A Moment With…Susan A. King

It’s so exciting to be welcoming Susan A. King to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for Toffee Apple Strudel.

A NEW BEATTIE BRAMSHAW MYSTERY – It’s the summer of 2001, and for WI Secretary and practised busybody Beattie Bramshaw, it’s a time of new beginnings.

Her much-anticipated wedding to vegetable grower extraordinaire Doug Sparrow is now just months away. However, in the throes of setting up their marital home and new market garden business, she receives a surprise request to care for a distant relative.

Likewise, a number of her fellow Elmesbury residents also find their lives on the cusp of change, and not all for the good. Is it pure chance that the arrival of Beattie’s young ward coincides with yet another murder in the village? Or were plans already afoot?

Once again, Beattie picks up the gauntlet, but can she solve the case and uncover the murderer’s identity before it casts a shadow over her wedding to Doug?

Toffee Apple Strudel is a comedy crime caper in the style of Agatha Raisin and sees the conclusion of the ‘Beattie Bramshaw Mysteries series’. Make a brew, grab a chair, and prepare for a fun-filled finale.

Here to talk about Procrastination vs. Circumstance, over to you, Susan. Tbank you us joining us today. 

Thank you, Laura, for inviting me to write a Guest Post for Novel Kicks.

Having given much thought to what I could or should write about, I did wonder if discussing the time gap between the publication of my second and third book, and the angst that accompanied it, would make for an interesting topic.

As is well known, an author is often prone to bouts of procrastination and, dare I say, can become rather proficient at it. I have amazed myself at the keenness I have shown towards seeking out cobwebs in the back of a cupboard or tending a flower bed that shows no evidence of plant material, let alone weeds! Indeed, the lengths authors will go to, to seek out an activity with which to postpone the completion of the manuscript waiting patiently on their PC, should probably be re-classified as an art form or, at the very least, a new Olympic sport.

I must admit that there was certainly an element of procrastination involved in the length of time it took me to complete my third book, but to be fair to myself, circumstance also had a part to play.

Life has a funny way of throwing curveballs when we least expect it, and it is at these times we really have no alternative but to prioritise what is most important in our lives. In my case, a house move and a close relative’s health took my attention away from the writing process. Months would go by without giving it a thought, followed by moments of self-guilt over my lack of productivity. I recall regularly admonishing myself, promising that tomorrow I would find the time and will to produce at least 100 words. Of course, when this didn’t occur, I would feel unworthy all over again. Now I look back at that time, I realise that had I sat down and written anything, it is more than likely that what I produced would not have been of any merit.

Eventually, the events holding me back were resolved, but even then, I found it difficult to get back into a rhythm, and I patiently waited until I felt my enthusiasm return.

I think for writers, it is important to be in the right head space when writing, and we should, perhaps, be more forgiving of ourselves when the writing bug decides to up sticks and take a vacation. Accepting that life sometimes has a habit of not always performing as we would wish it to is a good lesson to learn.

As it is, perhaps having to wait this length of time was fortuitous. My third book, Toffee Apple Strudel, is due to be published on the date of my husband and I’s 21^st wedding anniversary. A fitting date, I think, for a double celebration.

Wishing every aspiring writer all the enthusiasm the universe can muster and sending best wishes,

Susan A. King

About Susan A. King –

Susan A. King lives with her husband in the North East’s equivalent to San Tropez, otherwise known as Hartlepool.

The inspiration for her debut novel, Marrow Jam, came from her long experience and observation of competitors at a local country show where she regularly aspires to win Best in Show with her floral arrangements. Unsuccessful to date, she has been tempted to investigate more underhand methods by which to acquire the trophy but has yet to sink to the depths described in her novel. Or so she would have you believe!

Marrow Jam was shortlisted for the Write Here, Right Now novel competition at the Bradford Literature Festival.

The second book in the ‘Beattie Bramshaw Mysteries series’, Banana Devil Cake, is available in e-book and both are published by Eye/Lightning Books.

Toffee Apple Strudel sees the conclusion of the ‘Beattie Bramshaw Mysteries series’.

Say hello on Facebook, X and Instagram. 

Toffee Apple Strudel was released on 13th August. Click to buy on Amazon. 

Susan King is hosting a giveaway on X, take a look here for all the details. 

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Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.