Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan Mills Wilson.
Hi Susan, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I began my writing journey at 14 when I wrote my first poem, “The Weary Traveler.” I kept the original written on a scrap of paper, and I am amazed by my creativity at such a tender age. Growing up, I spent most of my free time reading. I became captivated by the works of famous writers like Edgar Allan Poe, Mark Twain, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, and Ernest Hemingway. Their stories inspired me to write my own. As a teenager, I would lock myself in my bedroom and write stories about love and romance, even before I had my first boyfriend! Over the years, I would write off and on when my career and raising two children did not interfere. I always filed away in my brain story ideas, and I knew I would write about them someday. In 2013, I published my first novel, Good Gone Bad. My book became successful with the help of an outstanding review from Kirkus Reviews and an article in the Huffington Post magazine, relating my book, and similar ones, to the movie Gone Girl. Some readers mistakenly assumed whatever book they read of mine was part of a series, and they couldn’t wait for the next book in the series to come out. It was enough of a kick in the pants to get me started on a real series. In my debut book, I made the rookie mistake of killing off my best character, Streaker. When I started my series, “A Colt Jessup Novel,” I created his half brother. Like Streaker, Detective Colt Jessup is a badass cop who hates following procedure and protocol if it impedes solving a crime, especially murder. Flawed characters like Colt and Streaker are the most fun to write about.
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Writing is more than sitting in front of a computer and hitting keys. That is the fun part. Once I publish a book, I face the arduous task of marketing and reaching readers. To be a best-selling author takes a compelling story and a lot of time and money to advertise through Facebook, Amazon ads, and social media. I admit I am not good at posting on Instagram and Facebook, but my technology skills are improving. Writing is easier for me than marketing, but marketing is essential to be successful.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Whenever I come across an intriguing idea for a story, I write it down or maybe save an article about something that intrigues me. I then wait for the right time to turn it into a novel. I research a subject matter months in advance of beginning the process of putting the story on paper. My upcoming book, Secrets in the Water, is based on a news article I read ten years ago about an airplane found at the bottom of Lake Norman, near where I live. By saving the piece, I was able to use it as the foundation for my novel about the skeletal remains of a couple discovered in a lake fifteen years later.
Writing is a lonesome pursuit. A place with privacy and quietness is necessary for me to write. But I also feel the need to reach out to others. I lead a critique group for mystery and thriller authors sponsored by Charlotte Writers Club. My colleagues give me sound advice and direction for whatever book I am working on. I do the same for them. The writing community is a tight group, and I love how we support one another. Getting my books into the hands of others requires exposure both internationally and locally. Although my books are only available in English, my Kindle e-books reach readers worldwide. Locally, I share a table at Painted Tree Boutiques in Matthews, North Carolina, with three other authors from the Carolinas. It has been a great success. My recent book signing at the store exceeded my wildest expectations in terms of book sales.
What sets me apart from other authors who write suspense is my writing style. It can be tough and blunt with rugged characters as the heroes. My style is an unique blend of hard-boiled detective stories and police procedurals. I soften it with characters who add comic relief or romantic interest. I have noticed as I get older, I include more suspense and less romance. I write stories I like to read, and I never read cozy mysteries. Although I don’t write paranormal or horror, I have learned so much about storytelling by reading Stephen King. I write character-driven novels. The characters seem real to me, and sometimes they take over and I lose control. What they say and do is sometimes different than what I had planned. Once a story I was writing took a dramatic turn, and even I was surprised who committed the murder! It turned out to be a great twist and what the story needed.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
In my writing, I sometimes take a risk by voicing a particular viewpoint that might differ from the reader’s. I am inspired by the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, who said, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Although my books are driven by fast action, suspense, romance, and even comedy, the pages always have a deeper message. I have written about the opioid epidemic, domestic abuse, PTSD, racism, gun violence, extremists, and corporate greed. I believe a writer can send a clear message about problems we face in the world today without becoming preachy or offending others. Seeing an angry mob attacking the Capitol Building on January 6 left me, like many Americans, horrified. It inspired me to write about a killer motivated by a charismatic, far-right leader who kills out of hate. The risk of writing Shades of Fear was worth it if it helped readers comprehend the danger to democracy posed by groups such as the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers, or a national leader who initiates stochastic terrorism..
Contact Info:
- Website: https://authorsusanmillswilson.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susan.mills.wilson/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanmillswilsonsuspense
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanmillswilson/
Image Credits
Headshots (2) of Susan Mills Wilson couresy of Tiona Fuller Photography
