Q & A with Susan Lewis, Author

Susan Lewis is the best-selling author of thirty-five novels. She lives in Gloucestershire. Her latest book is “One Minute Later”. 

Available on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/y52eakrj

When did you realise you wanted to become an author?  

I always loved reading and when I started to work on TV drama I found myself writing and script editing without even saying to myself “this is what I want to do”. My aim then was to write for TV, but someone suggested I turn my first scripts into a book and the rest, as they say, is history.

Where do you find inspiration/ ideas for your work? 

Most ideas come from newspapers – in other words from life challenges that I probably wouldn’t know about unless they were reported.

Do you have a set process for writing?  

I usually begin around 11 in the morning and finish by 5 or 6.  There’s no process as such, other than just sitting down and doing it – and finding out how the next chapter, or even paragraph, is going to take me to where we need to go.   Needless to say the destination often changes, but if there are some strong points I’m keen to make they are always included.  

Is there a particular audience you write for?  

I guess most would say that I write for women, but I’ve received some very positive feedback from men who’ve “read their wives’ books” and who say they had no idea from the cover that it was going to be “that kind of book”.  

Do you have a particular style you prefer to work with, or a range of difference ones? 

I’m never aware of changing style, I’m not even sure if that’s possible.  I might move between genres now and again, from family issues, to detective, to thriller, even to love stories, although I never feel I’m very good at romance.   There is one in “One Minute Later” and it really wasn’t easy given the impossibility of their situation.

Who is your inspiration?  

Inspiration comes from just about any novel I read or movie that I watch.   Sometimes I just have to open my eyes and look around me – it’s everywhere. 

Do you have a favourite book you have written? 

My favourite is always the one I’m working on, but looking back there are a few that stand out for me:  “A French Affair”, “Darkest Longings”, the “Silent Truths” quartet of books.  Most of all though I’d say that the ‘No Child of Mine” trilogy has been the most impactful.  

What is the best thing you’ve read or seen this week?  

Without a doubt it is “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens.  It’s the best thing I’ve read since “Suite Francaise” which was a long time ago.

What is your greatest strength and weakness?  

Strength would be discipline; weakness would be wine 

What do you like doing in your spare time?   

Walks with my dogs, movies, spending time with my   

husband and friends and travelling.  

What makes you smile the most?   

My dogs, my husband and receiving messages from readers who’ve enjoyed my books. Oh yes, and a nice glass of wine at the end of the day.  

Lis' own books are available on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/y6hlz6cy