Saucy Salutations with Suzan:
An Interview with Suzan Lauder
by Barbara Tiller Cole
I am thrilled to have Suzan Lauder with me today here at
Darcyholic Diversions. We
have so much in common, that I have really enjoyed exchanging emails with
her. I hope you enjoy her
interview as much as I did! I DO want to apologize to all of you, and particularly Suzan, for the font formatting in this post. I have spent 2 hours trying to make it look the same why I have put it into the post when I post it for publication and I just can’t fix it. I will try again later, but I want to get the post out there since it is late today! Please use your magnifying glass if you need to, but this is a delightful post from Suzan! Thanks to all!
BTCole: Hi Suzan. I am so happy that you decided to stop
by Darcyholic Diversions today and give us a chance to know you better. Let’s start by getting to know a little
bit about you. Where are you from
and who lives with you?
Suzan: I'm a proud Canadian. Have a husband of
32 years and two cats, no kids. I'm originally from the prairies but I now live
on beautiful Vancouver Island (off the west coast) for half the year in an
ocean view modern loft condo. For the winter, we go to our tiny Spanish
colonial house in the Centro Historico of a city in Mexico.
BTCole: Wow! That’s exciting!
From the beauty of Vancouver Island to the charm and history of Mexico.
Suzan: We bought the 150-year old house
because no one would rent to us with cats, and I couldn't go away for that
length of time without my kitties.
BTCole: Well, I couldn’t go away long without
my dogs! So I understand that
part! Owning a house in Mexico! How exciting! Do you have a job other than writing?
Suzan: As for work, I'm a
mechanical engineer with an MBA and hold a position at a university as a
mid-level manager. However, I'm on a medical leave. I struggle with PTSD and
treatment-resistant depression so it takes me about three times as long as
other authors to write a book. I'm very open about my mental illness.
BTCole: Well, I admire your willingness to
share about your struggles. In my ‘other’ life I have worked in behavioral
health for many years now. And
have had some struggles of my own.
So I appreciate your willingness to talk about it. I have learned that the worse
experiences I have had in my life, with time, God spins them into gold to help
someone else.
Suzan: I have social anxiety disorder so I have
a hard time making friends, but once you know me, I'm a chatterbox.
BTCole: Well, I hope that I am now considered a
friend because I have loved your openness in sharing! I bet you have
travelled a lot, living in Canada and Mexico.
Suzan: Over my career as an engineer, I've travelled in northern and
remote Canada, and I love to travel. As a result, I've used practically every
type of toilet invented. I'm fascinated by the evolution of the toilet, and how
far it was evolved in the Regency, yet I haven't yet used it in a book.
BTCole: What about hobbies?
Suzan: Hobbies include independent travel (that means "seat of the pants" itineraries and inexpensive trips), creating original designs for Regency costuming, reading JAFF and Regency romances, researching Regency trivia for my books, beta reading for a popular JAFF author, yoga and weights classes, and trying to learn a little Spanish so I can speak with our neighbours in Mexico.
Suzan: Hobbies include independent travel (that means "seat of the pants" itineraries and inexpensive trips), creating original designs for Regency costuming, reading JAFF and Regency romances, researching Regency trivia for my books, beta reading for a popular JAFF author, yoga and weights classes, and trying to learn a little Spanish so I can speak with our neighbours in Mexico.
BTCole: How did you discover Jane Austen?
Suzan: I discovered Jane Austen when I was 49 and very depressed and I say she saved my life. I had decided to read classics that I’d missed out in the past—I’m an engineer, so I don’t have any literature classes beyond high school. Someone had given me a dog-eared copy of Northanger Abbey, and I recalled that a couple of my friends liked Jane Austen and thought I’d give her a try. WOW. My first novel was therapy, but it's turned into fun. A few years later, my online JAFF friends helped me through a difficult time when I changed medications. So JAFF is very important in my life.
Suzan: I discovered Jane Austen when I was 49 and very depressed and I say she saved my life. I had decided to read classics that I’d missed out in the past—I’m an engineer, so I don’t have any literature classes beyond high school. Someone had given me a dog-eared copy of Northanger Abbey, and I recalled that a couple of my friends liked Jane Austen and thought I’d give her a try. WOW. My first novel was therapy, but it's turned into fun. A few years later, my online JAFF friends helped me through a difficult time when I changed medications. So JAFF is very important in my life.
BTCole: I agree. I think that Jane saved my
life as well. I know you have
written more than just your recent novel...
Suzan: On top
of the three published books, I have a novel and a novella at AHA that will
likely never be published. One has too much music in it and would cost too much
for the royalties. The novella is just a bit too amateurish, though other
authors would have published the latter ages ago! LOL. I love being a beta and
when I get better, I'd like to take an editing course and do better quality editing. I'm known on the JAFF posting boards as redhead, and I identify with the hair
colour that's now streaked with grey as a special part of who I am. Grandpa
used to call me "Rusty.”
BTCole: NOW I know who you are! Isn’t it interesting how well we get to know each other with our screen names. That just clicked! What else would you like us to know about you?
Suzan: I live in a home with organized messiness, that is, I have little stacks of books, magazines, files, or similar items here and there, but I know what's in them, and they're out to remind me to read them. My husband dislikes it but he lives with it!
BTCole: I am not the neatest of housekeepers either! I see you are a fan of comedy. What are your favorite comedies and did any inspire your latest book?
Suzan: There are too many classic comedies
both in movies and on television to mention, but I particularly liked “Cheers”
on TV and practically anything with Jamie Lee Curtis in it. Sam Malone was a
bit of a #HOTCollins. But I don’t like all comedy—I avoid those ones aimed at
teen boys.
BTCole: I love comedy! Scrooged was one of my primary inspirations for Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Darcy! And I WANT to finish my long incomplete Adventures of a Darcyholic with a It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World ending. But I am having trouble writing it, hence it being incomplete. So, when and how did you fall in love with Jane Austen and her characters?
Suzan: As soon as I read the snarky “asides” about liking novels in Northanger Abbey, I was hooked. It’s Austen’s hard-boiled side that I enjoy the best. I see her books as comedies of manners, as skewering the class system, marriage habits, women’s roles, etiquette, and rules of her day. The romance is just a platform for that social commentary. Although I try to emulate her voice a little bit, my books aren’t nearly so clever.
BTCole: I like the comedienne in Jane myself! How were you inspired to write your latest story ?
Suzan: I got the idea for “What if Mr. Collins was the handsomest man you’d ever seen, but otherwise still himself?” and ran with it. It was pretty easy to imagine the reactions of each character based on their personalities in Pride and Prejudice, because Austen is a master at drawing out characters in her work. All I had to do was take the slice of the book where Collins arrives and have everyone react to it, kind of like improv comedy. It almost wrote itself!
BTCole: Was your handsome but shallow Mr. Collins inspired by anyone in particular in your life? Did you have any particular actor or character in mind when you wrote his section?
Suzan: Collins wasn’t inspired by a real person, but his personality was straight out of Austen, with embellishments to make him vain about his looks as well. Visually, I had actors Joe Manganiello and Ben Stiller and artist John Constable as muses, as noted in the blog post at JustJane1813 on October 27
BTCole: Are you working on anything new now?
Suzan: I’m writing a mystery-suspense that involves dreadful injury, mistaken identities, and an enduring love for Darcy and Elizabeth throughout the book, even though they’re separated. It’s yet unnamed. I also have several stories that are about 1/3 completed and need my attention to finish them, including a sequel/prequel for Letter from Ramsgate.
BTCole: Well you will have to come back to see us when you finish one of those! Or better, both! Anything else you would like our readers to know?
Suzan: I’m fairly shy and have Social Anxiety Disorder, so you have to know me to get a taste of my teasing wit. Mr. Suze told me he thought Colin Firth was goofy looking so my rebound comment was that Colin sort of looks a little like Mr. Suze—I said “he has the same face shape as you, at least!” I’m saving the hair comparison for later!
BTCole: NOW I know who you are! Isn’t it interesting how well we get to know each other with our screen names. That just clicked! What else would you like us to know about you?
Suzan: I live in a home with organized messiness, that is, I have little stacks of books, magazines, files, or similar items here and there, but I know what's in them, and they're out to remind me to read them. My husband dislikes it but he lives with it!
BTCole: I am not the neatest of housekeepers either! I see you are a fan of comedy. What are your favorite comedies and did any inspire your latest book?
Suzan: There are too many classic comedies
both in movies and on television to mention, but I particularly liked “Cheers”
on TV and practically anything with Jamie Lee Curtis in it. Sam Malone was a
bit of a #HOTCollins. But I don’t like all comedy—I avoid those ones aimed at
teen boys. BTCole: I love comedy! Scrooged was one of my primary inspirations for Fitzwilliam Ebenezer Darcy! And I WANT to finish my long incomplete Adventures of a Darcyholic with a It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World ending. But I am having trouble writing it, hence it being incomplete. So, when and how did you fall in love with Jane Austen and her characters?
Suzan: As soon as I read the snarky “asides” about liking novels in Northanger Abbey, I was hooked. It’s Austen’s hard-boiled side that I enjoy the best. I see her books as comedies of manners, as skewering the class system, marriage habits, women’s roles, etiquette, and rules of her day. The romance is just a platform for that social commentary. Although I try to emulate her voice a little bit, my books aren’t nearly so clever.
BTCole: I like the comedienne in Jane myself! How were you inspired to write your latest story ?
Suzan: I got the idea for “What if Mr. Collins was the handsomest man you’d ever seen, but otherwise still himself?” and ran with it. It was pretty easy to imagine the reactions of each character based on their personalities in Pride and Prejudice, because Austen is a master at drawing out characters in her work. All I had to do was take the slice of the book where Collins arrives and have everyone react to it, kind of like improv comedy. It almost wrote itself!
BTCole: Was your handsome but shallow Mr. Collins inspired by anyone in particular in your life? Did you have any particular actor or character in mind when you wrote his section?
Suzan: Collins wasn’t inspired by a real person, but his personality was straight out of Austen, with embellishments to make him vain about his looks as well. Visually, I had actors Joe Manganiello and Ben Stiller and artist John Constable as muses, as noted in the blog post at JustJane1813 on October 27
BTCole: Are you working on anything new now?
Suzan: I’m writing a mystery-suspense that involves dreadful injury, mistaken identities, and an enduring love for Darcy and Elizabeth throughout the book, even though they’re separated. It’s yet unnamed. I also have several stories that are about 1/3 completed and need my attention to finish them, including a sequel/prequel for Letter from Ramsgate.
BTCole: Well you will have to come back to see us when you finish one of those! Or better, both! Anything else you would like our readers to know?
Suzan: I’m fairly shy and have Social Anxiety Disorder, so you have to know me to get a taste of my teasing wit. Mr. Suze told me he thought Colin Firth was goofy looking so my rebound comment was that Colin sort of looks a little like Mr. Suze—I said “he has the same face shape as you, at least!” I’m saving the hair comparison for later!
A
Most Handsome Gentleman Media Kit
By Suzan Lauder
Book Blurb:
Elizabeth Bennet’s life is uncomplicated until she meets a
quartet of new men: the haughty but handsome Mr. Darcy, the pert-with-a-pout
Mr. Bingley, the confident and captivating Mr. Wickham—and then there is her
father’s cousin, the happy man towards whom almost every female eye has turned.
Mr. Collins is HOT—well, incredibly handsome in
Regency-speak—beautiful of face, fine of figure, elegant of air, his perfect clothing
and hair matching his Greek god-like form. Unfortunately, when he opens his
mouth, Elizabeth wishes he were mute. With affected servility and prideful
self-conceit, he capitalizes upon his exquisite appearance and fixes on Jane
Bennet as his bride.
Can Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy form an alliance to stop Jane’s
suitors from issuing challenges—and will Elizabeth coax a smile from Mr. Darcy?
Bestselling Regency romance author Suzan Lauder delivers a
hilarious Austenesque romance suitable for all readers of Pride and Prejudice.
Author Bio:
A lover of Jane Austen, Regency period research and
costuming, cycling, yoga, blogging, and independent travel, cat mom Suzan
Lauder is seldom idle.
Her first effort at a comedy, A Most Handsome Gentleman is the fourth time Lauder has been
published by Meryton Press. Her earlier works include a mature Regency romance
with a mystery twist, Alias Thomas Bennet,
a modern short romance Delivery Boy
in the holiday anthology Then Comes
Winter, and the dramatic tension filled Regency romance Letter from Ramsgate.
She and Mr. Suze split their time
between a loft condo overlooking the Salish Sea and a
150-year-old Spanish colonial home near the sea in Mexico.
Suzan’s lively prose is also available to her readers on her
blog, road trips with the redhead www.suzan.lauder.merytonpress.com,
on her Facebook author page https://www.facebook.com/SuzanLauder,
and on Twitter @suzanlauder.
Terms and Conditions:
Readers may enter the drawing by tweeting once a day and daily commenting on a blog post or review that has a giveaway attached for the tour. Entrants must provide the name of the blog where they commented. Remember: Tweet and comment once daily to earn extra entries.
A winner may win ONLY 1 (ONE) eBook of A Most Handsome Gentleman by Suzan Lauder. Each winner will be randomly selected by Rafflecopter and the giveaway is international.
Contact Info: (with links embedded)
Blog Tour Schedule:
10/22 Obsessed with Mr. Darcy; Review
10/23 Austenesque
Reviews; Vignette, Giveaway
10/25 Babblings of a Bookworm; Guest Post, Giveaway
10/26 From Pemberley to Milton; Review, Giveaway
10/31 Laughing
With Lizzie; Vignette, Giveaway
Excellent interview, Barbara. Your post was good! I enjoyed reading your answers, Suzan, and appreciated your honesty and openness. Both were refreshing.
ReplyDeleteThank you to both of you.
Barb is very comfortable to talk to, and I've been comfortable with being open about my illness for years. I'm glad you enjoyed it, Janet.
DeleteI have known Suzan for over forty years. We were in youth group together, we starred in our own musicals (one written by young Suzan) and spent copious amounts of time eating sunflower seeds on the back loading ramp of the post office, singing 'Jet' by Paul McCartney and Wings.
ReplyDeleteI'm thrilled that Suzan has found this exciting new love of writing and wish her much success.
I read Hot Collins on a fan fiction site, and it was hilarious.
Your 'old' friend,
Sue B
What you didn't know is I secretly wrote my first novel, a fan fiction based on Catherine Marshall's "Christy," when we were about 14. And you didn't mention the long list of choral groups we both participated in! Love you, pal!
DeleteI like the idea of a mystery suspense novel - my favourite genre is actually historical mysteries.
ReplyDeleteRegency counts as historical! I'm glad to hear I have one follower for that new book already. In the meantime, I'm reading Nicole Clarkston's "These Dreams," which has some good mystery and suspense elements. Thanks, Vesper!
DeleteLoved this interview, Suzan and Barbara! This book sounds so funny, and I appreciate your ability to talk about your illness, Suzan. Wishing you all the best.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Jan! You are so supportive!
DeleteGreat interview! I love to get to know more about my author friends! Thank you Barbara and hope #hotcollins is a big success Suzan!
ReplyDeleteI too like to hear the interesting back story of my author friends, and Barb's creating quite the list of them on blog tours. Thanks!
DeleteKudos to you and being open with your struggles. You have done well. I am so glad that Jane Austen saved you. I agree that Jane Austen has the best wit around!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Eva. The stigma of mental illness is reduced the more people talk about it. Austen, my friends, and Mr. Suze were all my helpers through the darker times and my joy to this day.
DeleteI'm like Suzan and couldn't winter away from my cats either! Fun interview and a fun book!
ReplyDeleteLike many pet owners, I feel my furry friends are members of the family. They are also my calm. Nothing like touching fur and having it purr and look at you with loving eyes.
DeleteGreat interview. I enjoyed getting to know Suzan better and can relate as I have some issues with anxiety. I am very excited about this book and am glad you are already working on your next project as I enjoy your writing.
ReplyDeleteAnxiety can be crippling, so I'm hopeful you have some good supports to overcome the issues yours raises, darcybennett. Thanks for the support on my writing. Readers are the most important part of it to me.
Delete