Interview for A Secret Fate by Susan Griscom
Interview for A Secret Fate by Susan Griscom
Welcome today to Susan Griscom, who has stopped by to talk about her new book A Secret Fate–be sure to check out the giveaway after the interview!
1. What do you write about? Tell us a little about your previously published works.
I write fiction. My stories vary in genre depending on what strikes my fancy at the time. My first novel, Whisper Cape, is paranormal romance/suspense. It started out as a stand-alone book, but evolved into a trilogy after readers begged for more about Cael and Addison.
I also have a young adult novel, Allusive Aftershock about a three young teens coping with surviving a major megathrust earthquake that takes place close to where I live—the Sierra Foothills in California. It is a disaster story with a heavy dose of romance.
2. How do you handle bad reviews?
Luckily, I haven’t had many of those. I have had one or two, but I tend to ignore them as much as possible.
3. Tell us a little about your work in progress.
I am working on a New Adult novel called The Fawn. It’s about the struggles of a young woman who marries too young against all her friend’s warnings only to come to realize she’d made the biggest mistake of her life. It is a thriller that follows her journey through escaping the toxic relationship she is in and learning to not only trust, but love again.
4. Who are a few authors you look up to?
I admire Nora Roberts the most. I would have to say she is my biggest inspiration. Though, I am acquiring new ones all the time: Veronica Roth, Cassandra Clare, J.R. Ward just to name a few.
5. What book are you reading now?
I am reading Insurgent by Veronica Roth and Hell’s Gift by K.S. Haigwood. I highly recommend both.
6. What inspired you to write your first book?
After reading Nora Robert’s Circle Trilogy and gave it a try just to see what would happen. To my surprise I wrote a 76,000 words novel in three months. That novel was Whisper Cape, which is now 102,000 words and has been edited about ten times since.
7. What do you find particularly challenging about writing?
Sitting down and actually writing. Finding time to write between marketing the books that I already have out and just taking care of normal everyday events is a constant challenge.
8. Have you ever used characteristics from someone you know in one of your books?
All the time. In Whisper Cape is used Gerard Butler as my muse for Gerry. I didn’t really have a muse for Cael at the time I first wrote him so he is very much just a figment of my imagination. These days, the only person I can find who could ever hold a candle to Cael Sheridan would have to be Henry Cavill.
9. What inspires you to write?
I love it. I love making up my own stories. I always have ever since I was a kid. I’d lie awake at night, dreaming of my knight in shining armor, and how he might rescue me some day.
10. Where can readers find you and your work?
Oh, thanks for asking. I can be found at all these places:
Blog | Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page
And my books can be found here:
Thank you so much for the opportunity to be featured on your blog today and for this wonderful interview.
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Giveaway
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Title: A Secret Fate
Author: Susan Griscom
Series: A Whisper Cape Novel (#3)
Genre: Paranormal Romance (Adult)
Publisher: Amber Glow Books
Release Date: Oct 31 2013
Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print
“Well, fate was cruel, wasn’t it?”
Cael and Addison’s fate has taken an unexpected turn.
Gerry, Addie and Cael almost captured Careen’s murderer only to lose Cael in the battle—a battle that nearly cost him his life. But despite his survival, he faces a new challenge, thanks to Gerry’s handiwork: will Cael remember Addie or is their love lost with him?
Addie’s family and friends think she should keep the relationship a secret from Cael so he isn’t forced into feelings he can’t remember. Just what she needs, more secrets and on top of everything else, someone stole the crystal. How is she supposed to get over the loss of her lover, a lover she’d barely had for only a few short months and deal with the secret of the lost crystal at the same time?
Aiden wants nothing more than to help Addie overcome her grief and get over Cael. Or is that all he wants? What happens when too many people know the secret and someone slips up?
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About the Author
Susan Griscom daydreams often. And sometimes her daydreams interfere with her daydreams not to mention real life. Because, let’s face it, her character’s lives are so much more exciting. Sometimes it’s young adult or new adult or just plain old mainstream fiction. Sometimes it’s paranormal romance, where her playing field delves into a different milieu than the usual vampires and werewolves. Some day she might write about fangs and fur, but for now she prefers sticking to strong heroes and heroines confronted with extraordinary forces of nature, powers and abilities beyond the norm, mixed with some steamy romance to get the blood boiling.
Susan lives in the Sierra Foothills in Northern California with her very romantic husband, her small yippy dog, Riley, and her humongous black cat, Saké. Her family consists of his and hers; four wonderful sons and one beautiful daughter, and seven grand angels.
Susan loves when a story takes hold and pulls her into the fantasy, that’s magic.
You can visit Susan at http://www.susangriscom.com or email her at susangriscom1@gmail.com. She loves hearing from her fans.
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Excerpt
Addie watched particles of dust float within the ray of light coming in through the window as the sun began its slow descent into the horizon. Like most things, cleaning house was not a high priority. Glancing at the kitchen, she considered making some coffee when the faint knock on the door jolted her. Addie didn’t know why it surprised her. She’d been expecting another visit from Darcy or Maia. What she hadn’t expected when she opened the door was Aiden. Aiden was Gerry’s best friend growing up and best man at his and Maia’s wedding a few weeks ago. Aiden had come by a couple of days after Cael’s disappearance to check on her, offering coffee and donuts, but Addie had been rude. Very rude, she remembered. He hadn’t been back since.
She sighed. “Why are you here?” Still rude, she thought, but wasn’t sure she cared.
“Came to see how you are. They say you haven’t left here since the wedding.” His voice dripped with the same thickly coated Scottish accent Gerry possessed.
Addie shot him a dagger-riddled glance. “Yes, I have,” she stated defensively. “I went to …” She hesitated and thought about the place where she’d last seen Cael and cried, begging him to hear her thoughts again and come home. Her voice shaky and raw, she tried to finish the sentence, “…to the spot where …”
“The spot where your boyfriend disappeared,” Aiden finished for her.
She turned away from him, trying desperately to keep the well of tears in check at the memory. “Yeah, and what business is it of yours, anyway?” God, Addie, the man’s only trying to be nice.
“None, I guess.” Aiden rubbed his chin, looked around the living room. She followed his eyes as they swept over the furniture, taking in the chairs and marble-topped coffee table. Then his brilliant blue gaze traveled to the all-too-comfortable deep-red leather sofa where she and Cael enjoyed many pleasant conversations as well as some steamy sexual encounters while taking in the heat from the large rustic fireplace. Aiden meandered his way through the entry, his gaze lingering on the massive window spanning the entire wall, and the breathtaking view of the ocean. His eyes glanced briefly up the stairs before settling back on hers. “This is a nice place you have. I can see why you might want to hole up here and hide for a while.”
“I’m not hiding,” she shot back at him, not meaning to sound so curt. Lowering her voice a tad she added, “I’m … adjusting.”
He nodded. “Aye, I see that you are.” He reached out, took a strand of her hair that hung annoyingly in her face between his thumb and finger, slid them to the end. She flinched at the gentle gesture. “You look thin. When did you eat last?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, I ate …” she had to think about that. When did she last eat? “Um … recently.” Addie frowned, pissed that she couldn’t think of a good reason not to be nice to him. He was only trying to help.
He nodded again. “I, uh … was on my way home from Manny’s grocery store. I saw the smoke from the chimney and thought I’d stop in. I have a couple of steaks in the car. I wouldn’t mind sharing … if you want.”
Her stomach grumbled at the mention of the steaks and she placed her hand over the traitorous organ in an attempt to cover up the rumble. Maybe she was hungry, but having Aiden in for dinner was not going to happen. She was certain to find something in the kitchen to fix. Maybe. There had to be some leftovers from the last time Maia brought her something to eat.
Aiden grinned at her. “Your stomach seems to like the idea of food.”
Something about Aiden tickled her. He always seemed a little shy, but not, if that made any sense. He was full of charm but unpretentious. That was it. He was pretty hot for an older guy too. Okay, he wasn’t that old and he wasn’t as gorgeous as Cael. Addie caught herself comparing the two; well, maybe, but in a different way. Her mind rambled on with the strangest thoughts lately. It must be because she hadn’t been taking very good care of herself.
Aiden swiped his hand through his shoulder-length dark hair similar to the way Cael always did. Addie shook her head. “No. I …” she glanced at the kitchen. “I have dinner. I … I’m sure of it.” Why was she having such a hard time talking? “I mean, I do. I do have dinner … already.”
“Right,” he said, strolling to the kitchen as if he’d been invited to stay.
“Hey! Where are you going?” Addie trailed behind him.
He stopped at the entrance, glancing around at the empty counter, the empty stove, and the dark oven. He opened the refrigerator and saw the starkness of the cold box. “Yeah. I see you have plenty to eat.”
His sarcasm exhausted her. She leaned against the doorframe, suddenly faint, unable to hold herself up.
Aiden stepped within inches of her, staring into her eyes as he propped his hand along the side of the doorframe very close to her face. She stole a quick glance at his long fingers.
“Look, I’m not blind. I can see you’re hurting. I can see you’re starving yourself. I can see that you’re sick with love and worry. I didn’t come by to upset you, and I’m not going to lie to you. I like you.” When she started to protest, he placed his finger over her lips. “And because I like you, I care about how you are getting along. I don’t expect anything from you.” Her knees grew sapless from standing and they buckled under her as she grabbed onto his arm for support. “Look at you, you can barely stand up, you’re so frail. You need food and …” he sniffed at her hair, “a shower.” She gaped at his audaciousness but resigned herself to hearing him out because she knew, this time, he wasn’t going away. “Now,” he continued, “there are a few events that are going to take place over the next hour. I’m going to go to my truck and get those steaks. Then I’m going to cook them while you go upstairs and take a shower. Then you will come back down here and you will eat. I am not leaving until all those things happen.”
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