5 QUESTIONS FOR AUTHOR SUSAN WINGATE

Susan Wingate was a finalist for the 2009 National Best Books Award and the 2009 Next Generation Indie Book Award.  She's a talented writer who's written novels, plays, screenplays and poetry.  She lives in the state of Washington with her husband, two dogs and many other animals.  There's plenty of info on her web page: http://www.susanwingate.com/  She was kind enough to spend a few moments with me to answer some questions just before her latest book tour.

Question # 1--Tell us about your current book?


It’s as if a younger version Miss Marple investigated the crime of Capote's "In Cold Blood." EASY AS PIE is the continuing story about Georgette Carlisle and her diner called Bobby’s Diner. It’s best described as follows: Running a diner isn’t always a piece of cake. Georgette Carlisle, nearing fifty, after losing her first husband five years before is about to lose her next, Hawthorne Biggs. Now running the business with Roberta, old friend, Helen, comes back to Sunnydale and, once again, she is attracted to Georgette’s man. When the two women part company, Helen goes missing. After battling the most egregious sins of men, Georgette and Roberta brave separation, torture and near death. Through the story they discover strengths that empower them separately but more importantly strengths that empower them together. EASY AS PIE is the number two book in the four-part “Bobby’s Diner” series. In keeping with the original novel, the tale, EASY AS PIE, is women's fiction that involves a love triangle, a suspense and, now, a story that slips eerily into romance.

Question# 2-- Where will your book tour take you?

All over the place, from coast to coast. I start in Phoenix as the kick-off city because much of the story takes place there. Then I go to New York and will be attending the BookExpoAmerica conference. It’s the biggest book event in the world. After that I travel to Washington State, my hometown, Oregon, California, Texas and Nevada. My book tour is listed two places—on my website, of course but also at BookTour.com, www.booktour.com/author/susan_wingate. The tour will include many readings and signings but also a few writing workshops along the way. It will be a blast!

Question # 3--Where do you see the book industry in 5 years?


This may be the biggest question of this new century. The book industry has always led other industries in breaking open new and exciting technologies and we’re seeing that in action at this very second. It’s funny because I hear people say that print books will be a thing of the past. Maybe so, but I don’t think in our lifetimes. What the industry has witnessed is a bloom in eBook sales but also, repurchases of the same books sold after the eBook is purchased. It’s like people can get a story cheap (much like dime novels in the early 1900s) and then if they enjoy the read, they turn around and buy it in print because they want to keep it on a bookshelf or by the bed or something. Anyway, that’s what’s happening currently. I think we’ll see a surge of ebooksellers and peripherals that will allow more businesses to do business in the next five years but I don’t see print books going away any time soon.

Question # 4--What's the most challenging aspect to getting published? Writing the book or the marketing?

I wonder what other authors would say here. Hmm. Some might say, “Getting published!” But, for me, it’s the time invested in a search for a publisher that’s most challenging. The search consumes a load of time to find either an agent or a publisher to pick up a story. Of course, this isn’t so with the couple of hundred authors like James Patterson or Stephen King. They don’t have the same problems that other working writers do. But, believe me, they have problems. It’s a gritty industry and you have to have thick skin to stick with it. What bothers me most is the time away from writing. I hate it. I’d rather be writing. The publishing is like a bi-product of writing. A writer starts out writing, maybe with an eye looking to get published but I think we mostly start out just writing and loving that part. Then it morphs into the business of writing which is completely abstract in terms of writing but also in terms of business. I’ve been involved in many different businesses in my life and the publishing industry is forever changing rules, whether that’s how writers approach a publisher or whether the technology is leading the change. But, it’s a business that would be very difficult to leave, for me anyway.

Question # 5--Why are Italian writers from Phoenix so sexy? (Just kidding) Tell us about your next project?

Italian writers from Phoenix are so sexy because they are so cute and sweet and funny and can make you laugh when you’re trying to do something serious like answer interview questions! J

My next project is three projects. First, is the third book in the Bobby’s Diner series with a title we haven’t quite figured out yet. Second, is a children’s story. And, third, is a quirky weird urban romance.