Susanna Carr is my long-time friend and critique partner. This interview reflects both the great humor Susanna's books contain, and also the friendship we share.

Q. What do you write? 

Susanna Carr: What do you mean what do I write?  You’ve been critiquing my sexy contemporary romances for years now.  At least, I’ve been assuming you’ve been critiquing it.  Is there something you need to tell me?

Q: What publisher(s) do you write or have you written for?

SC: WTF!  You know I write for Kensington Brava.  What is with these questions?  Are you on crack?  You probably don’t even remember that I wrote a short contemporary romance for Heartline Books, a UK small press that is sadly no longer around.  But you better have The Wrong Bride on your shelves, Jess.  Your keeper shelf, now that I think about it.  I’ll be checking in on that.

Q. Tell us a bit about your current/upcoming release(s).

SC: You really haven’t been listening to me, huh?  The nerve.  Let’s review:

I’m in How to be a “Wicked” Woman, an anthology that launches Brava’s “Wicked” Woman anthology series.  In October 2004, I have a novella in the Brava holiday anthology, Merry Christmas, Baby.  Then in January 2005, “Wicked” Women 101 hits the shelves.  It’s a single-author Brava anthology.  I think that technically makes it an omnibus, but I won’t swear by it.

Q: What year did you get "The Call"? 

SC: For Kensington Brava?  I got the email about five minutes before I called you and screamed in your ear.  Don’t you remember??????

Q: Describe your first sale experience.

SC: There have been so many firsts that I’m a perpetual virgin.  I’ve written about two recent first sales on my site.  You can read about it at http://www.susannacarr.com/susanna.htm#note.

Q. Is there anything you wish you had known/done before you made that first sale or subsequent sales?

SC: That there really is a secret handshake, but you have to be double-jointed to master it.  Oh, and I should have paid more attention to the industry side of things.

Q. What is the best piece of craft advice you can give an aspiring author?

SC: Miller Genuine Draft will cut through any writer’s block.  That, and if you hit the proverbial writing wall, skip the scene you’re working on and keep writing the story.  You can go back to the hard part when you’re ready and have a better grasp of the story.  For best results, follow both tips at the same time.

Q.  What is the best piece of industry advice you can give an aspiring author?  

SC: Run.  Run away.  Run far, far away.  Unless you are unwilling to learn about the industry, think your first draft is your final one, expect the editors to be accessible 24/7 and believe that the rules are for everyone but you.  Those candidates may apply because I need all the help I can get to look professional.

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