\n\tWelcome Susan Spess\n<\/p>\n
| \n\t\t\t\tWhat is your writing schedule like?<\/strong> \n\t\t\t\tI usually write early in the morning each day. Since my husband's death in May, I've gotten a little off track. Now I'm trying to get back to it.\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t\t\t\tWhat would you say is your interesting writing quirk?<\/strong> | \n\t\t\t\tI don't know how interesting it is, but I write in a recliner. I have an office and a big desk just about 20 feet away, but I love the snuggled down feel of this chair.\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t\t\t\tHow did you come up with your title?<\/strong> | \n\t\t\t\tJordan Valley is the historic name of the area where I live. After I tried a name like Skinner, Oklahoma, and Mayfield, Oklahoma, and got a thumbs down from my critique partners, I asked them about Jordan Valley. They all liked it. \n\t\t\t\tThe MISS is because Glory might have missed out on life.\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t\t\t\tTell us about your hero and heroine. What makes them likeable?<\/strong> | \n\t\t\t\tGlory is in her thirties, and the people in Jordan Valley think she's missed her chance to marry. She loves children and thinks her best gift is building children up, so she does! \n\t\t\t\tEli was a minister at the largest church in Texas, but when his wife and brother are killed together in a car wreck, he is fired because the powers that be think they were having an affair. He takes a job in the smallest town in the world in order to support his daughter and find his way back to the limelight.\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t\t\t\tHow much of the book is based in real life?<\/strong> | \n\t\t\t\tThe setting is loosely based on my hometown of Cleveland, Oklahoma, and a couple of older women who lived here but are now deceased. Other than that, it's just my imagination working.\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t\t\t\tWhat makes this book special to you?<\/strong> | \n\t\t\t\tThe young people in the book just stole my heart. The children remind me of my younger siblings when we were kids. I'm the oldest of 6, and my childhood was the stuff dreams are made of.\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t\t\t\tAre plots based on someone you know or events in your own life?<\/strong> | \n\t\t\t\tTwenty nine years ago, my mother, sister, paternal grandmother, paternal aunt, and two nieces were hit by a drunk driver one morning on their way to Tulsa, and they all died except my sister. The wreck in the book comes from that tragedyl\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t\t\t\tWhat books have most influenced your life?<\/strong> | \n\t\t\t\tBooks I've read and reread all my life are children's books, such as the Little House series, Little Women, and childhood biographies of famous Americans, and of course, Scripture. All those books teach a lesson about living with honor, and correcting mistakes when you're less than perfect.\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t\t\t\tWhat makes this a "must read" and why?<\/strong> | \n\t\t\t\tGetting to know about the internal workings of a church, It also relates the fun of a daycare center, where the adults are trying to help a little girl who doesn't speak. When finding out why Brandi doesn't talk and how she gets helped is a surprise.\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t\t\t\tDo you have a person you consider a mentor?<\/strong> | \n\t\t\t\tMy parents have always been my mentors. My father is 90 years old, but is still active in the family business and very helpful with his sage advice.\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t\t\t\tWhat book are you reading now?<\/strong> | \n\t\t\t\tTANGLED PROMISES, by Linda Trout and DANGEROUS REUNION by Marilyn Pappano. (I rarely read one book at a time.)\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t\t\t\tWhat do you do when you're not writing?<\/strong> | \n\t\t\t\tI work full time in the family business. And when I'm not at work, I knit, garden in the summer, work on photography, play with my beautiful grandchildren, enjoy my sons and their wives, or watch old movies.\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t\t\t\tWhat does your family think of your writing?<\/strong> | \n\t\t\t\tThey're proud of me!\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t\t\t\tWhat is your next project?<\/strong> | \n\t\t\t\tI have a couple more books finished in this series. They need to see the light of day!\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t\t\t\tIf you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?<\/strong> | \n\t\t\t\tI don't think so. I really like the characters and the story.\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t\t\t\tIs there anything you find particularly challenging when it comes to your writing?<\/strong> | \n\t\t\t\tGrammar and punctuation is a little challenging, but I have great critique partners that help out a lot.\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t\t\t\tWho is your faviourte author and what is it that really strikes you abou their work?<\/strong> | \n\t\t\t\tMarilyn Pappano. Her characters are so real, you feel you could meet them on the street.\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t\t\t\tWhat is the hardest part about writing?<\/strong> | \n\t\t\t\tMarketing my books.\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t\t\t\tDid you learn anything from writing this book? What was it?<\/strong> | \n\t\t\t\tWriting a Christian Romance is a joy to experience.\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t\t\t\tDo you have advice for other writers?<\/strong> | \n\t\t\t\tGrow a thick skin and find a great critique group. Few people write perfectly right off the start, no matter how it sounds in your head.\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t\t\t\tDo you have anything specific you want to say to readers?<\/strong> | \n\t\t\t\tI'm a long way from perfect, but the Holy Spirit within me is a guide who'll always be there for me, and I'm so grateful.\n\t\t\t<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n | \n\t\t\t\t\tHow can readers connect with you?<\/strong> \n\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\tThank you and congratulations on your new release!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t |