Tuesday, October 6, 2020

Meet Author Susanne Leist

 My interview with fellow author, Margaret Egrot

Thank you!

Meet Author Susanne Leist

Here is Susanne in her own words: 

A career in writing has been a giant leap for me. Accustomed to the number-crunching field of budgeting and the hectic commodity markets, I left my first career and M.B.A. in Finance behind to pursue my dream. I do not regret my foray into literature for one moment. Fellow authors helped me make my way through the competitive field. I write every day and even tried my hand at poetry. If someone tells you it’s too late in life to try something different, they are wrong. It is never too late to follow your heart.

Welcome on the blog, Susanne. What is the title of your latest book?

THE DEAD AT HEART.

It is the final book in THE DEAD GAME SERIES. As vampires and werewolves descend on Oasis, Florida, Shana joins Sheriff Sam as they journey from Florida’s swamplands to Chateau Frontenac in Quebec to save humanity from the evil threat. Shana is thrust between a hybrid and a vampire, not knowing which one to trust. The battle culminates at sunrise at Le Citadelle de Quebec. 

What drove you to write it? 

I have always loved to read. Agatha Christie, Alistair Maclean, Robert Ludlum, and other authors filled my young imagination with intrigue and mystery. When I wasn’t reading late into the night, the TV shows such as Murder She Wrote and Columbo, entertained me with murder and suspense tales. Over the years, my taste in TV expanded to include such shows as Supernatural and The Originals. I searched for paranormal, murder mysteries, but found few at the library or bookstore. So, I decided to write one. And thus, THE DEAD GAME SERIES was born.

What have you found to be the most challenging aspects of being a writer? 

The biggest challenge I encountered was when my self-publishing company sent an email stating my first book was published on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I had no prior warning. I hurried to check my Amazon page. The Dead Game sat on a blank page with no picture or author description, the same for B & N. I raced against the clock to write a summary and author bio. It was months before I was able to sit back and take a breath. After that earth-shattering day, I decided never to leave myself unprepared.

And the most rewarding? 

The most rewarding aspect of being an author is hearing from my followers. When someone responds to my poetry and posts on Twitter or Facebook, I’m in seventh heaven. Reviews and comments are my life-blood.

What is your top tip for an aspiring writer? 

The best advice to a new author is to have everything in place before your book is published. Blogs and online accounts must be opened and ready for business. The book’s publication shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone but an anticipated event. I learned the painful way from experience. 

What do you like to read? 

I enjoy reading books from all genres. I gravitate toward mysteries and suspense, but I prefer stories that include romance.

What are you working on at the moment? 

My fourth book is underway. A seaside town in Maine provides the backdrop for murder, mystery, and romance. Love falters and flourishes as the residents fight the persistent evil plaguing their small-town lives.

Elizabeth and Scarlett travel to Maine, leaving life in New York City behind. Their desire to run a bed-and-breakfast brings them to Blue Harbor. Little do they know, but the paranormal waits to fill their plates with the unsavory, metallic smell of blood. As bodies drop, they must choose between remaining or fleeing the horrific screams shattering the quiet community. As they make their decision, Elizabeth and Scarlett rent an apartment near the harbor. Their landlord, Lauren, a flashy redhead, knows more than she reveals. When Lauren escorts them to the local ice cream shop, the illusion of candy land is disrupted by a man who charges through the door and dies in a pool of blood. The two men, who Lauren had introduced to them, play a vital role in the town’s underbelly of secrets. Are David and Jordan what they appear, or are master-manipulators?

Where can readers find you?

Website  http://susbs1000.wixsite.com/susanneleist

              Blog  https://susanneleist.wordpress.com

              Amazon Author page  https://www.amazon.com/Susanne-Leist/e/B00F253FE6

              Goodreads  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7336492.Susanne_Leist

             Twitter  https://twitter.com/SusanneLeist

             Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/susanne.leist.98

             Instagram   https://www.instagram.com/susanne.leist/

             Bookbub      https://www.bookbub.com/profile/susanne-leist

             Linkedin     https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanne-leist-1000/

             Pinterest   https://www.pinterest.com/susanneleist98/

And finally – a taster from THE DEAD AT HEART

William’s bite bonded Shana to him, but he didn’t ask her to mate with him for life. She isn’t ready for a lifetime commitment. Now, William excludes her from his vampire meetings. Shana understands he’s an original vampire with immense powers. For them to be a couple, he has to treat her as an equal partner. If William doesn’t respect her, then what are their chances of finding happiness?

Shana speaks to Linda, her best friend, of her fears.

“Paradise is an illusion.” Shana’s face grows heated as her frustration mounts. “Oasis is a haven for vampires. I’m tired of their battles. The Watchers get rid of an evil group of vamps, and another group arrives and attacks. It’s a vicious cycle. Vampires are trouble.”

 “We will have a happy ending.” Linda lifts her head. “Don’t lose faith. The Watchers will protect us, and Gregg has an elite force of original vampires.” She touches Shana’s arm. “William loves you; he won’t let something happen to you.”

“The vampires keep secrets from us.” Shana swallows the lump in her throat. “I don’t want to live with vamps anymore, and I need time to decide on my relationship with William. One minute, I’m suffocating, and then the next, I’m lost without him.”

 As a new enemy descends on Oasis, Florida, Shana turns to Sheriff Sam, who broke her heart. Can she trust the human-vampire?

This begins Shana’s journey to fight vampires and werewolves with Sam at her side.

An explosion at Chateau Frontenac in Quebec doesn’t stop Shana and her friends from saving their town, and maybe even the world.

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