Hello Suzanne and thanks for interviewing with me!
Since I was unable to learn very much about you, the author, (online) I’d like to start with some basic questions before we get to the writing side of things. This way your book readers can learn a thing or two about their new favorite author.
To begin, where in Australia were you born? Did you spend your entire childhood there, or did your family move as you got older? Big town? Small city? Something sort of in between the two?
Hi Charline, thanks for having me here.
Well I was born in Sydney and have lived here my whole life. I live in a beautiful suburb called North Rocks which is about 30 minutes drive north west of the City centre and around 45 minutes drive to the nearest beach, we live opposite the bush which is beautiful but we are also prone to a few spiders and snakes from time to time.
Spiders… *shudder*
As a child, what kinds of things did you do for fun? Were you more of a book reader, craft and creative sort of child – or did you prefer the adventures of outdoor activities? Swimming, exploring, camping, dancing, etc.
My mum is a writer and has a long history of writing plays and musicals so I grew up involved in local theatre as well as taking dance and drama classes. My favourite time of the year was (and still is) the summer holidays were we would spend long days by the beach surfing, reading or just sleeping … bring on January!
Being that you’re now an author, I’m presuming that as a child you did have a love of the written word. Was that love present ever since you can remember, or was it something you developed over time? When did this love develop and how did it grow over time?
I have always loved to read … my favourite stories growing up were adventure stories. I kind of get addicted to books – bordering on obsessive if it’s a book I love. I remember walking along the street when I was younger reading a book I couldn’t put down driving my parents crazy. Now I’m never without a reading device, although I try to refrain from reading when I’m at the traffic lights … although sometimes it is tempting. 🙂
I once got off the elevator (returning to my shared hotel room), only to discover that my room’s key card wouldn’t work. I had to stop reading my book to call my friend – turned out I got out on the wrong floor. Long story short (when I’m reading a book in the elevator) I’ve learned to verify the floor prior to exiting the elevator! *chuckle*
Returning to you though, did you ever write stories as a child? If so, what were they about?
Yes, funny as it sounds, when my girlfriends and I were teenagers we spent weekends writing stories for each other – of course they always involved the guys we were crushing on at the time and how we would get married and how many children we would have … they were very detailed of course even including family trees, children’s names and a compulsory HEA.
I don’t think the guys ever knew … they probably would have been horrified to think we had them married with five or six kids …
When was the moment you knew with certainty that you wanted to write books as a career choice? Was there any ‘one’ thing in particular that triggered this, or had you always just sort of ‘known?’
It is something that I always wanted to do, so I enrolled in a writing course and two years later here I am. Originally I was thinking of writing a historical novel about my great, great, great grandmother who came to Australia in the early days of settlement and I had been playing around with ideas when my sister told me about a funny lunch she’d had and it was the trigger for Unravelled in New York. It has been an amazing journey and I have learnt so much from it.
I love historical reads, especially when facts are used to create a more ‘realistic’ read. I think the story about your great, great, great grandmother would be an amazingly interesting tale!
So, in July of this year, you released Unravelled in New York. 
Catchy title to be sure. Being that you live in Australia, what prompted you to use New York as the setting for your story? Can you provide us with a brief ‘overview?’
I wanted to write a story across two countries as I loved the idea of exploring the differences in language and culture. I kind of have a ‘thing’ for New York, just love it, and really if it wasn’t so far away (and I was better at flying) I would visit every year (oh and I guess the cost factor …).
I was lucky enough to visit New York and Boston twice while I was writing the book … once with my sister where I just fell in love with the vibe and the energy of the city, and again with family and friends last year. We had an amazing time.
Unravelled in New York is the story of Charli Cooper a young journalist who moves to New York from Australia escaping a relationship break-up. She meets businessman Jack Manning, who is not interested in anything but advancing his own self-interest. They don’t get off to the best start and Charli senses there may be more to Jack Manning than he lets on. As she begins to unlock the truth about him, she realizes she might just find the story she’s been looking for — leaving her with a difficult choice between her ambition and her heart.
Sounds like an interesting read…
As you take a look back at the beginning of your writing process, can you share what it was that inspired the writing of this romance novel?
Just the idea of building characters that despite their faults and flaws they can fall in love … I guess I’ve been inspired by some of my favourite authors who can weave magic with their beautiful stories and words. I love reading and creating stories and I’ve really enjoyed the amazing journey of seeing my ideas come to life on the page.
Did the book turn out the way you initially planned it to – or did that characters take on a life/mind of their own; leaving you with nothing to do except to memorialize their journey?
Kind of … the characters did evolve for sure, but I was clear on the type of characters Charli, Clark, Jack and Mia would be and also their dynamics with one another. Without giving away too much one of the important climax chapters towards the end of the book I had written early on … So I found myself writing up to that chapter and their journey did take me on unexpected paths along the way.
What’s next for you in the literary world? Do you have another manuscript already in progress, or are you taking a small break while waiting for the muse of inspiration to strike?
I have actually started on another story and well, I hope it won’t take me quite as long to write. I’m bringing an American to Australia for a bit of a role reversal. I love the idea of finding romance when you least expect it. I can tell you he is not too happy about moving here, he starts out pretty snarky, but I hope he gets use to it. 🙂
Lastly, as an up-and-coming author, are there any words of wisdom you’d like to pass along to aspiring writers as they embark upon their own literary journey?
Sure, well I’ve really loved it – the whole process and even when I didn’t think I could finish it and put it away for a few months, I’m so glad I persevered with it.
My advice would be to find an editor that you can relate to and that understands your genre. You get so close to your work (as does everyone close to you) it’s hard to keep objective. It’s hard to cull those scenes you really love, that you’ve worked so hard over. I learnt so much from my editor and she was generous with her time and also really encouraging.
That’s great advice, I share the same advice with others. The writer/editor relationship is so important – and if it’s not working, it is okay to switch!
Suzanne, that you again for spending time with me today. I certainly wish you the very best in all of your current, and future, endeavors!
Thank you so much Charline it’s been great, thank you for having me. 🙂
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Sydney journalist Charli Cooper is making major changes in her life. She has no idea what destiny has in store for her as she moves half way around the world for a fresh start.
Jack Manning is everything Charli shouldn’t want. He is arrogant, cocky and use to getting what he wants. He has no time to deal with an inexperienced journalist who has no idea of the New York social hierarchy.
As she unlocks the truth about Manning and his empire, she realises all is not as it seems and if she digs deep enough, she might just find the story she has been looking for. She has to make a decision between her ambition and her heart.
Will the secrets they both hold cause their delicately poised relationship to crumble?
Can one mistake unravel their lives?
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About the Author:
With a passion for reading and writing Suzanne has been creating stories all her life through both her writing and dance teaching. Suzanne is a graduate from IMEB (Aus) and is a member of Romance Writers, Australia, she is also a qualified and registered dance and drama teacher.
When she is not bombarding family and friends with story ideas she can be found in front of a class of students teaching dance or curled up with a good book. She loves romantic stories, angsty reads and dark-haired heroes. She also loves travelling, her recent highlights have been her trips to Los Angeles, New York, and Boston and she dreams about going back there soon.
Suzanne lives in Sydney, Australia with her husband and three gorgeous boys.
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Thanks for sharing!