Susan Lyttek and Free Books!

Just when Guzzy thought his summer was safe… Mom got a bright idea.

Before we visit today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of Sky Zone, by Creston Mapes, is:

faithfulgirl4@ . . .

and the winner of the signed copy of Gathering Shadows, by Nancy Mehl, is:

tstam3@ . . .

Congratulations! I'll email you today to get your mailing address, and we'll get your book to you right away. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to participate in future book give-aways! Subscribers are entered a second time when they comment.

And now let's revisit with novelist Susan Lyttek, author of Guzzy Goofball and the Homeschool Play from Outer Space (Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, February 2014).

Susan A. J. Lyttek, author of newly released kids’ comedy, Guzzy Goofball and the Homeschool Play from Outer Space and the cozy mystery Homeschooling Can Be Murder by Harbourlight Books, wife and homeschool mother of two teenage sons, writes early mornings in the shadow of our nation’s capital. She also enjoys training up the next generation of writers online through Write At Home, and by teaching middle and high school co-op classes.

Her mystery sequel Killer Field Trip will release August 2014.

Please tell us three random things we might not know about you.

--I earned a marksman ribbon with the M16 when I was in the Air Force.

--I was published first in kindergarten. My mom sent in my poem to the local paper.

--My hubby and I eloped in June and then had a church wedding in October. We kept the elopement a secret from most friends and family for seven years.

I want a picture of you with that M16, Susan!

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Guzzy Goofball and the Homeschool Play from Outer Space.

I like summer. What kid doesn’t? But inevitably my mom gets some crazy idea that I need to be doing something constructive.

That’s what destroyed a perfectly good week in July. My mom and Mrs. Bartle ganged up on Shriek and me and convinced us we’d love some time with kids our age and away from our homeschools. We’d be in a drama co-op, no less, with other fourth to sixth graders. OK, that was bad enough.

But when I show up to discover I’m one of two guys amid a bunch of cackling girls… And they decide to put on a production of Sleeping Beauty and draft yours truly, Guzzy Guferntible, into the role of Prince Charming. Me, on stage, armed with a plastic sword? If that’s not a recipe for disaster, I don’t know what is.

What is it about Guzzy that will make your readers care about him?

Guzzy is an average kid who just happens to be homeschooled. He is a glass half-empty to mostly empty kind of person while his mom tends to see everything as light and happy. In other words, they’re opposites which makes for an interesting homeschool dynamic. He tends to get klutzy when he’s trying his hardest to do what’s right.

If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your lead roles?

Guzzy would look like Daryl Sabara when he was a kid in the first Spy Kids movie.




His best friend Shriek looks like the girl from Polar Express.

Sometimes a writer’s imagination can be triggered with word mapping. If I give you the word challenge, what three words first come to mind, and how would you word a sentence (or 2, if needed) using all four words?

Obstacle, difficult, surmountable

The ideal character can overcome a difficult, yet surmountable obstacle.

What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

Pals in Peril: Jasper Dash and the Flame-Pits of Delaware by M. T. Anderson. I haven’t laughed so hard and so much in a long time. So far, I heartily recommend this series for kids. In this episode we have our middle school heroes battling spies, dinosaurs, carnivores and avoiding the evil dictator… of Delaware.

What are you working on now? 

The edits for my third mystery, Plundered Christmas, as well as the second Guzzy story.

Where else can readers find you online?

www.NancyMehl.com


The book can be purchased in fine book stores and online via the following buttons:





Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

For some strange reason, I like books like the Pals in Peril series, Lemony Snicket, Hero: Second Class and other stories where authors violate the wall between author and reader and make themselves part of the story. Do you enjoy that plot device or do you find it annoying? Why?


Thanks, Susan, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel. Readers, Susan has offered to give a signed copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Thursday, July 17. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Susan's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Leave your email address, in case you win, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Be sure to check out my interview with Harry Wegley, below. Leave an appropriate comment at the bottom of the post to enter the drawing for a signed copy of the book.

Also, I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post.

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer HERE.