Based on the song, “Miss Susie had a Steamboat,” which is just a simple song from your childhood, right? But have you ever wondered how Miss Susie got into all those messes? Or what that song was specifically referring to? Imagine that the story of Miss Susie isn’t an innocent, age-appropriate song. What if she was a party girl, whose life intertwined with other campfire song characters? Forget the eight-year old thrill of almost saying a bad word while chanting this song over slapping hands, and get comfortable, because you’re in for a wild ride.
Targeted Age Group:: 16+
What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
As a new mom, it was a rough few first weeks being up at all hours of the night rocking and feeding a newborn. After singing every song I knew to soothe a crying infant, and as the lack of sleep seeped into my brain, I started to wonder about the songs I was singing, and BAM! The story of Miss Susie was already there, each line of the song serving as a new chapter.
How Did You Come up With Your Characters?
The main characters of the book are from camp songs, “Miss Susie had a Steamboat,” “Miss Mary Mack,” “The Princess Pat,” but so many more are woven throughout the book as references and characters as well. Each character has a part of me in them, a part of me exaggerated, but still real.
Book Sample
“Oh, listen! We have a story for you!” Pat started telling Susie about the adventure they just had. Pat had seen a guy she knew, and had dragged Mary over with her. After buying them another drink, he had pointed to a senorita with flowers in her hair nearby, surrounded by a ring of people. She was doing a beautiful dance, shaking her hips, her shoulders and spinning rhythmically. Pat’s friend then told them she went by Bobo and could “hook them up” if they were interested. He promised to help them out, as the deal needed to go just right. Bobo finished dancing, then headed over to a table where already empty bottles and appetizers were spread out.
“Bobo?” Pat’s friend approached the Senorita with flowers in her hair.
“Si?” Bobo answered with a question.
“Wattin, tattin,” the guy said indicating two different kinds of “candy” and then producing a twenty.
“Eh, eh, eh, eh,” Bobo said, shaking her head at the amount.
“Boom, boom, boom,” the guy said, handing over three more twenties.
“Mini-mini, wah wah,” Bobo said, indicating the girls were little, and handing over the “candy” along with two water bottles.
“Bobo?” Pat asked, suddenly becoming more daring as an idea struck her.
“Si?” Bobo looked at her curiously.
“Wah wah?” Pat asked again, then said, “Bobo,” more seriously.
“Si?” Bobo asked.
“Wah Wah,” Pat said, with a nod at another little powder and handing over two twenties, “boom, boom.”
“Yeah,” said Bobo, handing over a bottle of water and a packet to be shaken into it. Pat’s friend looked impressed, and said he’d be back in twenty minutes to see how she was doing.
Pat neglected to tell Susie the last part of the story, but instead just handed her the third bottle of water, knowing Susie would love getting some kind of a high with them, but wouldn’t do it knowingly. Susie took the water bottle thankfully, seeing both of them drinking water, and chugged half of it in one sip. Even though she had just slammed Mary for drinking water, she was feeling thirsty and was grateful for a non-alcoholic drink, although it did taste a little off.
And then, Susie was waking up in her bed wearing nothing but the strip of fabric that had been previously holding her sunflowers together. Definitely Lindsay Lohan. Boom, boom, ain’t it great to be crazy?
Links to Purchase Print Books
Link to Buy The Tale of Miss Susie and her Steamboat: And Other Songs from your Childhood Explained Print Edition at Amazon
Link to The Tale of Miss Susie and her Steamboat: And Other Songs from your Childhood Explained Print book for sale via at CreateSpace
Link to Buy The Tale of Miss Susie and her Steamboat: And Other Songs from your Childhood Explained Print Edition at Barnes and Noble
Links to Purchase eBooks – Click links for book samples and reviews
Is this book in Kindle Unlimited? Yes
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