Ask the Author: Susan Sleeman
Answered Questions (26)
Susan Sleeman
I'm so glad you enjoyed the White Knights books. I had hoped to write the other White Knight's stories but alas the publisher for the series has stopped publishing fiction so there will be no more books in that series. Sorry for the bad news.
Susan Sleeman
Thanks for asking and for your kind words about these series. I do have other series available and you can find them on my website. One series is releasing right now called Homeland Heroes. Book one, Seconds to Live has released and book two, Minutes to Die comes out in August. Then a new series called Nighthawk Security which features Sierra's brothers and Reed's sister, Malone will begin releasing. Thanks again for asking!!
Susan Sleeman
Hi Phylisha,
Unfortunately, that book is out of print right now. My publisher is talking about re-releasing these books in e-book format so that might happen in the near future. If it does, I will announce it in my newsletter so you might want to sign up for that on my website on my Connect page. Sorry I didn't have better news.
Susan
Unfortunately, that book is out of print right now. My publisher is talking about re-releasing these books in e-book format so that might happen in the near future. If it does, I will announce it in my newsletter so you might want to sign up for that on my website on my Connect page. Sorry I didn't have better news.
Susan
Susan Sleeman
Hi Beth,
I am so glad you liked Dead Ringer. I appreciate your kind words about the book. Dead Silence will be available in print as well, but Amazon doesn't allow all booksellers to list a print book for pre-order. So it won't go live on Amazon until the release week which is July 11th. Thanks so much for asking.
Susan
I am so glad you liked Dead Ringer. I appreciate your kind words about the book. Dead Silence will be available in print as well, but Amazon doesn't allow all booksellers to list a print book for pre-order. So it won't go live on Amazon until the release week which is July 11th. Thanks so much for asking.
Susan
Susan Sleeman
Hi Stacey,
I am so glad you are liking the Cold Harbor series. Most of the situations my characters face are based on real life, though I take creative license with them.
Researchers have hacked and taken control of cars. I watched videos of the hacked car's driver trying to control his car in the middle of heavy traffic. It was scary! Hacking into a hotel's network is something I came up with, but it wouldn't be difficult for a good hacker to do. I imagine it has even happened in the real world.
One thing everyone should know is if there is a computer - that includes things like smart phones, televisions, even refrigerators - it can be hacked. No computer or computer network is completely safe, and given time, a talented hacker can find his way around the security. In fact, I am beginning a new series where the WITSEC database is hacked and the hacker begins selling off the witness's personal information. This has not actually happened, but it is possible. It's all very scary, yet real!
I hope this answers your question and thank you for purchasing the Cold Harbor books!
Susan
I am so glad you are liking the Cold Harbor series. Most of the situations my characters face are based on real life, though I take creative license with them.
Researchers have hacked and taken control of cars. I watched videos of the hacked car's driver trying to control his car in the middle of heavy traffic. It was scary! Hacking into a hotel's network is something I came up with, but it wouldn't be difficult for a good hacker to do. I imagine it has even happened in the real world.
One thing everyone should know is if there is a computer - that includes things like smart phones, televisions, even refrigerators - it can be hacked. No computer or computer network is completely safe, and given time, a talented hacker can find his way around the security. In fact, I am beginning a new series where the WITSEC database is hacked and the hacker begins selling off the witness's personal information. This has not actually happened, but it is possible. It's all very scary, yet real!
I hope this answers your question and thank you for purchasing the Cold Harbor books!
Susan
Susan Sleeman
Hi Cheri, There were additional books planned in this series, but the publisher quit publishing fiction books so alas there won't be any additional books in the series. Sorry about that. I know readers want to see what happens with the other team members. I wish I had better news for you. Susan
Susan Sleeman
This answer contains spoilers…
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Susan Sleeman
Thanks for the question, Amber. I started writing in the early 2000's so I have been writing about 16 years. I have been published since 2010. As you can see it took quite a few years to get that first book contract, but it was SO worth the dedication to the learning the craft so I can share my stories with others.
Susan Sleeman
Thanks for the question, Amber. I write romantic suspense books because I love to read romantic suspense novels. Plots in the books I write usually come from news stories that peak my interest. I start thinking about the stories and ask myself questions until I can come up with an interesting plot filled with twists and turns. This all inspires me to create characters who will be conflicted over the main plot and soon their personalities are formed in my mind. I hope this answers your question.
Susan Sleeman
On my list are Connie Mann's Hidden Threat and Tangled Lies. Sibella Giorella's latest Raleigh Harmon book, The Moon Stands Still, and Lynette Eason's Tanner Hollow series.
Susan Sleeman
Great question, Trin. First I love, love, love to create stories and characters and then bring them to life in a book so it's no hardship for me and I don't really have to push myself most of the time. Second, I am so blessed to have publishers ask to contract books with me and that allows me to stay at home and write full time. So, I have looming deadlines all the time, and if I have a day where I don't feel like writing, the deadline spurs me on.
Susan Sleeman
Great question, Jenah! One of the important things that inspires me to keep going is hearing from readers. I write because I want to share a very meaningful experience with readers and hearing that I have accomplished that goal really motivates me to write more and keep improving as a writer.
Susan Sleeman
Hands down, Beth, my most interesting research has been attending the FBI's Citizen Academy, a local police and county sheriff's academies. I spent many nights listening to officers, deputies and agents share about their jobs. And then with the FBI, I got to go with agents to their private firing range and shoot weapons. We fired off handguns, rifles, and semi-automatic rifles. We got to put on a bomb suit and blow things up, too. It was very informative and such great fun, too. The next things I hope to do is take a tour of FBI headquarters and Quantico training facility in Washington D.C. and attend the Community Emergency Response Team Program and learn about emergency responsiveness. Research can be such fun!!
Susan Sleeman
It has to be Rhett Butler and Scarlet O'Hara. I love the conflict between them and despite everything put in their path, their love cannot be quashed.
Susan Sleeman
Great question, Dawn. The author chooses their Bible verses to go along with their stories. In fact, it's the first thing I do so I can decide what faith issues my characters will struggle with in the story. I hope the verses are meaningful to you!
Susan Sleeman
Hi back at you Shirley! Glad to hear from you. Hope you are feeling better!
Susan Sleeman
Ah, a question I love to answer as it was all a God thing. I used to work in business as a director of accounts receivable. But I developed a chronic illness that the doctors couldn't get under control. So I was in such pain when I moved that I quite work and had to sit. I'm a type A personality and sitting without anything to do isn't in my vocabulary. I'd go absolutely bonkers. LOL I had always said I wanted to write a book, but life was too busy and I didn't make the time. But suddenly God was giving me plenty o of time so I started writing. That was about fifteen years ago. As to why I never gave up. I think it's that type A personality again. I'm not a quitter by nature and what else was I going to do with my time?
Susan Sleeman
Thanks for the question, Lora. I used to just sit down and write, but since I have to give a detailed synopsis to some of my publishers, I have become a diehard plotter. I pretty much know everything that is going to happen before I set out to write the book. It takes time to plot the story, but a good outline makes it so much faster to write the first draft. And I don't waste time writing things that I then cut. Plus, when writing suspense, it's already hard enough to keep track of the suspense plot points without a character throwing me a curve ball as I write. LOL
Susan Sleeman
Great question, Kimberly! I started writing straight suspense as I didn't think I could write the romance aspect. But publishers weren't buying suspense at the time so then I wrote cozy mysteries. In fact my first contract was for a cozy mystery called Nipped in the Bud. But alas, cozies weren't selling so Barbour quit publishing them. I then decided if I wanted to be published that I needed to learn to write romance as romantic suspense was selling. So I finally settled on romantic suspense. It's what I like to read and have loved to read for years. I'm so glad I put in the effort to learn the romance angle as I wouldn't want to be writing anything else!
Susan Sleeman
Thanks for the question, Christine. I've been writing for about 12 years now. My first book was published in 2010 so quite a few of those years were spent learning the craft of writing!
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