ROCCO's guest...author Susan Boyer!

Susan M. Boyer writes the USA TODAY Bestselling Liz Talbot mystery series. Her debut novel, Lowcountry Boil, won the Agatha Award for Best First Novel and garnered several other awards and nominations. Lowcountry Bookshop, the seventh Liz Talbot mystery, will be released May 29. Susan loves beaches, Southern food, and small towns where everyone knows everyone and everyone has crazy relatives. You’ll find all of the above in her novels. 

     Hi! Would you tell us a little bit about yourself? ☺

          Hello! I’m Susan M. Boyer, and I live vicariously through a figment of my imagination. Her name is Liz Talbot, and she’s a private investigator because I’ve always thought that would be such fun. When I’m not in Liz’s world, I live in Greenville, SC.

     Do you have anything you would like to say to your readers?

          Thank you so much for reading the Liz Talbot mysteries! Y’all make it possible for me to live my dream.

Please tell us about your newest release  

          Lowcountry Bookshop is the seventh Liz Talbot mystery. Liz and Nate are hired once again by the Broad Street law firm, Rutledge & Radcliffe, to get to the bottom of what happened to Phillip Drayton, a prominent Charlestonian, who was killed in what appears to be a hit and run accident during a torrential rainstorm. But of course, there’s so much more going on.

What was the inspiration behind this story?

          The kernel of the idea formed while I was reading about the chronic street flooding in Charleston. It popped into my head how that could make investigating an accident very difficult. Much of the physical evidence could be compromised.

Your main character is planning a vacation. Where is he/she going?

         

          St. John, USVI. We both love it there.

 Fiction can often provide powerful life lessons. What message do you hope readers get from your book?

                                                                      

 There’s not a message, really. I write to entertain. There are recurring themes in my books, however. The idea that there’s much more to this world than what we can perceive with our five senses. Our relationships with others—family, friends—those closest to us. The importance of protecting the natural beauty around us. Fried chicken makes everything better.

What do you do when you are not writing?

I spend time with family and friends. My husband and I like to travel. We run away to the islands every chance we get.

Is there an author or book that influenced you or your writing in any way growing up or as an adult?

As a child, the Nancy Drew books. As an adult, I think I’ve been influenced by every author I’ve read in one way or another. But I’d say Sue Grafton and Charlaine Harris were likely the biggest influences.

Where can we purchase this book?

It’ll be available through your local indie bookstore, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and in all ebook formats starting May 29th!

 What is your favorite part of writing?

 Writing the first draft. Literally getting lost in my alternate reality, and just writing down the story that comes to me from the framework of the outline and the characters I’ve created.

How do you construct your plots? Do you outline or do you write “by the seat of your pants”?

I start with a crime. Then, I create an outline of how the crime happened, followed by an outline of how Liz discovers how the crime happened. Then I start writing. Sometimes my characters take me in unexpected directions, and I adjust the outline as needed as I write.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?

 Probably going white water rafting on the upper Gauley. There are class five and six rapids on that section of the river, and I had small children at the time.

What’s one thing your readers would be surprised to find out about you?

 I love to sing Karaoke. It’s just fun—I sing for my own pleasure, not necessarily that of others. I like to add props—a special pair of shoes, a boa, a hat. One of my favorite selections is Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend, by Marilyn Monroe.

 Where can we learn more about you and your books?

 On my website, www.susanmboyer.com and/or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Susanmboyerbooks/   I’d love it if your readers would like to stay in touch via my newsletter. They can sign up at the bottom of any page on my website.

Random Quickies!

Pepsi or Coke?   Pepsi

Favorite kind of chocolate?  Godiva open oysters (milk chocolate and hazelnut filling—no actual oysters at all)

Cats or dogs? Dogs. But I do love cats as well.

Do you read more than you write? Yes.

Favorite movie? One of many—Sweet Home Alabama

Favorite book to movie?   Pride and Prejudice

Favorite book or author? Yeah we know it can be hard to choose! ;) Impossible to pick—several of many favorites: Sue Grafton, Charlaine Harris, Dean Koontz, Joshilyn Jackson, Harlan Coben

Hardback/Paperback or eReader? All of the above. I buy either the hardback or paperback, whichever is available, unless I’m traveling. Then I download to my Kindle Paperwhite.

Favorite color? Green

How many paperback/hardcover books do you own? I have no idea, but they fill a wall of bookcases in my office, two more bookcases in the den, the table by my bed, and several other flat surfaces in my house.

Do you own a laptop or desktop computer? Laptop

What book are you reading today? The Sixth Day, by Catherine Coulter and J.T. Ellison

If you could live anywhere in the world it would be: Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina.

Thank you for a great interview, Susan!

Susan will give away a copy of Lowcountry Bookshop to one lucky commenter!

To enter, leave a comment on this blog post with your name and email address (entries without email will be disqualified). For extra entries, you can do any or all of the below:

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* Mention the contest on Facebook (+ 1 point)
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Winner will be chosen at random using random.org.  Don’t forget to mention all you’ve done in your comment. Good luck! US entries only. Contest closes midnight, June 1!