Hi Pat. I have a new book, Blood Bond, coming out on Feb. 6, 2018. I don’t have purchase links yet, but look for the book on Amazon in February.
Congratulations, Susan. Please tell us what your book is about.
Blood Bond is a reluctant hero story set in a fantasy world. The dragons and man had a falling out fifty years ago, but an invading army threatens them both. Soren, our reluctant hero, gets swept up in the cause when his blood and that of a dragon combine forming an unbreakable blood bond.
Tell us a little about your main characters.
The main character is Soren Blackfist. He is a bit of drifter – drifting from job to job, bar to bar and woman to woman. He thinks of himself as failure. The other main character is Dex, a red dragon. He has been tasked with finding someone to approach the King and reunite man and dragon. He finds Soren, who would rather not help.
I think of the two Soren is my favorite. You see the most changes and growth in his character.
How much of a story do you have in mind before you start writing it?
I had the idea to write a story about a young man who meets a dragon. I had several scenes in mind when I began, but the story changed a lot so only one or two made it into the book. That is often how I begin – with just a few scenes in mind.
How long did it take you to write your book?
It took me nearly three years from start to finish to plan, write and edit this book. It would have taken me less time if I wasn’t so involved in my children’s schools. I am planning to get my next book out in a much short time frame.
Did you do any research for the book? If so, how did you do it? (searching Internet, magazines, other books, etc.)
I always am doing some sort of research for my novels, whether it is how to work with leather, concocting a poison or the layout of a castle. You can find tons of information on the Internet, but I do have a book on poisons and weapons that I also use quite often.
Where do you get the names for your characters?
Baby books. I have two and go through them all the time looking for unusual names. I mean these are fantasy novels, and I cannot use names like John or Michelle. I need something fits better so you get Soren, Bevin, Quinn and Emery, which are more unique but still easy to remember.
Have you ever had difficulty “killing off” a character in your story because she or he was so intriguing and full of possibility for you, his or her creator?
Oh, killing off characters is hard. You created them. You know them. And even if it is necessary, you never want to kill them off. My husband, on the other hand, is always encouraging me to kill off someone, especially if there is battle involved.
What’s your writing schedule like?Do you strive for a certain amount of words each day?
I wish I had a consistent schedule but other things such as volunteering for the Parent-Teacher Association at my kids’ schools or working for my husband’s law firm as the bookkeeper do take up some of my time. I try to write every day – usually in the mornings, but I don’t strive for a certain word count as it makes me depressed when I don’t make it. Instead, I try to set aside a certain amount of time rather than a word count.
Do you prefer to write at a particular time of day?
I wouldn’t say it is my preferred time, but I find a lot of my uninterrupted time to be in the mornings before anyone has gotten up. I do like writing in the mornings while my mind is fresh and the rest of the day’s activities haven’t tried to steal away my attention.
Have you always wanted to be a writer?
Yes, I have always loved reading and writing. I majored in journalism in college, and while I enjoy that type of writing too, I prefer fiction.
Have you written any other books?
Blood Bond is my fifth full-length novel. I also have my fantasy trilogy The Elemental which consists of Summoned, Quietus and Destiny. I wrote a short story prequel to it called The Search. I also have another stand-alone fantasy novel, The Heir to Alexandria.
Where can people learn more about your books?
They can check out my blog – http://susanleighnoble.wordpress.com or check out my Amazon Author page – https://www.amazon.com/Susan-Leigh-Noble/e/B005HDMM4W
Thanks for chatting with us today, Susan. Best of luck with your new book!
Pat Bertram Introduces . . . 