NK Chats To…Susanne Dunlap

Hi Susanne, thank you so much for joining me today and for inviting Novel Kicks onto the blog tour for The Falconer’s Lost Baron. Can you tell us a little about it?

This book is #4 in my Double-Dilemma romance series, and features a few characters from the previous book—although not as protagonists. Unlike the others, The Falconer’s Lost Baron takes place in Cornwall rather than London, and not during the height of the season. The story begins on December 1, 1814 and goes through Christmas, although it’s not really a holiday romance.

In it “twin” sisters, Antonella and Belinda, discover right at the beginning that they are not, in fact, twins—or even sisters. This propels the story as Belinda tries to right a wrong and discover the mystery behind Antonella’s birth, and Antonella has to grapple with losing the identity she’s had for 18 years. Also damaged in a profound way is Lord Atherleigh, who has returned to his estate following the loss of his left hand in the battle of Nivelle and undergoing months of painful surgeries. His friend, Hector Gainesworth, tries to get him to rejoin the world—especially after he meets Belinda at a dress party during the Little Season and discovers she is a neighbor of Atherleigh in Cornwall.

Antonella’s love of birds and fascination with falconry is threaded throughout.

The Falconer’s Lost Baron is book four in the Double-Dilemma series. What are the challenges when writing a series, even when each book stands alone?

I think for me the biggest challenge has been deciding on the timing. If they’re consecutive, how do the characters in one age out of the picture? And what exactly is it that ties the books together as a series? I’ve chosen to have characters reappear, which means I have to write the possibility of those reappearances in the books that precede them. Which means, too, creating enough of a secondary character in the earlier book to make them a believable protagonist in the next book.

What’s your writing day like? Do you have any writing rituals?

I have no set writing day pattern. I work full time for myself as an editor and book coach, so I generally try to do all that work first so it’s not weighing on me before I sit down at my laptop and write. Because I’m trying to get these books out in a certain time frame, I’ve lately sacrificed what used to be my leisure reading time—the hour before bed—to writing. That means the books I read have to be consumed as audiobooks for when I’m walking, cooking, ironing, etc.

If your book featured a playlist with modern day songs, which songs would you include?

I can’t really answer this. I don’t listen to today’s music, ever! I’m a classical pianist with a PhD in music history, so I tend to listen to Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, Puccini, etc. and I usually write in silence.

What’s your favourite word and why?

Symbiosis. I love this word because it implies a harmonious melding of things. I try to achieve a sort of symbiosis between my day job and my writing and especially love it when I have clients who are also writing historical fiction or historical romance. And I created a program for romance writers that brings together everything I’ve learned in my 20 years as a published author and six years as a certified book coach. I’m a natural teacher—I wanted to teach music history at college level after I got my degree, but the stars didn’t align for reasons too complicated to go into here.

What drew you to Regency Romance as a genre and what are its challenges and advantages?

I blame it all on Georgette Heyer. I discovered her in the last few years, and have devoured every one of her Regency novels multiple times. Then I started reading contemporary Regency authors—Mary Balogh, Christina Dudley, Audra Wells, M.C. Beaton, Julia Quinn etc.—and devoured Bridgerton.

The challenge is not making it “more of the same” while still honoring what readers expect of a Regency romance. The advantage is mainly that there are many readers who love the genre, and research is relatively available—especially through the Regency Writers Association.

Which fictional character (from a novel you’ve not written), would you like to make a cameo in one of your books?

Emma Woodhouse! She’s so likeable/not likeable and could completely mess things up without even trying.

How do you approach the planning, research and editing processes and what advice do you have for aspiring writers?

Oh boy, this is really a subject for a whole essay or course! In essence I start with an idea, figure out the protagonists, do the research (books, Web) and sweat the draft onto the page. Then I LOVE the editing process. Because even though I plan a bit, things happen on the way and I don’t really know what I have until I’ve written the ending. The editing is where the writing really happens.

My advice to aspiring writers: understand that it’s a long game. Just do the work, be open to good feedback, and try not to be a perfectionist—because you’ll never finish anything that way.

In your opinion, what’s the most common mistakes new writers make when approaching this genre for the first time?

I think they assume that if they hit all the plot “beats” they’ll end up with a successful romance. But the most important aspect of romance is what’s going on inside the protagonists—the emotion, the desire. Not getting that on the page is the most common mistake I see.

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve discovered since you’ve started writing?

That I can actually do this? LOL!

Would you rather –

Have unlimited books or have £1,000,000?

Since my apartment is already crammed with enough books to constitute a library, I’d go with the money. That would allow me to travel to more places for research and be more charitable.

Be able to fly or be invisible?

Be able to fly. Because the hardest thing is getting that bird’s-eye view of my work and my life.

Live in the city or the country?

I’m happy in both, but since I live alone, the city is better because there are more people around and closer things to do.

Live in an eternal spring, summer, autumn, or winter?

Autumn, I think. Because autumn reminds us that nothing lasts forever and it’s important to seize opportunities and live life well while you can—and it’s not yet winter so you don’t have to dig out your car.

Be able to read minds or control things with your mind?

Oh I don’t think I’d want to read minds (as Emma says on Box Hill) because I think it would be terrifying. Controlling things with my mind is definitely the answer.

Have the ability to spend one day in the future or visit one day in the past?

The past. Come on! I’m a historian! Don’t ask me which day, though, because that would be an almost impossible choice. Except I might pick a day when all the people I love were still alive.

See the movie or read the book first?

The book, absolutely. Although I love watching adaptations of books and seeing how directors have interpreted them to help me understand what their decisions of what to include and what to leave out say about storytelling.

Have magical powers here on earth or live in a magical place without powers?

I’d rather have magical powers here and be able to help people with them.

About Susanne Dunlap –

Susanne Dunlap is the author of over a dozen historical novels featuring strong women, from Medieval times to the 20^th century. This is the fourth Regency Romance in her series of Double-Dilemma Romances.

Susanne lives and writes in Biddeford, Maine.

Say hello to Susanne on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. 

About The Falconer’s Lost Baron – 

A sweeping Regency tale of identity, devotion, and unexpected romance.

Lady Antonella thought she knew who she was—until a shattering family secret strips her of her name, her place in society, and her future. Cast adrift in Cornwall, she finds an injured goshawk in a poacher’s net and begins to nurse it back to health. But the hawk belongs to the war-scarred Lord Atherleigh—a man haunted by loss, determined to dismantle his mews, and certainly not expecting a spirited young woman to upend his solitude.

In London, her twin sister Belinda—radiant, poised, and newly on the marriage market—has only one goal: to find a worthy match… for Antonella. But when Hector Gainesworth, a charming rogue with laughter in his eyes and secrets of his own, turns his attention to Belinda instead, her heart begins to spin in an altogether unexpected direction.

As the sisters navigate betrayal, desire, and the demands of their hearts, two men must decide whether to risk everything for love. And Antonella’s goshawk may be the wild, winged thread that binds their fates.

The Falconer’s Lost Baron is book four in the Double Dilemma series and was released on 1st December 2025. Click to buy on Amazon UK and Amazon US. 

by

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.