1st Blogoversary: Interview with Susan Page Davis & Giveaway!

Susan, welcome to Hardcover Feedback! Thank you SO much for being a part of my 1st Blogoversary Celebration! Would you tell us a little about yourself?
I grew up and lived most of my life in Maine. My husband is from Oregon, and we also lived out there for a while. I’m the mom of six and the grandmother of eight. My husband retired a couple of years ago, and we moved to western Kentucky. I have published almost 40 books, and I love writing fiction.

The featured book is The Lady’s Maid.

It’s first in my new Prairie Dreams historical romance series. Elise Finster accompanies her young British mistress, Lady Anne Stone, on a voyage to America in 1855. Lady Anne’s father has died, and her Uncle David is the new Earl of Stoneford—if he steps forward and claims the title. But David disappeared into the American West when Anne was a baby. Now it’s up to her and Elise to find him. They join a wagon train in Independence, Missouri, not realizing they’re leading a killer straight to David.

What or who made the biggest influence on you wanting to become a writer?
I’ve always loved to read, and I think I wanted to write stories since I was very young. Knowing how much joy people can find between the covers of a book was a great influence on me.

What was the first book you ever wrote about and was it ever published?
No, it wasn’t published. I wrote The Priority Unit first, a book about a Maine police detective. I may dust that manuscript off one of these days and make it into an e-Book. I still love the characters.

Do you have any writing habits that people might find unusual?
Not really. I do a lot of planning and research before I actually write the book. I like to know I won’t get surprises as I write that will make me completely redo the plot.

Do you have a favorite character or one that is especially close to your heart?
Gertrude Dooley from The Ladies’ Shooting Club series is one of my favorites. Lady Anne Stone from the Prairie Dreams series is another. Both are strong young women, but with very different backgrounds and experiences.

What is the best gift you have ever received and who gave it to you?
When I first realized I had a full-length novel in my head, my husband gave me the gift of time. He gave me a summer off from shopping and housework so that I could get my book on paper. That was almost 13 years ago, and I’ve been writing fiction ever since.

What is something that you have always wanted to do, but just haven't gotten around to it
yet?
I’d love to visit the ruins in Central America. I’d also like to get all the family photographs my father gave me organized and scrapbooked. That’s probably more doable.

What is your all-time favorite book?
That’s a tough one. To Kill a Mockingbird has to be near the top of my list. But I love many, many books. Dick Francis’s To the Hilt is a favorite mystery.

Other than yourself, who is your favorite author?
Wow, you have a lot of hard questions, Megan! I will say Tim Downs right at this moment—his Bug Man series has brought me many hours of pleasure. But it’s really hard to choose one.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like to read and do logic problems. I also like making things for people. I used to do a lot of needlework and genealogy, but I have less time for those now.

Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Definitely an early bird. I start to droop around 9 p.m. I remember Laura Bush saying about her husband that if he wanted to keep the world safe for democracy, he’d better stay up a little later. Well, I’m with George W. I say get up early and get things done while the other guy is still asleep.

What is your favorite TV show and/or movie?
Right now I’m enjoying Downton Abbey and Castle (though I find the quality varies on that one). For movies, I know it’s corny, but I think Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is the one I could sit through again anytime.


If you had the opportunity to go anywhere you wanted, at any time in history, where would
you go and why?
I’d like to visit Peter the Great when he was having a good day.

You are given an unlimited budget to plan your ultimate party. Please describe it (i.e. Where
would it take place? Who would be on the guest list? What would be on the menu? Would
there be a theme? etc.).
This would be an old-fashioned house party in a huge country mansion, with horseback riding and fencing lessons and parlor games--and somebody else doing the cooking. I would invite my whole extended family and pamper them.

What are you currently working on?
I’m writing a book in the Miracles of Marble Cove series from Guideposts. It’s about four women who live on the same street in a coastal Maine town and support each other. They even manage to solve a mystery or two over the course of the series, but it’s mostly about their friendship.

Where can people connect with you online?
Come visit my website at www.susanpagedavis.com. My Facebook page is at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Susan-Page-Davis/139580589399172?v=wall
You can email me at susan@susanpagedavis.com

Thank you so much Susan for being on Hardcover Feedback!

GIVEAWAY:

Susan has graciously offered to give away a copy of her book The Lady's Maid! To enter, all you have to do is follow this blog in at least one way, complete the mandatory entry and then complete whichever extra entries you want in the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway is for residents of the US and Canada ONLY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway