into their story. Yes, there are other important people in their lives but I've got to stick to the task at hand. The word count is less, so it's imperative I get the story wrapped up by New Years.

Because this is the fifth book in the Alabama "series," it will feel similar. If I do this well enough, it's likely my readers might notice but hopefully won't mind the lack of cast members. This book will be a slightly cleaner read, not that I overdo sex and profanity. I'm having to do some editing when I let a four letter word slip from time to time on the page. Weirdly, it's a good story and honestly dang instead of damn doesn't change the context of how it reads.

In the end, I feel like this book will land in the column of mostly contemporary romance with a touch of women's fiction instead of a fifty/fifty blend. I'm hoping it's still a hit with my readers and that I gain more.

Sorry I'm late posting today! Wash your hands, everyone, and don't touch your face!

Susan

My Weird Love of New Car Shopping by Susan Sands

I like to shop for cars. It's a strange obsession, I admit. A complete waste of one's time. Possibly. An avoidance of writing? Definitely. But we all have our oddities. Some writers clean to avoid writing. Some go on social media. (Me too, but lately it's such a mood killer that I've begun avoiding it.)

Back to my car shopping. I don't have endless funds to buy cars. Nope. But I love the new technology in them. The smell of them. Driving them. I'm a salesman's nightmare. Or happy dream. I leased my first car almost three years ago and got an email that they would take it back early. I got excited and jumped on the opportunity, ran to the dealership and drove all the new cars. My husband suggested I branch out to other makes and models because they would pay off my remaining lease to get my business.

As you can imagine, this opened up a whole new world of test drives and time wasting. I live five minutes from eight or nine dealerships. I decided I would be open minded about my decision. Not pressured by brand identity. I would pick the car that I loved the most. (Within budget reason)

I have quirks about cars/SUVs. I have to be able to see all around me. Nothing claustrophobic, and the vehicle has to accommodate my shortish arms. My elbow must reach the middle console as an armrest. And the telescopic steering wheel must come out enough so that I don't drive with straight, reaching arms, because my leg length to reach the pedals is normal. And I like a light interior because of heat and dust. The newer trend for all black shows everything and is very hot here in Georgia. Finding all this is all much harder than you think.

I had to rule out over half the cars I drove outright. And you wouldn't (or you would) believe some of the male personalities I dealt with. I asked if there were female sales people. There aren't. The reason given is the six-day-per-week, ten-hour schedule. Part time doesn't allow the sales person to hit any of their numbers. Wow.

So, I found my car. She's beautiful and perfect. She has ALL the new safety features and technology. She has a cream interior and is guaranteed not to show denim transfer. She has seats that have a massage feature (???). Heated steering wheel. All of it. I'm completely in love and my exciting search is over. I get to do it again in about 2 1/2 year. Can't wait...

Now I must write my book. It's getting good, y'all. The whole time I was wheeling and dealing with the sales guy, I was thinking about my book. So, maybe there is a benefit to all the time away from the writing. I've found my aha moment for the story.

Anybody else love to shop for cars?

I'll be in the writing cave if anybody needs me!

Have a great weekend!

Susan

Meet the Neighbors by Susan Sands

If you've read any of my blogging in the last six months or so, you'll remember that we moved into

a new townhome neighborhood. Because it was dead winter and too cold to really venture out for several months (for me), I didn't meet many new neighbors here. I'm a weird blend of introvert and curious neighbor and don't typically seek out a social life with my neighbors now that my kids are grown. I was part of a long-standing bunco group in my last neighborhood, so I had lots of friends there, but here, not so much.

I go to the mailbox, smile, and say hello. But this summer, my husband and I got into the habit of going to the community's pool on the weekends. So, we've slowly begun to meet some of the folks we now live amongst. I have to say, it's an interesting group.

The guy next door is a gastroenterologist and plays the banjo (not well) on his back deck. I know his profession, not because he told us, but because the guy on the other side of him told us. He knows this, not because the good doctor told him, but because that guy is an attorney and does background checks on all his neighbors. You know, because you gotta know who you share walls with. They are super nice though, and we found out that his wife is the daughter of a golfing buddy of my husband.

There are a handful of women at the pool who are readers and always show up with a new book. It's been fun to discuss what we are reading from our floats and loungers. The group also consists of single career women, a woman veterinarian, several empty nesters like us, and younger couples who are at the beginning of their professional careers. So far, I'm the only author in the group that I'm aware of, but writers don't always show themselves right away.

It's been fun to slowly make my way into the community. I hear there are some pretty interesting parties, but I'll settle for a little pool socializing for now. And learning second-hand about my neighbors from my other neighbors...LOL!

I wish everyone in the path of Hurricane Dorian the best. Coming from Louisiana, I'm glued to the coverage. If they tell you to get out, get out!

Have a great Labor Day!

Susan

Crawdads by Susan Sands

I'd been on a reading dry spell for some time before picking up Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia

Owens recently. After hearing so many wonderful things about the book, it would be my first read as I jumped back into novel reading.

The story was amazing. But what blew me away about it was how quiet the story was and how  nature lived and breathed within the pages. Ms. Owens is a bestselling non-fiction author and a wildlife scientist. In Crawdads, she applies her extensive knowledge of flora and fauna within the setting and creates a rich canvas where Kya, the heroine lives completely alone most of her life. But  even when she's alone, she's not. There are the birds she feeds, the insects and feathers she collects lovingly, the marsh. Constant sounds and activities of life surround her. They are her family. She can count on the tide to come in and recede every single day. It never lets her down, not like the people who were supposed to love and care for her but didn't.

I could go on and on about symbolism and the author's knowledge of her subject and how it enhances the reader's experience. But there's something else that makes this book so different. The way it breaks the rules. The rules of writers in many ways.

As a writer who's published several books and continues to work toward larger publishing goals, as most authors do throughout their careers, this baffled me. But as I read and relaxed into the story, I didn't care. I only wanted more. The constantly switching points of view without changing scenes or using devices to do so,  the pages and pages of introspection without dialogue where nothing much happened didn't throw me out of the story. Not. One. Bit. This book did all the things every craft class /book says not to, but it did it so well that I didn't care. I just wanted to keep reading.

And there was payoff. I won't say what it was to avoid spoiling it for those who haven't had the pleasure of reading the book, but there was.

So, breaking the rules well, as they say, works. As long as you can get it past your editor. Great job, Ms. Owens. I'm a fan.

Happy summer reading, everyone! Where the Crawdads Sing is wonderful!

Susan

My Month of May by Susan Sands

Hello all, and happy spring!!

I hope you are all enjoying some much-deserved warmer weather wherever you are. Here in Georgia, the days have gotten significantly less chilly and are often downright hot in the afternoons. Of course, after our wet and endless winter, none of us are allowed to utter a word of complaint.

Pollen, on the other hand, is another matter entirely. It's still around and coating everything and everyone in it's yellow glory, though not as thickly as in April.

I'm not particularly allergic to it, but what comes after. The grasses and such that bloom in early May are my kryptonite. I sneeze constantly and want to scratch my eyes out for weeks every year around this time. My husband refers to May as "My Month of May." Not his, but mine. My birthday, Mother's Day, and anniversary are all in May. So, we celebrate them all in the midst of my horrific month-long allergy attack.

If you see a photo of me this month, it will likely be with red, watery eyes, and a runny nose. Yes, I've tried Benadryl at night, Claritin during the day, eye drops, Flonase, and enough saline to lower the ocean's levels. I live in Georgia, y'all. Things grow and bloom. Mostly in the month of May.

Obviously, this isn't going to kill me, so my apologies for living in my own little ragweed-infested world while others struggle with far worse illnesses, but I blog about what's happening in mine. LOL.  I will trudge on with My Month of May and continue to write and enjoy the beauty around me and appreciate the mild temps before they scorch the earth in a month or so.

My current book is out on submission and I'm in limbo waiting to hear back from editors, so keep your fingers crossed on my behalf for good news...

I'm working on a new novel set in the Low Country in South Carolina, one of my favorite vacation spots. It's about a woman whose DNA test results set off a chain of events that threaten to destroy the foundations of several families in the area.

Best wishes on a lovely Month of May!!

Susan

Now We Wait! by Susan Sands

If asked to identify my most self-defeating trait besides procrastination, it would be IMPATIENCE, hands down. While I work to portray a calm outward demeanor, I have an internal screaming banshee who is rather hard to live with. Are we there yet?

I'm impatient with drivers who do dumb and dangerous (and incredibly slow) things on the road. And people in general who show no desire to move out of the general flow of humanity. I work at it. I really do. And I'm terribly hard on myself when I can't produce words when I'm writing.

So, you can imagine how this being on submission thing is for me. It's like watching paint dry in the rain. Molasses in winter. And the new book went out to editors just over a week ago. So, yes I understand this is going to take awhile. Don't "they" say we detest in others what we don't like in ourselves? Um, yes. Those who make me wait. But I procrastinate in starting work a new book while I wait. So, I am at the same time annoyed with myself for dragging my feet while others aren't as snappy as I'd like them to be.

I'm breathing deep breaths (of yellow pollen here in Georgia) currently. And settling in to start my new novel. And checking Instagram frequently. And Facebook. And Twitter. And Pinterest.

But I have a great new premise and I'm outlining currently. So, yes, I'm working at it. And taking my Allegra while I breathe the tainted air.

I hope you are finally enjoying a little Spring weather where you are. I hear there's still snow out there. No thank you. I'm also impatient for warmer weather.

Take care, y'all!!

Susan

Dogs in Books by Susan Sands

I've posted quite a lot about my canine friends, now friend, since I began blogging here at Tote Bag

Watson

'n' Blogs. As many of you know, we lost our sweet Boudreaux right after we moved into our new home just before Christmas. 

Our three-year-old Golden-doodle, Watson, has come through his confusion and sadness and surprised us by stepping up his game as single dog in the house. He's become the best dog ever. He's always been a good dog, but his behavior with Boudreaux had concerned us somewhat. We likened him to Eddie Haskell on a good day. If you don't know who that is, you should definitely look him up. 

The personalities in our pups vary so widely, as they do in people, so when authors write dogs as characters in our books, we must remember to create individual characteristics that set them apart from "just any dog." It wouldn't do the dogs we know and love justice to "under" write them as characters in fiction, and they wouldn't be believable.

While writing my recently-completed manuscript, I included a woman's best friend who my main character relied on heavily throughout her journey, both emotional and physical. Daisy Mae is a Beagle with soulful brown eyes and a heart of pure gold. She senses when her mistress needs support and stands by her the entire story.

I'd never written such a significant role for an animal before and found it quite challenging. Remembering to feed the animal, provide exercise, and let her out to potty consistently was exhausting. LOL. Of course, I do these things for my own dog, but remembering to include enough of the care taking in the story without a constant play-by-play that seemed monotonous created a new balancing act. 

This woman needed a dog, so I had to figure out the best way to include Daisy Mae and write her into the story well without detracting from the flow and plot line. 

I would love to hear about your furry friends!! And one day in the near future, I hope you can read about Daisy Mae and her journey with Sadie.

Looking forward toward better weather!!

Susan Sands

So Many Changes! By Susan Sands

Let me start by wishing everyone a very happy new year!! My life mirrors the old adage of "out with

Our Boudreaux

 the old and in with the new" like never before. I've complained incessantly on this blog as we've had three contracts on my house fall through over the last two years. We had so much hope and then excitement turned into bitter disappointment as the sales fell apart.

But, just before Christmas, we finally sold the old unique property we'd lived in for the past eighteen years. Hurray!! After two-and-a-half years on the market and a new realtor, the sale went the distance to closing. We lost our shirts as expected but the home is now a lovely memory as the place where our kids grew up. It was their childhood home and the place of many Christmases past, along with birthdays and other important milestones in our lives.  But we are thrilled to wave goodbye and move forward and embrace the next chapter.

Unfortunately, our sweet love, our family dog of eight years, Boudreaux, had been declining all the while we were packing and moving. We lost him the day after the move three days before Christmas. He was suffering from a neurological condition and a spinal tumor that affected his hind legs. I can hardly type this without tears.

Boudreaux's counterpart pup, Watson, has rolled with so much change in losing his sidekick and moving to a new place with amazing grace. I can tell he wonders and looks for Boudreaux and I wish I could explain it all to him puppy style.

There are still a few boxes left to unpack and moving from a giant house to a townhome has been a massive feat. I've donated so many things even after having an estate sale last year where I unloaded most of my furniture, rugs and art. I sold the baby grand piano just before I moved. So, I thought I was ready for the sizing down. Ha. Not so much.

Change has come to us in ways we've hoped and some we feared, but time moves forward and now we're embracing this new year in new surroundings with one less family member.

Again, Happy New Year to you and yours!! May it bring all the good and none of the bad.

Susan

An Odd Thing Happened on the Way Home...Susan Sands

I left early this morning to drive two hours to Milledgeville, Ga to attend my daughter's sorority tea.
We visited with her "sisters" and their moms for a couple hours, and I hopped back in the car for the drive home. This is one of the many excuses I'll give for being late with my blog post today.

As I drove on I-20 headed back into Atlanta, pushing eighty miles an hour, a car with two large men in the front passed on my left. The passenger was unapologetically snorting what I assumed was cocaine. I tried not to look, but I was obviously surprised by the sight. As they continued around me, I noticed a very large and sparkly pageant crown displayed in the place of honor in the back window. Not a tiara, a full-out CROWN, like Miss America or Miss USA might wear. Or any small-town peanut, pecan, or fruit festival first-place winner in the South. Have you seen the size of those crowns?

Anyway, I digress. All I could think was, "Is there a body in the trunk?" I know that's macabre, and a large stretch, but the writer in me goes nuts when I see something the least bit interesting during a boring drive and it gets my imagination revved up for a good storytelling.

Too bad I don't write suspense--yet. LOL!

Readers always ask where we get our ideas from. I get mine everywhere! Today I got one on I-20 headed west.

I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving and is looking forward to more fun and festivities with family throughout the holiday season.

Merry Everything, y'all!

Susan Sands

TV, Movies, Books, Oh, My! Susan Sands

My husband probably doesn't enjoy watching television with me as much as he used to. I've gotten so  accustomed to figuring out the plot lines of every show or movie that often I can tell him who will die, when, and how it's going to end.

I try to keep quiet, but often I blurt out, "They're going to kill him." Or, "His character has become unredeemable, and therefore he will die." I guess story is story, no matter whether it's in a novel, a television series, or a movie. Especially commercial fiction.

Some types of fiction are less predictable, and I'm pleasantly surprised when I don't see "it" coming. I can appreciate that writer's creativity and vision. Don't get me wrong, I love watching all kinds of comedy, drama, romance, and suspense. We run the gamut with our screen time. Netflix, Amazon, and all the premium channels are well watched in our house.

The problem is that as a writer of fiction, I understand it's all been done. Sometimes very well, and others, not so much. There are certain beats to a story, story problems to solve, and black moments stemming from conflict that occur within a given novel, movie, etc. Not everyone does it the same, certainly, but the underlying core of storytelling helps a writer predict someone else's ending.

In the meantime, I will try not to be that obnoxious I told you so who yells out what's going to happen next. Because I like to be surprised and wrong, so I remain hopeful as I continue to watch all the fantastic new programming that keeps me coming back for more.

Happy reading and watching to all!!

Susan Sands

The Alabama Series by Susan Sands

Christmas is Coming! Post by Susan Sands

Christmas is coming to Ministry, Alabama!

I've been asked to write a Christmas story as a fourth installment in my Alabama book series for Tule Publishing. I'm so excited to finish out the year with this story following Forever, Alabama's release back in March.

I laughed just a little when I saw the idea suggestions for the tone of this title. The word that sprang out at me was fizzy-- as in, effervescent. When I think about the holidays, and how celebrating them might be with the Laroux family in Ministry, Alabama, fizzy might be a descriptive word one could use. A Southern, Christmas-set small town romance. Sounds fun.

But hey, we've got to have some complications here, don't we? Trust issues, family strife, drama, suspense. You're darn right. We can have it all--and we will, y'all. Christmas, Alabama is shaping up to be loads of fun. Handsome stranger, town photographer, and the whole town getting ready for the yearly Christmas festival.

So, as I lower my thermostat, listen to Christmas carols in the middle of summer, and rewatch some of my favorite recorded Hallmark holiday classics, I'll be working on capturing the Christmas spirit and creating another Alabama story for readers.

 

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