About Susan Frances:
I was born in a small village in Surrey, England.
I wrote stories from an early age and still have some of them from when I was 7 years old and the spellings are lovely!
I continued writing until exams and college took over.
As a child my summer holidays were always spent in Devon and I was fascinated by my grandfather’s tales about our Devon family roots.
Years later, I began to research the family history and many documents and files later, I wondered what to do with all the data I had accumulated. There was a situation in 1840 that made me think – Why did she do that? Did she do it? I could write a book about that! So began The Chiddleigh Saga.
I moved to Devon and lived in the village which formed the setting for No One Must Know, Book 1 of The Chiddleigh Saga.
I now live on the Devon coast and enjoy walking with my husband, Bill, and our dog, Monty.
What inspires you to write?
The kick of knowing people enjoy reading my books as much as I love writing them. You can't please everyone but I love to get feedback so I can improve on the next book.
The Chiddleigh Saga began as an account of my family history. I quickly realised that just because something happened it doesn't necessarily make a good read! Also, starting the story in medieval England, I didn't have enough information to write a book! So, I create stories loosely around my research and develop characters to bring my ideas alive.
What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?
Ken Follett – the king of historical fiction. A reviewer for Book 1, No One Must Know, put me a close second to him. My most treasured praise.
Tell us about your writing process.
I'm a planner. I write pages of notes, story plans, timelines and character sketches using pen and paper. As these take shape I use spreadsheets and Word tables to make sense of it all.
As I write the first draft, additional plots and twists pop into my head and some characters may change their manner. I sometimes wonder if the characters dictate what they do!
So I am a mix of both a planner and a write-as-you -go type of author.
I now have two PC screens which makes life a lot easier.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
All the time! By the time my book is in the final editing stage, if I met them in the street I wouldn't be surprised!
What advice would you give other writers?
Writing is hard word and very personal. It's not easy to have others criticise it but if I have learned one thing it is to have faith in your writing but listen to others – your beta reader and editor are seeing this as a reader will see it. You may not initially agree with them, but take time to consider what they are saying.
There are times when I think, this is rubbish and sometimes it is. That's the time to press the delete button. But keep going and write what you want to write. Some characters are easier to write than others, so make your main characters ones you enjoy writing because it shows.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I spent hours and hours researching possible agents and agonised over endless query letters, all to no avail.
I write for pleasure, not to make money or a name for myself (although it would be nice!) and after many months, maybe even a year, I decided to self-publish.
It can be a lot of work but there is a lot of help out there and my second book was easy because I knew what I was doing.
First decision: paperback or just e-book?
I publish both because I prefer to hold a book and see it on my shelf, but it is the e-books that sell. As a self-publisher it is almost impossible to get your printed books into shops.
Use a professional cover designer and don't be afraid to go abroad – my designer is Latvian.
Use a professional editor. It may seem like a huge expense but it makes the difference between amateur and a polished finish.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think Indie books is a growing trend and, given support, will hold their own against the big publishing houses. But to do this, the Indie industry and writers now, have to be professional.
As a reader I think there is a lot of Indie talent out there, some of which are better than published authors, but to make our mark, we must keep up the professional standard.
What genres do you write?: Historical fiction
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Susan Frances Home Page Link
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
Twitter
All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
