Chat with Susan Anderson 6/07/00 at Writerspace

Chat with Susan Anderson 6/07/00

Cissy - Sounds great. Okay, everyone, we're going to run a protocol. Please type ? to line up with your questions and I'll call on you in turn.
Susan Andersen - That was actually my title. It's the first I've got to keep with Avon
Susan Andersen - Obsessed. Yes, it's a tough one to find. Look in the horror section in ubs
Sherryl - ?
Cissy - Okay, Cam, you're up first
Helena -
Helena - oops
Celeste - Hi Karen
gerri - - 6/7 at 9:36pm EST
Camby - Hi SusanA. All of your characters, especially the heroines, are unique, yet at the same time they seem to embody the best qualities of all of them. How do you find your inspiration for your characters?
Cissy - Hi Karen, We're chatting with Susan Andersen and running a protocol. Please type ? to line up with your questions and I'll call on you in turn.
Celeste - Hi gerri
Susan Andersen - and a hush fell over the house
Stacey - Hi Karen and Gerri
gerri - Hi everyone
Susanna - ?
Susan Andersen - I also remember my own emotions over a given event and utilize that
Karen - This is new to me, sorry so slow
Camby - Cool. Thanks!
Cissy - Hi sooner! We're chatting with Susan Andersen and running a protocol. Please type ? to line up with your questions and I'll call on you in turn.
Cissy - Sherryl, you're up next. Helena will follow.
Celeste - Hi sooner
Katmax - ?
Stacey - Hi Sooner
Karen - Thanks
Sherryl - Your book "Baby I'm Yours" was so good. I could see the whole thing in my mind just like a Movie...Any chance of that??
Camby - ? (getting back in line. This is like a signing party!)
Cindy - logged on, framefree. - 6/7 at 9:40pm EST
sooner - hello everyone
Cissy - lol, Cam
Cissy - Hi Cindy! We're chatting with Susan Andersen and running a protocol. Please type ? to line up with your questions and I'll call on you in turn.
Sherryl - ?
Susan Andersen - Oh, I wish, Sherryl. I never say never, but so far there have been no nibbles from Hollywood. <g>
Celeste - Hi Cindy
Stacey - Hi Cindy
Cissy - I'm surprised about that, Susan. It would be a perfect romantic comedy
Helena - how many pen names do you have?
Cissy - Helena, you're up next and Gret will follow
Susan Andersen - None. I write under my own name
Karen - Thanks Ann
Susan Andersen - From your lips to Steven Spielburgs ear, Camby
shy - - 6/7 at 9:42pm EST
Susan Andersen - Whoops. I meant Cissy'
Susanna2 - logged on. - 6/7 at 9:42pm EST
Susan Andersen - Whoops. I meant Cissy
Susanna2 - Sorry got lost!
Gret - Where do you get your ideas? (Cam took my other Q)
Camby - Well, I really wouldn't go that far SusanA. He's not my type.
Cissy - Hi shy! We're chatting with Susan Andersen and running a protocol. Please type ? to line up with your questions and I'll call on you in turn.
Susan Andersen - There's an echo in here.
Helena - Byron has you writing as Lindsay Randell
Celeste - wb Shy and Susanna
PattiL - wb shy and susanna
Stacey - wb Shy and Susanna
sooner - ?
Cissy - oops, shy - forgot you already knew that
Susan Andersen - I've heard that at a couple of different sites. I usually go to those I hear about and let them know it's not me
shy - Thats ok Cissy
Susan Andersen - Who's Byron?
shy - Hi Everyone and thanks
Karen - Do you ever think you get your ideas from a former life?
Cissy - Byron's romance novel database software
Susan Andersen - Nope. I'm a very practical person, Karen. Tho I do believe there's a degree of magic in writing
Helena - I will let the lady that updates Bryon to correct that
Susan Andersen - Thanks, Helena. I'd appreciate that
Karen - You're so talented to be able to do this.
Cissy - Susan, I think Gret was also wondering about where you get your inspiration for stories
Gret - thanks - yes
Susan Andersen - My story ideas originally came to me in bits and pieces. I get ideas for characters
Susan Andersen - first, and build from there
Susan Andersen - Nowadays, since I sell on proposal, I brainstorm ideas with Caroline Cross
Helena - LOL
Susanna has timed out.
Gret - and characters come from people watching, right?
Cissy - Katmax, you're up next. Susanna will follow
Katmax - Hello Susan, its great talking to you. I have to say I love all of your books, but especially Exposure. Did you base Gracie on any one child? If so who?
Susanna2 - did I lose my spot Cissy?
Susan Andersen - Yep
Cissy - oh, she's good, Susan. I love her books!
Susan Andersen - And from spending soooo much time inside my own head
Cissy - Nope, Susanna, you're after Katmax
Susanna2 - Thanks!
Susan Andersen - Isn't she great? She and I have been brainstorming partners for several years now
Gret - at least it's not lonely in there
Cissy - you're both very lucky then!
Susan Andersen - Thanks, Katmax. No, Gracie was just a very vivid image in my mind
Susan Andersen - I got her "McDonald's ToDay!" from eavesdropping at the DMV, tho
Camby - Skip over me for now Cissy. I'm trying to refocus my question.
Katmax - night guys, I go to work very early tomorrow. Thanks Susan for the chat.
Susan Andersen - Nice talkin' to ya!
Cissy - Okay, Sherryl you'll follow Susanna
Stacey - Night Katmax
Susanna2 - Susan, how many manuscripts did you submit before you were published? And assuming you submitted more than 1 how did you keep from being discouraged?
Cissy - by Kat
Camby - G'nite Katmax
Celeste - Night Katmax
Cissy - ?
PattiL - ?
jill - ?
Susan Andersen - Susanna2, I wrote 3 manuscripts that will never see the light of day... for very good reason
Susan Andersen - And according to my husband, I'm too damn stubborn to quit
Gret - lucky for us
april - logged on - 6/7 at 9:52pm EST
Susan Andersen - I did get discouraged, but basically I'm a glass half full kinda woman, so I'd allow myself a day to mourn, then get back to it.
Celeste - Hi april
Stacey - Hi April
april - Hola! Totally forgot this was tonight.
Susan Andersen - It took me nearly 8 years to get published and my one piece of advise to people about writing is Persevere
april - Don't mind me slipping in late.
Susanna2 - Hi April !
Sherryl - Nick Coltrane popped Daisy's cherry and then disappeared for 9 year!!! He had alot to make up for when he showed back up....he did it very well...I forgave him.
Cissy - Hi april! We're chatting with Susan Andersen and running a protocol. Please type ? to line up with your questions and I'll call on you in turn.
shy - Hi April!
Cissy - lmao, Sherryl
Celeste - LOL Sherryl
Cissy - sooner, you're up next. Helena, you'll follow
Susan Andersen - Oh, goody. He was basically a sweetheart who panicked.
Susan Andersen - But then I tend to love my own heros. <g>
Sherryl - I know, but a girl only has one cherry....anyway I love him too
Camby - Sherryl, you find me one SA hero who's not
Sherryl - The scene where he send her flowers was such a hoot....
Karen has timed out.
sooner - One of favorite books of all time is Obsessed. The scene with the bowl full of condoms is wonderful. Are you planning on writing any more romantic suspense?
Susan Andersen - Daisy was a first for me. Usually I get glimmers of the hero I want to write first. but this time she's the one who first started agitaing for a story
Camby - ?
Helena - how many books have you written?
Helena - sorry it sole my post I had ready for my turn
Susan Andersen - Baby, Don't Go is my 8th published.
sooner - Those are great too. You write good FUNNY.
Cissy - Okay, my question's next and it's actually a good time for it. Susan, I've heard two different explanations about the "change" in your writing style that started with Baby I'm Yours. Some have said they read that you said you'd just decided one day to write the kind of stories you wanted to read and at that point moved to a lighter, more humorous style. Then I heard someone ELSE say they read you'd said your writing style never changed, just the book covers. Which is true?
shy - ?
Susan Andersen - the suspense was just a vehicle for moving along the relationship
Cissy - Thanks, Susan. Patti, you're up next. Jill will follow
PattiL - Susan I love all your "babies" but my favorite is BABY I'M YOURS. Which twin are you the most like, Catherine or Kaylee?
Cindy has timed out.
Susan Andersen - As for writing what I like to read... I've liked all my books and didn't feel at all stifled or constrained to write a certain type
Susan Andersen - As for writing what I like to read... I've liked all my books and didn't feel at all stifled or constrained to write a certain type
Cissy - Baby, I'm Yours actually kind of combined all 3 for me. Romance, suspense and humor
gerri has timed out.
Susan Andersen - Probably Catherine. I'm a pretty pragmatic person. But I'm not at all like her in the respect that she could think fast on her feet. I don't think on the fly very well at all. I'm more a muller
JMG - logged on - 6/7 at 10:03pm EST
april has timed out.
jill - What kind of location research do you do for your books?? For instance, did you actually go to New Orleans to get a feel for it??
Cissy - wb JMG
Susan Andersen - I don't know why some of my answers are coming up as duplicates
Sherryl - puters are evil, so say muri
Susanna2 - wb JMG
shy - WB JMG
Susanna2 - Amen!
Susan Andersen - The one I'm working on now has a more suspenseful plot than any I've done for a while. I think. Sometimes I'm too close to really tell
Stacey - wb JMG
sooner - amen
Helena - nite all and thanks for coming Susan
Celeste - I'd be glad to read your WIP, SusanA and give you my opinion. *snicker*
Cissy - Cam, you're up next and Sherryl will follow
Cissy - Bye Helena
Susan Andersen - I inteviewed a NO cop and a mystery writer named Skye Moody who lives there gave me most of my stuff
Cissy - such sacrifice, Cel!
Celeste - Night Helena
sooner - nite Helena
Stacey - Night Helena
Celeste - I know Cissy, but someone has to do it.
Helena - - 6/7 at 10:07pm EST
Susan Andersen - a hardship.
Camby - Ironically, SusanA just answered part of my ? - about NO. But along the same lines, Baby, I'm Yours remains my favorite. Do you think you'll do anymore "road" romances in the future?
Sherryl - I have been surprised since coming on the boards how little control you have on some aspects of your book. Is that hard to deal with
Susan Andersen - I'm fortunate to have a marvelous editor and I'm not at all backward about fighting for what I consider important
J - logged on - 6/7 at 10:10pm EST
JMG - JMG*gallant
ptolemyrex - ?
J - Hi, All!
Cissy - shy, you're up next. Susanna will follow (no one else is in line)
sooner - - 6/7 at 10:11pm EST
Cissy - now they are
JMG - JMG*gallant
Sherryl - Good for you....You are the talent and don't let anyone forget it
shy - Hi J Are you Ann's friend J?
Stacey - Hi J
J - The very same, Shy! How are you?
Susan Andersen - even as a newbie, I stuck up for the story. It's my name that's gotta go on there, and I want to be proud of what's inside the covers
Stacey - Night Gret

Go on to Part 2