by Barb, who is sad to be winding down her time in the Keys
Barb: Tell us a little about Second Honeymoons Can Be Murder.
Barb: In your previous books you’ve explored the challenges Baby Boomers face at this stage of their lives–retirement, downsizing, parenting grown children. I’m almost afraid to ask–what boomer challenge do you explore in Second Honeymoons?
Barb: Your central couple, Carol and Jim Andrews’s son Mike has always been a bit of a mysterious character. (My husband and I used to joke that with our son everything was on a need-to-know basis–and there was nothing we needed to know.) Do we learn more about Mike’s life in Florida in this story?
Susan: I decided it was high time, after 5 books, that Mike became more of a central character, rather than hovering around the edges of the plot and chiming in electronically when asked. Of course, I had to get to know Mike, too. He turned out to be a very likable, but very stubborn young guy who falls for the wrong girl at the wrong time. But in the right book!
Barb: Why did you make the decision to move Carol away from her home base, not to mention her supportive friends and beloved dogs? What were the challenges and the rewards? (I’m asking because I’m writing a book like this now myself.)
Susan: Since I’ve become a “weather refugee,” spending the cold winter months in Florida, it seemed natural to me that Carol and Jim should spend some time in Florida. But most of the other central characters in the book — Carol’s best girlfriends, and the dogs — get to come along on the trip, too. A lot of the book is set on Honeymoon Island, which really exists. Although not the way I portrayed it in the book, of course.
Barb: I’ve always admired your approach to the business side of writing. After self-publishing the first four Baby Boomer Mysteries, you’ve gone in-house with the last two with Suspense Publishing. What’s the same and what’s different?
Susan: Since my first four books are indie, I get to play with promotion and marketing ideas that might not be available otherwise. For example, My first mystery, Retirement Can Be Murder, will be part of a boxed set of first-in-a-series books by 10 indie authors called Sleuthing Women, to be published in early May by the ever creative Lois Winston, who’s become an indie author herself.
Suspense gives me the security and branding that only a traditional publishing house can. Plus, since I also review mysteries for Suspense Magazine, I get to read books by so many fabulous authors whose work I really admire. Like many of the Wickeds! I am very lucky to have the very best of both worlds.
Barb: So interesting! I enjoy seeing the challenges in my life reflected with humor and a sense of adventure.
Readers: Do you like books that reflect your life or provide an exotic adventure? Both? Neither?