Ask the Author: Sue Pethick
Answered Questions (8)
Sue Pethick
Hi Theresa!
Thanks so much for writing. I'm glad you're enjoying the books and really appreciate your kind words. Hope you enjoy The Dog Who Came for Christmas as much as you did the other two.
Yes, there are TWO more books in the works. The first one, Please Don't Feed the Mayor, will be out sometime next year (don't have the publication date yet). The second, Alaskan Catch, will probably be out in early 2019. Both of them have adorable, lovable, funny dogs who always seem to know best what their humans need. Being able to bring characters like that to life is one of the best things about being a writer.
It was wonderful hearing from you. Take care and happy reading!
Sue :)
Thanks so much for writing. I'm glad you're enjoying the books and really appreciate your kind words. Hope you enjoy The Dog Who Came for Christmas as much as you did the other two.
Yes, there are TWO more books in the works. The first one, Please Don't Feed the Mayor, will be out sometime next year (don't have the publication date yet). The second, Alaskan Catch, will probably be out in early 2019. Both of them have adorable, lovable, funny dogs who always seem to know best what their humans need. Being able to bring characters like that to life is one of the best things about being a writer.
It was wonderful hearing from you. Take care and happy reading!
Sue :)
Sue Pethick
Boomer's Bucket List, the story of a woman who takes her dying dog on a trip to complete his 'bucket list.' There's always a risk when you write a story in which an animal is in peril, but I think the book has a chance to be by turns funny, uplifting, and life-affirming. After all, none of us knows how long we have on this earth and few of us outlive our beloved pets. If we can take inspiration from that, not only to make their lives joyful and meaningful, but to find meaning in our own lives, I think it makes their loss more bearable.
Sue Pethick
Deadlines. Without them, I get distracted by too many other things that need to get done around here.
Sue Pethick
The title, Pet Friendly, was something my editor came up with. He had a scene in mind of a couple trying, and failing, to find a hotel where they could stay with their dog. In the end, the scene didn't take up a lot of space in the book, but the idea that it would be fun to stay at a resort where pets were not only tolerated but welcome intrigued me. I also liked the idea that the dog, Archie, would be smarter about what his people needed than they were.
Sue Pethick
Cry. Go for a walk. Cry some more. Read.
LOL. Honestly, it's a rare day when I can't write ANYTHING, but there are plenty of days when things aren't going well: dialog sounds stupid, narrative seems stilted, the plot suddenly seems illogical. When that happens, I try to give myself a break and do something else while my brain figures out what the problem is. If all else fails, I force my husband to listen while I tell him the story. Having to explain it to someone else often points out where the weaknesses are.
LOL. Honestly, it's a rare day when I can't write ANYTHING, but there are plenty of days when things aren't going well: dialog sounds stupid, narrative seems stilted, the plot suddenly seems illogical. When that happens, I try to give myself a break and do something else while my brain figures out what the problem is. If all else fails, I force my husband to listen while I tell him the story. Having to explain it to someone else often points out where the weaknesses are.
Sue Pethick
The very best? That's hard to say. There are lots of things I love about it: creating something new, meeting new characters, figuring out the twists and turns in a new plot, working from home. If I had to pick just one thing, though, it would probably be doing research.
For me, part of the fun of reading a book is learning something new and I appreciate it when an author gets the details right. It's not unusual for me to spend hours researching something that may end up being only a small detail in the final book, but which lends the whole work authenticity. In many cases, it opens up a whole new world for both me and my readers.
For me, part of the fun of reading a book is learning something new and I appreciate it when an author gets the details right. It's not unusual for me to spend hours researching something that may end up being only a small detail in the final book, but which lends the whole work authenticity. In many cases, it opens up a whole new world for both me and my readers.
Sue Pethick
Writing isn't just putting words on a page. You have to think about words— what they mean, how they make you feel, and who uses them—all the time. This will help you write with intention. You should know how the words you write will make your audience see, think and feel as they read your stories.
Learn the tricks of the trade. The strongest word in a sentence goes last; use active, not passive, voice; short words and long vowels have more power than long words and short vowels; show, don't tell; short sentences increase tension, long ones decrease it, etc.
Be happy with your writing, but never allow yourself to be completely satisfied. Always strive to do a little better each time you tackle a project.
Try not to take rejection personally. Maybe your manuscript needs more work, but maybe it just didn't find the right audience. When I worked as an assistant magazine editor, we rejected plenty of good stories that just weren't right for us. If yours is good, it'll find a home. Keep looking!
If you can, find someone who can give you honest feedback and be humble enough to consider it honestly. No one likes to hear that the story they thought was perfect needs work, but as tempting as it is, don't shoot the messenger. Praise is great, everyone needs it, but it won't help you improve. If you want to write professionally, you're going to have to take criticism every step along the way. Learn to say thank you and go cool off. Once you can think rationally, you'll be able to decide if the advice was worth acting on or not.
Never give up!
Learn the tricks of the trade. The strongest word in a sentence goes last; use active, not passive, voice; short words and long vowels have more power than long words and short vowels; show, don't tell; short sentences increase tension, long ones decrease it, etc.
Be happy with your writing, but never allow yourself to be completely satisfied. Always strive to do a little better each time you tackle a project.
Try not to take rejection personally. Maybe your manuscript needs more work, but maybe it just didn't find the right audience. When I worked as an assistant magazine editor, we rejected plenty of good stories that just weren't right for us. If yours is good, it'll find a home. Keep looking!
If you can, find someone who can give you honest feedback and be humble enough to consider it honestly. No one likes to hear that the story they thought was perfect needs work, but as tempting as it is, don't shoot the messenger. Praise is great, everyone needs it, but it won't help you improve. If you want to write professionally, you're going to have to take criticism every step along the way. Learn to say thank you and go cool off. Once you can think rationally, you'll be able to decide if the advice was worth acting on or not.
Never give up!
Sue Pethick
With Pet Friendly doing well in pre-order, Kensington has asked me for two more books (!) which means that I'm hard at work on creating outlines. The first one will be about a dog whose heart is as warm as his nose is cold. The second will be a Christmas-themed book tentatively titled, The Dog Who Came for Christmas.
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