Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a kayaker, writer, mother, wife, gardener, teacher, cat lover and book addict. I self-published Snail’s Pace and Arabella’s Gift after their publishers went out of business. Matriarchs: Eliza’s Revenge won best genre novel from the Pacific Northwest Writers Conference. Ferry Findings, an anthology of short stories, was published by Kitsap Publishing in 2016. “Well written,” “quirky sense of humor,” and “doesn’t fit the genre” are the comments I hear most about my books and stories.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Lizzie in the Land Beyond is about a young woman who wakes up in a strange land. I teach high school, and I wondered what would happen to a smart girl who found herself in a medieval-ish country. What is she sees people with much better technology arrive and she believes they are bent on colonization? What would she do? What if she’s wrong?
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
That sounds kinky. No, I don’t think so.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Elizabeth Peters, R.A. MacAvoy, Anne McCaffrey, Mary Stewart, Edith Nesbit, Connie Willis, Annemarie Selinko, Cecilia Holland — many, many strong women protagonists who told me I could be a writer and write about strong women, too.
What are you working on now?
My work in progress is a fantasy tentatively called Froggy and Willie or Froggy Goes a-Courting. It is a Princess Bride/ Frog Prince mash up. It was inspired by my long-time frustration with Buttercup for being such a wimp and not going to find Westley her own self.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I haven’t found the magic website. Do you know of one?
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write a series. Don’t write a bunch of unrelated books, like I have.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
What are you reading now?
Lady of Horses by Judith Tarr
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ll publish Froggy next summer, I hope.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Author Websites and Profiles
Susan McDonough-Wachtman Website
Susan McDonough-Wachtman Amazon Profile
Susan McDonough-Wachtman Author Profile on Smashwords
Susan McDonough-Wachtman’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account