Happy Saturday, Readers! I’m back with another author interview, and this one is with Susan Tuttle. Susan was a delight to get to know, and she’s an amazing writer as well. Read on to find out more about Susan and her work:
she’s a mom of three and happily married to her best friend. Between still
homeschooling her youngest and leading the women’s ministry at church, she
finds time to write stories filled with inspiration, hope, and encouragement.
Welcome to the blog, Susan! It’s so great to have you here. Let’s kick things off with one of my favorite questions to ask authors: What are your favorite books from childhood, and why?
I’m going to fudge a little on this question and give the two favorites from when my kiddos were little. I LOVED the If You Give a Mouse a Cookie series by Laura Numeroff and also the Elephant & Piggie books by Mo Williams. If they’d been around when I was little, I would have definitely read them. I loved the absolute joy and laughter and silliness of these books. Yet they also felt very real to me. My kids and I would laugh and laugh as we read them, and there is nothing better than finding joy in reading at a young age.
I used to be a children’s librarian, so you’re definitely speaking my language! I’m a big fan of both of those series. They’re so whimsical and funny and really speak to most kids’ daily experiences. They’re also a joy to read as an adult, which is a definite bonus. In line with questions about childhood, where did you grow up? Do you use this setting in your novels?
I grew up in West Michigan and still live here and YES, I use this area as a basis for the towns I create. I absolutely love where I live (even when I’m complaining about the long, cold winters) and it makes for a beautiful backdrop for my stories. We’re close to the Great Lakes, have four seasons, small towns and a perfect-size city. I truly feel like we have it all.
I grew up in a small town in a four-season state, too (though Missouri winters don’t get quite as cold as Michigan’s!), and I feel the same way about where I grew up. Lots of good story ideas to be born out of beautiful settings. Continuing to talk writing, we all have projects that are a real bear! Which project of yours was the toughest to write, and why?
My latest release, Never Too Late! With my kids getting older right along with my parents, it’s put me firmly into those “sandwich” years. My writing time can be slim, and sometimes I’m walking my parents through health issues that can also take an emotional toll. And then this story and characters just didn’t want to flow like my other stories did while writing. I fought for every single word and the entire time it felt very disjointed. Yet when it was all finished, God had faithfully dropped in themes and moments I never realized he was stitching together as we wrote. He is forever faithful!
He definitely is! I know it it’s tough to strike the right balance with managing our personal and professional lives, though, and it takes wisdom to sort everything out. It’s helpful when you know you’re doing the task to which God has called you. That said, what do you love about the genre in which you write?
I write romance and I love romance, so… No, but seriously, I feel like God is the biggest romancer of them all. He pursues us and loves us lavishly, so to be able to write all about love just allows me to incorporate him into every story. And you know with romance, a happily-ever-after is guaranteed, so the story is always going to end on a note of hope, which is something we all desperately need right now.
That is so true. We’re living in perilous times, and we need the light of Christ more than ever! What part of the book creation process do you like best-brainstorming, writing, editing, marketing?
Editing! Most definitely editing. The rough draft is always painful for me to get down. And while I love brainstorming other peoples’ stories, I don’t quite enjoy the process for my own. But when the story is on paper and I can begin to play with it and draw out the little nuggets that are there? That’s my favorite part. I love deepening the plot, developing my characters’ unique traits, and ultimately taking the rough draft and making it shine. I agonize over every word, but that process of strengthening the story is always the
most fun for me.
I’m with you on that! The initial work of creation is taxing for me, too. I’m usually most in love with my story when my left brain can take over and polish up all the rough edges of the manuscript. It’s such a joy to have that finished product in hand at the end, though!
I really appreciate you joining us on the blog today, Susan. Thanks so much for sharing your life and your writing with us. Care to tell us about your most recent book release?
Widowed homemaker Rachael Stark isn’t quite sure what comes after her only child leaves for college.
To fill her suddenly quiet hours and scrawny bank account, she needs a job. But painful memories prevent her from resurrecting her former art career, and “motherhood” isn’t much of a resume. When her best friend needs help recovering from a gunshot wound that occurred in the line of duty, she is there. Finally, someone to take care of.
Evan Wayne won’t let his injury keep him from being a police officer. His dedication to protect the innocent stems from the guilt he carries over having failed his childhood friend. What he needs now is to recover and get back on the streets. Instead, he’s handed a myriad of light duty tasks by his captain—one of which involves heading up the department’s entry into the town’s annual mural contest. He’s not an artist, but he definitely knows one. And he’ll take any excuse to spend more time with her.
When Rachael agrees to paint for Evan, she never expects to also be drawn into finding answers for the mother of a missing child. As the two friends work side-by-side on the mural and the case, their feelings move beyond friendship. But with Evan unwilling to leave his dangerous job, and Rachael unwilling to risk another loss of a loved one, their fears may paint over the promise of a beautiful future together.
Readers, if you’re interested in purchasing Susan’s book, click on through for the info!
Your book sounds fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing. If readers want to find you online, where should they look?
Website: www.susanltuttle.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanltuttle5
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanltuttle/
Newsletter: https://bit.ly/3ES28S7
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/susan-l-tuttle
Amazon: https://amazon.com/author/susanltuttle
Thanks so much for joining us today, Susan. It’s been a joy to have you on the blog!
Keep reading!
Shaen
