Interview With Author Susanna Kanto
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an indie author from Helsinki, Finland. I write in several genres, ranging from historical fiction to urban fantasy. Caytee is my debut novel, but I’ve been a writer ever since I can remember, and a storyteller even before I could write. So naturally, when I learned to write, I started writing down my stories. None of them were very good, but at least I got a lot of practice!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Caytee is a modern YA retelling of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey. That should be enough to tell you that I’m a huge Jane Austen fan. Back in 2012, I started reading a lot of Young Adult novels. That got me thinking what would happen if the main character of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey was a modern-day teenager and obsessed with YA paranormal fantasy.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I spend a lot of time planning my stories—years, even decades. I have random piles of paper and notebooks everywhere. When I start writing the novel down, I don’t write in order but skip around, working on the scene that I feel inspired to write at that time.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Obviously, for Caytee Jane Austen was a huge influence. I think every author I’ve read has been at least a minor influence.
What are you working on now?
My next novel is a coming-of-age story of a boy and girl living in a prehistorical matriarchal society.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m such a newbie at promoting books, but I’ve found some amazing free sites. I’m also active on Instagram and have a newsletter.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you want to write, write. Make it your priority, but don’t listen to people who say that you have to write every day to be a writer. If you can’t write every day, write when you can.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Every first draft is perfect because all the first draft has to do is exist.” – Jane Smiley
What are you reading now?
I’m currently reading Earth’s Children series by Jean M. Auel and The Golden Bough by James Frazer. I like to read both fiction and non-fiction and have several books in rotation at the same time.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Finishing the next book and publishing it! I hope to start working on the third draft of my prehistorical coming-of-age story soon.
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?
The collected novels of Jane Austen (is that cheating?), War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (maybe I would finally have time to read it), and Survival Wisdom and Know-How (bought it for research, but it might come in handy when trying to get off the island).
Author Websites and Profiles
Susanna Kanto’s Social Media Links