Today The Blonde Plotters have met up with Sue Fortin, author of various thrillers including Sister Sister, The Birthday Girl and her latest book, Schoolgirl Missing.
Thanks for popping by to visit us.
Hello! Thank you so much for inviting me.
Please can you tell us a bit about your new book.
My latest book, Schoolgirl Missing, at first glance may be a little misleading. Yes, it’s about a 14-year-old girl who goes missing, but the story is more about the events leading up to this and the consequences afterwards. It looks at a marriage which is on shaky ground and the events highlight the issues. The married couple, Kit and Neve, each have deep rooted issues surrounding fear and an inherent need.
And the inspiration behind it?
I wanted to take a closer look at a dysfunctional marriage and the reasons why someone would behave in a certain way and where their limitations were. Sorry, I know that’s a bit vague but I don’t want to give too much away.
Can you tell us a little about your route to publication?
I began life as a self-published author when I published a contemporary romance, United States of Love. I was already a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and this book had been through the New Writers’ Scheme two consecutive years, with really positive feedback. I did initially submit to a traditional publisher, but they were about to publish something very similar. So, encouraged and advised by other Indie authors, I decided to self-publish. A year later I saw HarperCollins were launching a new romance imprint, HarperImpulse, and they were happy to look at self-published work so I sent them my book. On the back of that, I was offered a three-book deal, with HarperImpulse relaunching my self-published book. Since then, I have remained with my publishers and been fortunate enough to have been able to move into the romantic suspense and suspense genre.
What have you learnt that you wished you’d known when you started writing?
It’s not a sprint and there’s no rush to cross the finish line, although there never really is a finish line, it’s definitely an eternal marathon. No matter where you are, ambition will always drive you on further. I have a Wish List of things I want to achieve in my writing career and as I’ve crossed off several things, I’ve added other new goals too. In brief, I’d say, don’t panic and not to rush into decisions.
What would be your biggest tip for a new writer?
Tricky, I’d be inclined to say my answer to the previous question but I’d also add
- Always be professional
- Take criticism with grace and praise with gratitude
- Be proud of every achievement, no matter how small
- Help others when you can on a ‘pay it forward’ basis
Thank you again for inviting me onto your blog, I really enjoyed answering your questions.
Thanks to chatting to us, we’ve had a great time.
Bio
Sue
Fortin is an award-winning USA Today and an Amazon best-selling author, an
international bestseller and has reached #1 in the Amazon UK Kindle chart. Her
books have been translated into over 8 languages. Sue writes mystery, suspense
and romance, sometimes combining all three.
Sue was born in Hertfordshire but had a nomadic
childhood, moving often with her family, before eventually settling in West
Sussex where she now lives with her husband and family.
Book Blurb
HAVE YOU SEEN THIS GIRL?
When fourteen-year-old Poppy vanishes on a family boating trip, suspicion soon turns close to home – to the two people who should do everything to keep her safe, her parents, Kit and Neve.
Neve has a secret. Kit is lying.
Everyone is watching.
Who do you believe?
Publisher: HarperCollins
Links
Buy your copy of Schoolgirl Missing
Twitter https://twitter.com/suefortin1
