Today I have the pleasure of talking
to Susan P. Baker, author of four novels and two nonfiction books as well as a
retired Senior District Court Judge in Texas. Along with serving twelve years
full time on the bench, Susan’s experience includes ten years as a judge sitting by
assignment, nine years as a practicing attorney, and two years as a probation
officer.
JET: Can
you tell us about your most recent book, Suggestion of Death?
Susan: Years ago when I was on the bench full
time, I’d hear child support enforcement cases. The idea came to me that many
of the mothers would get benefits for their kids if the fathers were dead, in
many cases far more than they were receiving in child support. Then, of course,
I thought “What if” mothers thought of that...
JET: What
drew you to mysteries and true crime?
Susan: I grew up reading mysteries and true
crime. But I went to the library every two weeks and checked out the max number
of books and read everything I could get my hands on. Horror. Best sellers.
Romance. My mother didn’t seem to care what we read. I continued reading
mystery, true crime, horror and whatever was available. When I started writing
seriously, I read in TV Guide about how much romance writers made per book so I
wrote a romance. I was told nicely that it sucked so thought I’d try my hand at
mysteries which was where my heart was anyway.
JET: What’s been your most challenging hurdle on
the road to publication?
Susan: Getting support. Realizing I had to rely
on myself.
JET: What
was your favorite moment in the journey?
Susan: The day I got word My First Murder would
be published.
JET: Which authors had the most influence over you
growing up?
Susan: Edgar Allen Poe. Brett Halliday. Maud
Hart Lovelace. Harper Lee. Margaret Mitchell. Who can remember all the authors
I read, I can’t.
JET: When
did you know you wanted to take the plunge into the writing world?
Susan: At about age 13. Along with one other
girl, I signed up for a summer school writing course but there wasn’t enough
interest, and it was cancelled.
JET: What’s the craziest thing you’ve done in
the name of book research? Most interesting fact you uncovered?
Susan: For my Murdered Judges book (which I
researched and wrote over a six year period) I took several weeks off from work
and drove around the country to as many of the sites of the murders as I could
(my best friend went with me, we had a blast). We interviewed people,
researched in their local papers and history centers. I already knew this but
it brought home the fact that often there is more to the story than makes the
papers. In several cases, people told us the REAL motivation behind the
killings (or at least the local rumors). Ex. The judge was having an affair
with the perpetrator’s wife. Or the judge was having an affair with the
perpetrator's sister. Or a number of other things that were not always
publishable.
JET: Of
all the novels and stories you’ve written - which one is your favorite? Why?
Susan: Aargh—I can’t decide between my books any
more than my children or grandchildren. I do love Mavis Davis, though. (MyFirst Murder and The Sweet Scent of Murder). She’s got more nerve than I do.
And Erma Townley in Death of a Prince doesn’t mind saying things I’d never say.
I learned a lot by writing from a man’s point of view in Suggestion of Death.
Jim had to rethink his motivation, his life from a male perspective. I had to
find a plausible reason for their split and for them to get back together.
JET: Any
advice (from a writer’s standpoint) for the novices out there?
Susan: Read everything. Don’t be afraid to
experiment. But if you don’t love it, if you aren’t compelled to write, quit
and save yourself a lot of time and heartache.
JET: All right - now that I’ve hammered you with
the big questions, let’s tackle my favorite (and geeky) quick ten...starting
with: Paper or Plastic?
Susan: My own recyclable bags.
JET: Steak or Tofu?
Susan: Seafood.
JET: Beach or Mountains?
Susan: Both—I live on an island in the states
and the mountains in Mexico.
JET: Country or Rock-n-Roll?
Susan: Rock. But I like most music.
JET: Leather or Lace?
Susan: Lace can be cooler but scratchy. Leather
is hotter but softer. I prefer natural cotton.
JET: Angels or Demons?
Susan: Angels, cherubs.
JET: Paper or Digital?
Susan: Both. I like the feel of paper but
digital is good when traveling which I do a lot.
JET: Silent Film Classics or Cheesy B Rated Horror?
Susan: Classics.
JET: Twilight or True Blood
Susan: It’s a toss up.
JET: Coffee or Tea?
Susan: Definitely tea. Twinings English
Breakfast or Earl Grey. Or real chai.
JET: Thank you for indulging me. Before we wrap this up, can you tell us what
you're working on now? What's next?
Susan: Texas Style Justice about an ambitious
female Texas District Court Judge who doesn’t know those who are supporting her
for higher office intend to corrupt her.
And Death of a Rancher’s Daughter about criminal defense attorneys Sandra and Erma
who are hired to defend the alleged killer of a rancher’s daughter by the
victim’s mother.
JET: Thank you so much for taking the time to
chat on my blog.
Folks, you can find out more about Susan P.
Baker and her work on her website: www.susanpbaker.com
and you can follow her on twitter at @Susanpbaker.
Jim Dorman, a laid off
newspaperman in the Texas hill country, can’t pay his child support. He is summoned to court for nonsupport
and the first thing the judge does is
read a Suggestion of Death into the record for a man who was supposed to appear
that day. She tells the next man that
his children would be better off if he were dead, and when Jim steps up for his
turn, the judge tells him to get a job or go to jail.
At his next court
appearance the judge reads another Suggestion of Death into the record,
sparking Jim’s curiosity. He begins researching and discovers a number of men
who have been cited for nonsupport have died accidental deaths.
When an informant winds
up murdered and stuffed in a trunk and strange mishaps befall Jim, he figures
he’d better find out who’s behind the deaths before he ends up as the next dead
dad.
___________________
Until next time,
Ciao.
JET
