Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been writing since I was very young (I’m not young any more!) but I needed another career so I became a clinical psychologist, an occupation I enjoy that’s let me make a living and learn a great deal for many years. I am publishing my seventh book very soon (10/08/21). It is my second published novel; the first was Indigo Rose. I have a number more in the drawer. I have published five psychology books. The most recent is Emotions of Menace and Enchantment: disgust, horror, awe, and fascination.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The book that comes out on 10/08/21 is A Beautiful Land, a novel that was inspired by my wish to understand more deeply some of the human dimensions of ethnic violence. It also explores guilt, including guilt in the context of motherhood and the appropriation of another’s child. The book has multiple settings, but one is a threatening but also protective forest.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t have any habits (I’m aware of) that are particularly unusual other than taking advantages of even the smallest block of time (think ten minutes) to continue with a manuscript I’m working on. I’ve learned to dive in–no pencil sharpening or desk organizing. Perhaps one unusual habit is my preference for a messy environment when I write. I think of it as creative chaos.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Many…from William Faulkner to Dostoevsky to Ann Patchett (Bel Canto), Kazuo Ishiguro, Claire Messud, and probably most profoundly, Toni Morrison. There are many others, including poets.
What are you working on now?
I am working on a new novel.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m trying to figure that out. Using social media to promote books is new to me and I can’t say I enjoy it that much.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Try to turn off the internal critic and editor completely while you are writing. There will be abundant opportunity to make good use of those voices later in the writing process. But first, just let yourself write. Immerse yourself in the process and enjoy it. I quit writing for a long time as a young woman because my perfectionism paralyzed me. It was wonderful to get past that.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
hmm….that question requires more thought
What are you reading now?
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett. Next up is Kindred by Octavia Butler.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’d like to write a novel with a more experimental or exploratory form.
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?
I’d probably take books exploring the nature around me in great detail.
Author Websites and Profiles
Susan Miller Website
Susan Miller Amazon Profile
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