Meet the Author: Susanna Rogers

Susanna’s top tip: Write, write, write and then write some more. If you’re serious, finish your first novel and then write the next one because your second book will be much better than your first. And read. A lot. Most of all, enjoy it!

I met Susanna Rogers when we both joined a critique group organised by best-selling novelist Anna Jacobs, so it’s a particular pleasure to introduce her to you today. In January we’ll celebrate the 14th anniversary of our close-knit critique group and in that time I’ve seen Susy’s writing at all stages from initial concept and first draft to final polished manuscript. She’s one of the hardest working, most committed writers I know and I’m thrilled to see Infiltration out in the marketplace and available for an audience of teen readers, who I’m sure will want to keep turning the pages to find out what happens next in this gripping novel about an elite soldier from the future on a mission to change the past.

 

Susanna Rogers is the author of kick butt books for young adults. She also writes romance and at one point moved to a life of crime – you might be seeing more of that. She loves writing young adult, partly because she’s an overgrown teenager and partly because she can write the kick butt heroines she adores. She’s also a kickboxer and dreams of empowering girls and guys around the globe to believe in themselves, to take care and follow their own dreams. Susanna believes in love and kicking ass and a little bit of murder here and there.

She would love to hear from you – susannarogers.com.

AUTHOR INSIGHT

Why do you write? I write young adult books because they’re fun and exciting to write. It was liberating writing my first YA book because I felt I could let rip with the ideas and also with the way I write. Travel to another dimension? No problem. Save the world from a virus that’s going to wipe out the population? Sure, I can do that. See what I mean about it being fun… For me, it’s a wonderful way to explore different characters and ideas.

What would you be doing if you weren’t a writer? A vampire slayer, for sure. Or a kickboxing instructor. No, hang on, I am actually a kickboxing instructor. The strange thing is that in some ways, I’d be happier if I wasn’t a writer because there’d be much less pain and frustration – but, then, I wouldn’t have the highs I get from writing. And I wouldn’t give them up for the world.

What’s the best aspect of your writing life? I couldn’t possibly name one ‘best’ aspect. There are too many things that I love about it. I like setting my own hours which often means going to the gym in the morning, then coming home, choosing some CDs for my background music and getting completely lost in my characters and story. My writing is at its best when I have no clue what CD is playing and no idea of anything else going on around me.

—the worst? Like a lot of people, I don’t handle uncertainty well and the writing world is full of uncertainty. Unless you’re JK Rowling or John Green, which I am not. I would like to have their problems of having thousands of fans and too much money.

What would you do differently if you were starting out now as a writer? I’d rather not think about that because it’s easy to be wise in retrospect. Besides, writing is a journey and you have to try different things, experiment and make mistakes or you’re never going to learn. Having said that, the one thing I would have done differently is that I would love to have written The Hunger Games before Suzanne Collins did. I was so jealous when I first heard the idea behind the book!

BOOK BYTE

Infiltration

Susanna Rogers

2120: A world ravaged by a devastating virus. Those healthy enough to live in New Nation lead a sanitized, orderly life where everything is tightly guarded by a brutal government. Lives, thoughts, information and emotions are all strictly controlled.

Now: Seventeen-year-old elite soldier Nicola Gray is sent back in time for an important assignment. She alone will stop the virus before it takes over the world – her mission, to gather intelligence, find the cause and stop the threat, whatever it takes. She is trained to kill.

But the past is not what Nicola is expecting. Overwhelmed by an alien world, she discovers feelings she can’t handle and a world with immense personal freedom and people who care for each other. She wants to stay. She wants to live. She wants a lot of things she can’t have…

LINKS

Author website https://www.susannarogers.com/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Susanna-Rogers-Author-1142712475829701/

Amazon https://www.amazon.com.au/Infiltration-Book-1-Susanna-Rogers-ebook/dp/B077C2B4SM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1510803044&sr=8-1&keywords=infiltration+susanna

Kobo/Nook/other https://www.books2read.com/u/3L9dN5

 

 

 

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Meet the Author: Josey Hurley

Josey’s top tip for aspiring authors: Never give up and seize any opportunity – believe in the brilliance of your work.

Josey Hurley is a clinical psychologist who has worked in both educational and private settings. She loves stories – telling stories, reading stories and writing stories, that instil problem-solving skills, resilience and courage. Throughout her clinical work, she has seen the power and impact of words connecting to children’s lives by enabling them to feel safe in their world, manage their world, and to not feel alone.

She lives with her family on the South Coast of Western Australia.

Max the Mighty is her first children’s picture book.

AUTHOR INSIGHT

Why do you write? I love words and the genesis of them and am enthralled by the magic that happens and the messages that can be conveyed when the words become sentences that burst with life and connect us to each other.

What would you be doing if you weren’t a writer? My other two passions – working as a clinical psychologist and spending quality time in my art studio exploring the realms of pastels, acrylics and oils. I see both these areas equally as creative and I continue to be engaged with all three and feel very blessed that I am able to do so. And may it never stop!

What was your toughest obstacle to becoming published? Getting a rung on the board. Even though I have had ‘other’ items published (academic) this was different and more difficult.  When I met with publishers they were impressed, but I was unknown in this genre.

How involved have you been in the development of your books? Do you have input into the cover/illustrations? Yes, as it is about bringing the words alive and I have re-shined my negotiating skills. Finding a great Illustrator was essential and I have been very fortunate in finding the right match – which has resulted in a joyous journey.

What’s the best aspect of your writing life? Finding people that encourage and ‘get’ you.

—the worst? Editing – how many drafts?

What would you do differently if you were starting out now as a writer?

I would hungrily search for more support networks, such as SCBWI through which I made contact with the talented Teena Raffa-Mulligan.

What do you wish you’d been told before you set out to become an author? That it is a process that takes time and time and time and time – so you need stamina and perseverance.

What’s the best advice you were ever given? Never give up.

 

 

BOOK BYTE

Max the Mighty

Written by Josey Hurley, Illustrated by Katherine Appleby

Max is a much-loved dog with a great big problem: his mum and dad love the beach, but Max is terrified of the ocean! This is a charming book about challenging your fears, and learning to have a great time in the process.

 

Links to Sales Sites and Author Website

Dennis Jones is the National Distributor – Angus and Robertson/Booktopia/The Nile/Fishpond/QBD/Abbeys/Paperbark Merchants/Little Steps plus others.

Website being developed.

Direct sales to:

Josey Hurley email: alps.1@bigpond.net.au

Katherine Appleby website