I'm delighted to welcome author Susanne Dietze back to see us. She's one prolific writer, with the recent debut of her novel, The Reluctant Guardian, and the upcoming My Heart Belongs in Ruby City, Idaho, which releases in May. Susanne's also one of the fabulous contributors to recently released historical collections, including The American Heiress Brides and The Matchmaker Brides.
I've been a fan of her blog, Tea and a Good Book, for a while, and was excited to hear of her latest books. Thought it would be fun if she had a minute to stop and see us. And she did - even took time to answer a few questions. :)
Hi Susanne! It's so nice to have you visit. Congratulations on your 2017 releases! I'm reading The Reluctant Guardian now and enjoying it very much. :) Do you have a favorite marketing tip now that you have several books to your credit?
Thank you, Karen! I'm not sure if anything I've tried translates to sales, but I do think posting memes on Facebook and Twitter help draw attention. I've enjoyed using the free programs on Canva and Picmonkey to make memes, and also headers for my website, blogs, etc. I'm not great at it, but it's fun!
It sounds like fun! I recently discovered Canva but haven't tried it yet - good to hear that you like it. Wishing you much success in the marketing department! From draft to published book, what is your favorite part of the process?
I do not always enjoy writing first drafts as much as I do rewriting and revising drafts. Some people are the opposite, but I think the second time through is fun! I also thoroughly enjoyed working with the art team at Harlequin to create the cover of The Reluctant Guardian. What a blast! I think they did a great job, too. It was important that the characters be dressed exactly as they are (hero in black, heroine in red cloak) and they nailed it!
When I'm writing, a typical snack is a mug of herbal tea or hot apple juice and a scoop of nuts or a nutrition bar. On occasion I treat myself with a square of my favorite candy: Nideregger Marzipan covered in bittersweet chocolate.
Sounds like great inspiration for writing. :) Do you prefer coffee or tea? Chocolate or vanilla?
I love both coffee and tea, but I drink more tea than coffee these days. A special treat is a pot of brewed loose leaf tea. Bingley's Teas offers a line of Jane Austen-inspired teas, and my husband usually gets me a box for my birthday. My favorite blends are the ones inspired by Jane Bennett and Fanny Price. Chocolate usually wins over vanilla for me.
I've not heard of that tea - will have to give it a try. Sounds delightful! Thank you for spending time with us this week. Wishing you many blessings and continued success with your books!
I love both coffee and tea, but I drink more tea than coffee these days. A special treat is a pot of brewed loose leaf tea. Bingley's Teas offers a line of Jane Austen-inspired teas, and my husband usually gets me a box for my birthday. My favorite blends are the ones inspired by Jane Bennett and Fanny Price. Chocolate usually wins over vanilla for me.
Thanks so much for hosting me, Karen!
A Quick Review
I won a copy of the The Reluctant Guardian through Susanne's recent Goodreads giveaway. I began reading it last week, and although I haven't finished it yet I can tell I'll be giving it a "two thumbs up". Susanne is a skilled storyteller. Her characters ring true, her settings come to life through rich description, and the plot is shaping up to contain a great deal of intrigue and other interesting goodies. I was engaged from page one and am looking forward to finding out what happens!
More About Susanne
Find Susanne
Website
Blog
Facebook
Goodreads
A Quick Review
I won a copy of the The Reluctant Guardian through Susanne's recent Goodreads giveaway. I began reading it last week, and although I haven't finished it yet I can tell I'll be giving it a "two thumbs up". Susanne is a skilled storyteller. Her characters ring true, her settings come to life through rich description, and the plot is shaping up to contain a great deal of intrigue and other interesting goodies. I was engaged from page one and am looking forward to finding out what happens!
More About Susanne
Susanne began writing love stories in high school, casting her friends in the starring
roles. Today, she's the award-winning author of almost a dozen historical
romances who's seen her work on the ECPA and Publisher's Weekly Bestseller
Lists for Inspirational Fiction. Married to a pastor and the mom of two,
Susanne lives in California and enjoys fancy-schmancy tea parties, genealogy,
the beach, and curling up on the couch with a costume drama and a plate of
nachos.
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| Coming May 2017 |
Website
Blog
Goodreads
Do you have any questions for Susanne? What is your go-to writing snack? What are you reading this week?
Happy writing,
Karen
Hi Karen - good to meet Susanne ... Susanne has certainly written a few romantic novels. Picmonkey and Canva ... and others ... I must get to grips with - but congratulations on your success so far - and it sounds like you're doing really well. Speciality teas are delicious aren't they ... cheers to you both - Hilary
ReplyDeleteHi Hilary! I wish you the best with Picmonkey and Canva. I use the free versions, which serve me well but can be frustrating when you want to do something fancier that's a paid option. If you pay for the upgrades, you can do all kinds of things.
DeleteI love specialty teas. I enjoyed a pot of the "Sweet Jane" blend this weekend. Delicous!
Thanks for the kind words! Have a great day.
Congrats to Susan! Glad Susan has found Facebook and Twitter helpful to marketing. I don't enjoy writing first drafts either.
ReplyDeleteHi Natalie! First drafts are not my specialty, LOL! As much as I love writing, sometimes the first draft process can be difficult. Then there are times when the writing is smooth. I'm always in awe of people who write a clean, cohesive first draft.
DeleteBlessings on your work!
The first draft isn't my favorite either - I agree the revisions are funner. Congratulations, Susanne!
ReplyDeleteRevisions are so much more fun, aren't they, Alex? Right now I'm layering and tweaking a novella that'll be out in November, and I'm thoroughly enjoying it.
DeleteThanks for the congratulations. Hope you're having a great day!
Hilary,
ReplyDeleteGlad you got to meet Susanne. Knew you'd like her (and vice versa!). You'll have to let us know if you decide to try Canva or PicMonkey. Still testing the waters with those kinds of things too. :)
Natalie,
First drafts are an interesting part of the process, aren't they? Can't live without them, that's for sure. :) Appreciate you coming by.
Alex,
Thanks for stopping over. I know you're on a break - hope you're enjoying it! :)
Happy writing,
Karen
Thanks so much for hosting me today, Karen! I love hanging out with you and your readers.
ReplyDeleteI hope your week is off to a great start!
Ooo, Susanne's titles sound great. Thanks, Karen for hosting her!
ReplyDeleteMy go to snack is M&Ms and I'm currently reading Securing the Handyman's Heart by Katie Clark
Hi Ruth! Some M&Ms sound pretty good right now. Chocolate is always good to have on hand!
DeleteI will have to look into the book!
Thanks for stopping by.
Susie,
ReplyDeleteYou are more than welcome! It's always a treat to have you visit. Come back anytime! :D
Ruth,
You are welcome! Glad you got to meet Susie. She's a sweet friend and delightful guest. Hope you get to read her books soon! :)
Happy writing,
Karen
I hadn't heard of Jane Austen inspired teas either! They sound delightful which is fitting for Jane Austen. Thanks for introducing Susanne to me and her books. Honestly, just read my first Love Inspired book when on recent holidays and shall now keep an eye out for Susanne's.
ReplyDeleteOh Lynn, you have to check out Bingley's Teas. They are fantastic. I've had several blends but those two are my favorites. They aren't cheap but my husband gets them for me for my birthday or Christmas, and I make them last!
DeleteI hope you enjoy other Love Inspireds! I'm biased, but it's a fantastic line, IMO. Excellent authors.
Happy tea drinking!
Do any marketing efforts EVER translate to sales? I'm not sure they do! I need to learn to make memes, though. Those do look like fun.
ReplyDeleteLOL Stephanie, you're right. I'm not sure either, but we keep on persevering, don't we? I do think name recognition helps.
DeleteMeme-making can be fun. Some people are so good at it! It's kind of nice to do something creative that isn't writing every once in a while.
I hope you have a great day!
Lynn,
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome! Happy to introduce a good writer any day. :) You will probably enjoy Susanne's books. Hope you get to read one soon!
Stephanie,
LOL - well, you have to wonder about marketing, don't you? :) I guess certain things may work for some and not for others. Trial and error is a big part of it, I'm thinking!
Happy writing and reading,
Karen
Ooh! Super cool. This is one I'd enjoy, methinks. The guy on the cover reminds me of Colin Firth. =)
ReplyDeleteHarlequin's art team did a fantastic job on the cover, didn't they? I've heard from some people that the hero on the cover reminds them of Colin Firth, and others that he looks like Jonny Lee Miller. In my head, he was more like Henry Cavill, but I'm not complaining! I love them all!
DeleteHi Karen and Susanne! What great questions this week Karen. Thank you for being here Susanne! Here is a question for her: You started writing at a very young age. Did you always dream of being an author? What do you think led you to writing?
ReplyDeleteI'm drinking more tea these days myself, although I LOVE coffee. It's the whole caffeine thing for me. When I write I don't snack at all because I'd be all about the snack and it would divert my attention from the writing. I already have to wrestle myself into a chair to get started, lol!
Best of blessings on your new release (which Karen seems to really enjoy!), and your new efforts too.
Ceil
Hi Ceil! Thanks for the kind words! (And I'm with you on the caffeine.)
DeleteI did indeed want to be an author when I was little. I've always had an overactive imagination and I was a huge reader, and books have always been a big part of my life. I've always written little stories, but I can't say they were any good! LOL
Blessings as you write!
These are the kinds of stories I love to get lost in! Congratulations, Susanne, on your great success.
ReplyDeleteNuts, chocolate, and chips are my favorite writing snacks. For reading snacks I enjoy Kettle corn and Pure Protein bars.
Thanks for asking!
Thanks, Jeanette! I appreciate your good wishes.
DeleteThose sound like some yummy writing snacks! I need to make a trip to the store, and I think I need more chocolate. :)
Have a fantastic evening!
Crystal,
ReplyDeleteI think you might! Hope you get to read one of her books. :) I thought the same about the cover, too. Great minds think alike and all that, right?
Ceil,
You are welcome. It's always nice to have Susanne visit. Good question - I'll be curious to hear her answer. Thanks for coming by to see us! :)
Jen,
They really are, you said it! I think you would like this book. Enjoying it as we speak. I need to try those protein bars - if you like them they must be good! :)
Happy writing,
Karen
How nice to meet you, Susanne. Your books sound charming. Will check them out. Happy writing!
ReplyDeleteHi Susan! Thanks so much for such nice words. I hope you're having a happy Friday!
DeleteSusan,
ReplyDeleteAppreciate you coming by to see us! :) I think you might enjoy Susanne's books!
Happy weekend,
Karen
Susanne, congrats on your books! Also, what a cute picture of you.
ReplyDeleteHi Jenny! Thanks! I like your picture, too! I wish I could put up my hair like that, but my hair does better when it's short.
DeleteSo glad you said hi!
Nice to meet you, Susanne. Ans congrats! I hope you and Karen both have a good weekend :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I am glad to meet you, too. Sorry I am late getting to this, but I did have a good weekend. I helped plant new shrubs at church.
DeleteHave a fabulous week!
Congratulations to Susanne! I think the cover is very appealing- and it is wonderful they got the characters dressed properly. :)
ReplyDeleteMarketing definitely isn't easy- but I agree that making memes is fun. :)
~Jess
Hi, Jess! Thanks for the congratulations. And yes, I am so grateful the characters were dressed properly! It was important in the scene! I appreciate the art department's attention to detail.
DeleteI'm glad to know I'm not alone in my struggle with marketing!
Thanks so much for coming by!
Jenny,
ReplyDeleteHer pic is wonderful, isn't it? :) Thanks so much for swinging by to see us!
Keith,
Hope you are having a good weekend as well, and enjoying this nice KY weather! :) Appreciate you coming by.
Jess,
The cover does reflect the book well, I'm thinking. Now that I'm more than halfway through I can attest to that! Glad you came by. :)
Happy weekend,
Karen