Interview with Author SUZANNE M. SABOL

 

 

 

Today I’m interviewing Suzanne M. Sabol. Her book, Pool of Crimson is an Urban Fantasy and was released on July 11, 2012. Midnight Ash, the next in The Blushing Death Series will be out in November of 2012.   


Describe the genre of this particular title, and is the only genre you write in?

Pool of Crimson is an Urban Fantasy set in Columbus Ohio. Urban Fantasy is a gritty genre based in an urban environment with a paranormal twist. The undertones are darker, the sex and violence are more graphic and there isn’t always a happy ending. I write in both Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance.



How did this story come to be? 

I tend to develop a character first, what his or her problems are and what their reactions would be in any given situation. Dahlia came about after talking to one of my employees. This particular woman was named after a flower and it seemed to fit her. She was sweet and gentle. I started thinking about a woman who was named after something delicate and beautiful like a flower but hard as nails who saw all the darker things in life. Since, I’m most comfortable in the paranormal genre, I started putting together a story to force her into the preternatural underworld and situations that would test her mettle.  




Did you have several manuscripts finished before you sold? If so, did you send them out yourself?

I had several manuscripts completed prior to Pool of Crimson selling to Soul Mate Publishing. I had four for this particular series, The Blushing Death Series, completed as well as another dystopian paranormal romance. I sent out manuscripts religiously. I always had at least six queries out at a time. I currently have Pool of Crimson in publication, Midnight Ash (#2) coming out in November, a contract for #3 and #4 in The Blushing Death Series, and requests from two publishing houses to view the dystopian paranormal romance.



What is your writing routine like?

I write important dialogue and outlines out long hand. I have notebooks for each novel with important plot points and conversations, as well as, post its on the wall, chalkboard walls filled with information. I plot out characters, their likes/dislikes, their backstory, fears, and family histories prior to starting the hard work of starting chapter 1. I also outline chapters so that I know what the conflict is and where the stories going. 



What sort of promo do you do? Do you have help?

I am very active on facebook, twitter, goodreads, and pinterest. I have ads running on Facebook, Romance Divas, and www.bookdaily.com. I’m also active on several listservs that help promote my work. 



Having achieved your goal to be a published author, what is the most rewarding thing?   

I think the most rewarding part for me is seeing my work out there, having people reading it and disappearing into the world I created. I love seeing my name on my work. Seeing my name on something that is published is a real sense of accomplishment. 


Are you a member of any writing organizations and, if so, have they helped?

I’m a member of Romance Writers of America and my local RWA chapter, Central Ohio Fiction Writers. My local chapter helped me a great deal. They have been incredibly supportive, providing moral support, critiques on my work and providing me with the ability to learn with workshops, wonderful guest speakers every month and conferences. I have met some fantastic people in my local chapter. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.



What’s next for you?

I’m always writing, editing, and revising. I’m currently working on The Blushing Death series #5 and #6. I am also working on my dystopian paranormal romance trilogy. I started a master’s program at The Ohio State University in August. This means a lot of course work but its very rewarding. 



BOOK BLURB

Killing vampires is easy. Trusting one will be the hardest thing Dahlia Sabin has ever done.

Dahlia has lived a lonely existence as a killer of the undead. Known as The Blushing Death to those that fear her, Dahlia uncovers a plot by Columbus’s Master Vampire, Ethan. He intends to raise a demon from the depths of hell to destroy the city, cement his power, and take control.

In her pursuit to stop a demon from manifesting, Dahlia sinks deeper into the city’s supernatural underworld and discovers that vampires are not only deadly; one in particular could be dangerous to her very soul and her heart. Patrick, the Master vampire’s second-in-command with dark penetrating eyes and a cool, deadly sophistication, can’t stay away and Dahlia can’t tell him no. There’s something that neither of them knows, Ethan wants Dahlia’s unleashed power for himself and is willing to do anything to get it.

Dahlia is in a race against time to send the demon back to hell, at war with her better judgment, trusting a dark and intriguing vampire with his own agenda, while struggling to save her own neck. As the portal to hell opens, Dahlia has only herself to rely on in order to survive, if she can …



A little bit about the author.

Suzanne M. Sabol began writing at a young age, completing her first full-length novel at the age of 17. Her love of everything paranormal and romance began shortly thereafter. She is an avid reader and writer, focusing mostly in the urban fantasy genre. She loves reading anything from contemporary single title romance to detective noir as well as the classics.
Suzanne published her first novel Cursed in 2009, Pool of Crimson in 2012, and Midnight Ash will be available in November of 2012. She is a graduate of The Ohio State University with majors in Criminology, International Studies, Russian and Political Science. She is currently working on her Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Administration at the John Glenn School of Public Policy. She works full time as a Human Resources Professional and Fiscal Officer.


Suzanne was born and raised in Eastern Ohio where she was more likely to see a deer on the road than a sports car. She currently resides in Columbus Ohio with her husband Ross. When she’s not working, writing, or reading; she’s spending time traveling and looking for the next great story. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and Central Ohio Fiction Writers.




How can my readers buy your book? 

Readers can go to the publisher’s home page at http://www.soulmatepublishing.com

You can find more information about Suzanne M. Sabol and my book, Pool of Crimson by

visiting my website, http://www.suzannemsabol.com or

my blog at http://www.goodreads.com

Just a few fun questions to answer if you don’t mind.

 

1)      What’s your favorite movie?

a.       The Thin Man with William Powell and Myrna Loy

2)      What is your favorite TV show?

a.       Once Upon a Time

3)      What is your favorite thing to drink?

a.       Iced Tea

4)      Who is your favorite author to read?

a.       Jane Austen

5)      What’s your favorite vacation spot?

a.       Barcelona, Spain

6)      What’s the best piece of advice you have been given?

a.       It’s not brain surgery.  Everything else can be fixed.

 

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 Disclaimer: This scene takes place in Pool of Crimson after Jade returned home. This scene takes place the morning after Jade and Dahlia were run off the road. This has not been professionally edited so read at your own risk. I hope this gives you a little more insight into Jade. Enjoy!
Jade stepped out of the taxi, tossing a few bucks in the driver’s direction. She had no idea whether she tossed him a $10, $20 or even a $50. Her heart was still racing and images from the night before roared through her head. She was excited. Exhausted, but excited too. Someone had tried to run them off the road. Someone had tried to kill them. She’d known there was something dangerous about Dahlia the first time she met her. Jade had been bored and looking for something… She sure found it.

"Shit," she whispered.

Jade stepped inside her foyer, listening to the soft hum of the furnace running and air filtering through her townhouse. No one was there. No one was ever there. She closed the front door behind her and set the alarm.

Dahlia had been so calm, so in charge, and composed the whole time. It was annoying. Jade liked to fly by the seat of her pants and see what happened.

She dropped her bag on the floor and ran up the hardwood stairs, taking two at a time. The curved staircase up the two-story foyer seemed like a good idea at the time. Putting her office on the first floor and the kitchen on the second floor, wasn’t a good idea. Jeez, she needed to start working out again. The hand blown Murano glass chandelier covered the walls with a soft white diamonds of light reflected through the imperfections of the glass. She rounded the corner, almost knocking the Waterford crystal vase her father’s secretary had picked out for Jade’s sixteenth birthday, from the table along the banister as she ran. It wobbled but didn’t fall.

She flung the door of her office open and darted inside. She’d told Dahlia that she’d start digging into the Ahriman thing but there was something she needed to do first. She booted up the computer system, an impressive collection of servers, monitors and high-powered processors. She always loved electronics. Her mother would scream at her about taking the VCR, CD player, DVD player, and the television apart. Jade slowed for a moment as a flash of her Mother’s face filled her mind. Her mother had been beautiful. Jade remembered her smiling and laughing but she also remembered her crying. Jade had cried too, sitting at her mother’s bedside. Cancer had taken her dignity and her beauty until the woman Jade knew was gone, making the bright green eyes she’d known as a child dull and lifeless.

Jade shook off the empty feeling twisting the pit of her stomach. Her mother wouldn’t want Jade to wallow. Jade opened up her Mac beside the computer system and typed the apple ID into the field.

The screen flashed to life inside of her father’s New York office, the view of midtown Manhattan filled the screen with the morning light making the office seem more welcoming than she knew it to be from experience.

"Dad?" she called into the empty chair sitting in front of the screen. "Dad are you there?"

"Who’s there?" a stern, feminine voice called from the other side of the office.

Perfect!

"I’d like to speak to my Father," Jade bit out. She hated her father’s secretary. She didn’t feel too bad about that though, the feeling was mutual. The woman, Valarie, came around the desk. Her dark hair was streaked with white strands, showing her age. She didn’t bother to color it which made her look like the Bride of Frankenstein. Valarie’s features were drastic and reminded Jade of a crow. She didn’t dare say that out loud. Alright, maybe she already had said it out loud and that was one of the reasons they didn’t get along.

"Oh, it’s you," she snorted.

"Where’s my Father?" Jade snapped, unable to keep the stress from the previous night and her anger at the bitch on screen from her voice.

"Mr. Markowitz, your daughter wishes a word with you. Remember, you are already 15 minutes late for the marketing meeting and the London office is on the line. What should I tell them?" she cooed sweetly. She was such a bitch.

"I’ll speak with London in a moment. Jade, I’m very busy. What is it?" her father’s words echoed in the silence of her house. He didn’t bother to come around the desk and into view of the camera. Jade rolled her eyes.

"Are you fucking kidding me? You can’t even come around the damned desk!"

"Jade!"

"Mr. Markowitz, if your daughter is going to use such abusive language, I refuse to be in the room."

"Thank you Jesus! Evidently, he does answer prayers," Jade snipped. A little tingle of joy crept through her at making that hag’s hackles rise.

"Jade Elizabeth Markowitz!" her father shouted, finally coming around the edge of the desk. His dark hair was mixed with the silver of age, giving him a debonair salt and pepper look. His facial features were sharp with the same wide mouth and full lips she hated on herself. He slammed his large, still strong hands on the desk as he leaned into the camera. "What is wrong with you?"

She couldn’t help but cause trouble. It was the only way she could get his attention. Jade was well aware that she was seeking negative attention but she’d been doing it since she was eleven. Old habits died hard.

"I was in an accident last night," she muttered, shrinking away from the screen like the little girl he always made her feel like.

"So, you need a new car? I’ll have Tom send you something," he snapped, walking away from the desk and the screen. "Valarie, call Tom. Jade needs a new car."

"Again?"

"Dad? Don’t you even want to know if I’m alright?" Jade asked and even she could hear the pleading in her voice. Her eyes filled with unshed tears and her bottom lip trembled as she waited for him to say something.

"Clearly, you’re fine. Now, Jade I’m very busy. Did you need something else?" "No, Dad…that was it."

The computer screen went dark. Jade stared at her own image on the screen staring back at her. Jade brushed the only tear she allowed from her cheek. She straightened her shoulders and sat up straighter.

Dahlia wouldn’t let this get to her, she’d get even.

"Damn straight she would," Jade huffed. She closed the Mac and swiveled in her chair. She booted up the overly expensive, government grade computer system she’d installed with her father’s money. "Get a business degree Jade, only the help gets a degree in computer science," Jade snorted, repeating her father’s to her words from years ago. "Let’s see what kind of damage a computer science degree can do," she said, smirking to herself as she broke through the system at her father’s company.

"You should really have better firewalls, DAD!"

Before long, the entire company computer system was open to her. In a quick couple of key strokes, she released her virus into their system as the entire thing crashed before her eyes. She imaged thousands of people sitting in front of blank screens in frustration and the entire building coming to an abrupt halt. The virus would only shut them down for twenty minutes. She didn’t want to bring the whole thing down, just cause a little aggravation. The corners of her mouth turned up in delight.

She leaned back in her chair and breathed deep, letting her shoulders slump in relief. Maybe her father didn’t respect her, love her, or even like her but she could deal with that. Someone needed her. Dahlia needed help and Jade could give her what she needed. She sat back up and pulled in close to the computer screen.

"Alright, let’s get back to work. Ahriman, who are you? Where do you come from?"

 

 

Suzanne would like to give a free copy of her book, Pool of Crimson, to one lucky commenter. Please remeber to check back here tomorrow to see if you are the winner!