Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Wednesday Guest- Suzie Grant

I'd like to introduce you to western romance author, Susie Grant.

Suzie Grant remembers sitting at her grandfather's feet watching cowboy shows like Gunsmoke, Lonesome Dove, and Bonanza. Her love of the Wild West started by the age of four and has grown ever since. Cowboys, wide open spaces, the freedom of the west and family are what draw her to this genre. That and the fact that when a cowboy falls in love - it's for life.

Suzie still believes in the happily-ever-after and currently resides in North Carolina with her own hero, three children, and one shitzhu named Peppy Le'Pew. Take a journey with her into the lives of a dying breed of man and the unforgotten way of life called the Wild West. Visit her at http://www.suziegrantauthor.com

Hello Paty and thank you so much for the opportunity to be here.

Why do you write about cowboys?
I can remember sitting at my grandfather’s feet, watching Bonanza and movies like Pale Rider. There was just something about westerns that drew me in, the sweeping beauty of the range, the action and adventure of the stories, but most of all I think the unwritten cowboy code of ethics: Men who tip their hats to a Lady, remove their hats at the table, and kiss their momma on the cheek just tickle my fancy like no other. Family means something in these stories of survival and hard work, and it’s difficult not to get swept away.

What has been your road to publication?
It’s been a very long road, nineteen years to be exact. I started to fiddle with the Devil’s Daughter when I was a sixteen-year-old pregnant teen struggling with my own survival story. I wrote whenever I needed an outlet. I ended up putting the story on the shelf and ten years later after marriage, children, and a divorce, I picked The Devil’s Daughter back up. I just recently started to write seriously within the last two years. I have six manuscripts now and am working on editing my next release due in August.

After getting some wonderful feedback from agents and editors who loved the writing but swore there wasn’t a market for historical westerns, I decided to self publish. It was a difficult decision but one I don’t regret. I know there are many others out there who, like me, love the thrill of the Wild West.

I used to think that writing the story was the best thing about being an author but I have since learned that the emails from readers are the absolute best thing about being an author. I received my very first fan mail this week and when the reader told me she’d read my book in one day, sitting on the couch until midnight, I positively glowed because for just a few hours, I was able to transport that reader into another place and time to entertain her. And it was the absolute best feeling in the world.

What are you working on now?
I am currently writing the sequel to The Devil’s Daughter called The Devil’s Defiance due in August.

New York City Lawyer Garret Ryder takes the law into his own hands when a vicious killer gets away with murdering his family. Nothing will stop him from delivering the justice denied him by the law he vowed to uphold. But when the killer kidnaps a judge’s daughter, his childhood sweetheart, he must decide if any price is too high to exact revenge.

San Antonio socialite Sophia Maria Osbourne doesn’t trust easily. With a dirty politician and a blackmailing judge for a father, she learned not to rely on anyone but herself. But when her father’s shady dealings lead to her kidnapping, she must place her faith in the man who broke her heart, if she hopes to survive.

Blurb for The Devil's Daughter
A bounty hunter facing his past encounters a criminal on the run from her own.
Blaze Marie Austin is no longer the little girl forced to be an outlaw. Finding her chance at redemption, Blaze must repay the man who’d saved her life. Only her savior’s estranged son accuses her of betrayal and ignites a passion she can’t deny.
Gade Ryder returned to Eden, Texas, after a twelve year absence to investigate a gang of rustlers on the family ranch. Gade can’t decide if he’d accepted the job out of misplaced family loyalty or had the compelling mystery of the devil’s daughter convinced him to stay in the one place he didn’t want to be. Confronted by the memory of his mother’s suicide and the father he blames for her death, Gade finds himself seeking comfort from the one woman he couldn’t trust.
When the little criminal is accused of murder, Gade realizes his growing attraction for her could not only cost him his freedom, it may well cost him his life. Blaze couldn’t help but wonder if the murder were a subtle hint of her past and had she just lost her last chance to run?

Excerpt:

Gade Ryder considered Eden, Texas anything but paradise. Yet, the Eve every man imagined strolled down the boardwalk as he stepped off the stagecoach.
The way she moved intrigued him. Slow, smooth, calculated steps drew his attention as the rolling wheels on a passing wagon drowned out the tinkle of her Mexican spurs and the steady clomp of dusty black boots. The building’s overhang cast the woman’s profile in shade while late afternoon sun shed the shadow of lush curves across the wood-grain floor. He couldn’t see her face yet just the red hair set ablaze, the ends curling like flaming fingers around her waist.
She lowered one hand to rest on the set of Remingtons holstered on her waist. Gade narrowed his gaze. The customized army forty-fours had both of the wooden handles removed and replaced by solid silver.
What made a woman pack a set of pistols like that?
Plopping down in a chair outside the saloon, the woman offered a coin for a boot shine to the young boy, and propped one denim clad leg on the stool. A hand clapped down on his back and drew his attention. “Welcome back, Gade. It’s good to see you again.”
Gade whipped around toward the dark-haired man in the three-piece-suit and black boots. “I didn’t even notice you there, Garret.” He dropped his single bag on the ground to give his younger sibling a hearty hug. “It’s been too long, hasn’t it?”
“Twelve years, but I’m glad you’re home.” His brother’s intense silver-grey eyes, familiar even after all the time away, crinkled under the sun’s rays. The slightest breeze trickled through the deserted main street and stirred the dust under their feet.
The telegram he’d received several weeks ago had been unexpected, and he couldn’t shake the feeling, like a noose had slipped over his neck. After twelve years, his father still tried to correct a wrong he couldn’t amend. Nothing would ever change the fact that he’d left this part of his life behind years ago. Not even the urgency in the letter could erase the memory of his mother’s suicide.
Garret retrieved a small metal case from his vest pocket. “Not everyone is going to be glad to see you.”
“Yeah, I figured as much,” Gade replied, a dull ache developed in his chest as he realized the truth of those words. Their brother never was the kind to forgive and forget.
“I’m not sure how Warren is going to take the news of your return. So, don’t expect a welcome wagon from him.” Garret spoke around the cigarette in his mouth. “This place has gone downhill since you left.” He lit it and replaced the casing in his pocket. “As if it wasn’t bad enough already.”
One hundred and twenty-five miles northwest of San Antonio, Eden had little to commend it. A town full of numerous saloons, brothels and gambling halls nestled in a valley south of Edward’s Plateau.
“Don’t worry, amigo, I don’t plan to be here long.” Gade pulled on the chain then flipped the top of his pocket watch open to look at the time. I don’t want to be here any longer than I have to be.
Garret retrieved the discarded bag and urged Gade forward. “C’mon, let’s get a drink before we head out to the ranch. You’re gonna need it.”
He shuffled up the steps and past the red head. She tugged the brim of her hat down and he couldn’t get a good look at her face. The double swinging doors swooshed to and fro behind him as he followed his brother to the bar, propping a foot on the brass rail. He squinted to adjust his vision to the dim interior. One of Eden’s finest held about a half-dozen people. Three men played an early game of faro at the rear, and another sat at the other end of the bar. The stench of stale alcohol and cigars assaulted him, and the gauzy haze of smoke burned his eyes. An inch of dirt covered the interior of the Whiskey Spades and the grating scrape of his boots echoed in the curious silence of the establishment.
So this is paradise.

The Devil’s Daughter available now on Amazon and B&N
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004V4GN52

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Devils-Daughter/Suzie-Grant/e/2940012652096/?itm=1&USRI=the+devil%27s+daughter+by+suzie+grant

17 comments:

AvonLadyJerrica said...

Suzie, having read the Devil's Daughter, I can say that it's a truly wonderful story. I'm so excited for you and your success, and I can't wait to read Devil's Defiance!

Wonderful interview!!

Sarah Baker said...

Hi Suzie, great interview. I'm curious--who was your favorite cowboy hero growing up?

Mindy Moore said...

Suzie, one of my all time favorite books is Lonesome Dove, so we share that. It's been a long time since I've read a good western historical romance, and I miss them. Guess I better go pick up my copy!

Catherine Gayle said...

Congrats on your release, Suzie. Can't wait for the follow-up. Living in Texas, I can say with absolute certainty, there is nothing hotter than a man in tight western jeans and boots.

Melissa Dawn Harte said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Suzie Grant said...

Thanks Jerrica! You're the best!

Sarah, I had the biggest thing for little Joe Cartwright...and who didn't? I also had a thing for Josh Brolin when he played in The Young Riders. Okay let me correct that still have a thing for him. But no one plays a cowboy like Clint Eastwood. Nuff said lol.

Well said, Catherine! I totally agree! Thanks for stopping by ladies!

Mindy there will never be another story for me quite like Lonesome Dove. It was simply wonderful.

Clarissa Southwick said...

Suzie, There just aren't enough western romances out there. I wish you all the best with this one :)

Suzie Grant said...

Thanks Clarissa and I wholeheartedly agree. I love a good western. Thanks for stopping by!

Ava Stone said...

Suzie,

The book looks awesome! I can't wait to read it. I hope you have more coming out soon. (There just aren't enough westerns out there.)

Suzie Grant said...

Thanks Ava, I will have the second book in the series out in Aug 2011 called The Devil's Defiance. Thanks for stopping by!

Aileen Fish said...

I love westerns and am so glad you chose to self-publish so we could read this. Great book!

Paisley Kirkpatrick said...

One of my favorite memories growing up was watching Gunsmoke every Saturday night. The characters were so well written I could see and smell those olden days.

My stories aren't really westerns, but because they are set west of the Mississippi they are considered westerns. I'd heard that westerns are becoming popular again - let's hope so.

Your story sounds great. Best of luck for lots of sales. Nice meeting you today.

Renee Vincent said...

Ha! I was a big Joe Cartwright fan too! *swoon*

*waving to Paty and Melissa*

Great interview and I look forward to having you on my site this year. BTW, you had me at the cover. LOVE Jimmy Thomas!

Louisa Cornell said...

Isn't that cover to die for?? And anyone who hasn't read The Devil's Daughter is missing a REAL treat!! Amazing characters, swoon-worthy romance and a take-no-prisoners heroine and a hard-as-nails hero. What's not to love? What are you waiting for? Get thee over to Amazon and buy this book!

My favorite cowboy? John Wayne, baby. My Dad and I spent many an hour watching the Duke.

Suzie Grant said...

Paisley, I loved Gunsmoke! I absolutely agree about the well written characters. Nice meeting you as well and I really hope westerns are making a return. Let's hope so.

Renee! Another Joe fan! LOL yeah he was a doll wasn't he? I can't wait to be on your site as well.

Thanks so much for the compliments on the cover. It was done by Heather Boyd, she did a fabulous job. And I love Jimmy, he's gorgeous! Oh my brother is a huge John Wayne fan. He loved The Duke, so it definitely runs in my family.

Thanks so much for stopping by ladies, you gals are the best!

Colleen said...

Hey Suzie,

You know I loved Devil's Daughter. Posted my review on Amazon yesterday.

I agree about westerns. No matter what the pubs say, there is a market for it, and you'll prove it! Will join you with mine in a few months.

Best of luck.

Suzie Grant said...

Hi Colleen! Thank you so much for the review. It's very appreciated. And I certainly hope I can prove it but I'm happy just knowing there are few others out there who love a good western like I do. We'll just have to band together and show them huh? lol. Thanks for stopping by!