Tag Archives: contemporary

Interview: Fantasy and Romance Author Susan Stradiotto

It’s release week for Once Upon a Name! We’re so excited to share this collection of weird and wonderful short fantasy stories with you, and we can’t wait to hear what you think.

Today I want to introduce you to another OUAN coauthor, Susan Stradiotto.

Susan Stradiotto writes fantasy for New Adult and later Young Adult audiences, with storylines enjoyable for adults too. Themes focus mostly on relationships of all kinds, family situations, coming of age, and finding oneself or one’s destiny.

Keep reading to find out more about Susan and her books!

Hi and welcome to the blog, Susan. First off, can you tell us a little about yourself?

I’m originally from Texas. I grew up with the firm belief that ya’ll was a word and there was no I in oil. To this day, when I say, “You guys,” my brother corrects me by saying, “Ya’ll.” So there’s that. I moved around a bit but settled down in Minnesota with my husband to raise the family in 1999. I’ve lived in the Twin Cities area ever since.

We’re still very close to our three adult children and enjoy playing fantasy games (DnD, Gloomhaven, etc.) on the regular with them. My husband and I have 2 dogs: a Bernese Mountain Dog named Delaunay and a mini-Dachshund named Knox the Dox. However, along with my daughter I own 3 more Berners: Hodgins, Valkyrie, and Wanda. They’re still puppies, but we’re planning to breed them—first litters likely in late 2022, early 2023.

Oh wow, that many dogs sounds like a dream! I’ve got two German Shorthaired Pointers and they’re the sweetest. So, when did you start writing and what inspired you? 

I’ve always dabbled in writing. Usually, I’d write something once I’d read another story that inspired me. 

What are your favourite genres and tropes to read?

I gravitate toward longer stories with a thorough world and some political machinations. That, however, doesn’t mean I like politics. As N.K. Jemesin said in her master class, “All stories about people and their relationships are political.” 

My favorite genre, I believe, is Historical Fantasy. 

Favorite tropes are a tougher topic. I think most things are okay as long as they’re done well, but there aren’t any that make me pick up the book on that trope alone.

Some of my fave books are Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel’s Legacy series and N.K. Jemesin’s Hundred Thousand Kingdoms series. 

I love historical fantasy too, especially when the world building is rich and the historical aspect is really well researched and accurately portrayed. Kerri Maniscalco who wrote Stalking Jack the Ripper is brilliant for that, at the end of her audio books she includes a sort of appendix where she explains the historical details she uses and their real-world discovery and uses. It’s fascinating, and really makes you appreciate and respect the amount of effort she went to to craft a brilliant and accurate story.

Tell us about your most recent or favourite published work.

The work I’m the most proud of is The Serpentine Throne. It’s a 5-book series about a princess who’s lost both her parents and is the only person in the empire who believes her father still lives. It has many of the characteristics of a young adult finding yourself type story, but it’s geared toward the college age in that the characters experience a few more mature themes. This story was greatly inspired by my son who has adored all things dragon since he was in the 3rd grade and learned the difference in dinosaurs and dragons. 

The mythos in The Serpentine Throne is inspired by Japanese culture but is overall highly original. There are themes of found family and real family, learning the differences in love and lust, and rising to be something that the person thought they never wanted.

The first in series is free here: https://books2read.com/callofthestormsorcerer/

That sounds fabulous, I can’t wait to read it! Where do you find inspiration for your characters or settings? 

Almost always, I am writing a story with one individual in mind. It’s usually someone I care about or once cared about in my life. I have a short story addressed to my mother, The Serpentine Throne addressed to my son, a romance novel addressed to a dear friend who I wanted to give a happy ending. Usually, my stories are to answer a need or desire I see in those people. 

There are a couple of stories I’ve also written when inspired by something larger in life—a turning of the wheel of time, if you will. That’s especially true in my novella, The Muse of Wynter.

For short stories, I will also find inspiration in the research I’m doing for a longer work. Such was the case with my free short story for signing up for my newsletter (The Wanderer and the Devil). 

Bottom line is that inspiration is almost everywhere, it’s just what feels like the best story to tell at the moment that pulls me forward.

It sounds like you’ll never be short of inspiration or a story to tell! Would you say you’re a plotter, pantser or plantser? 

I’m going with plotter. Even if I deviate, I usually have to do some plotting to get back on track.

I’m the same, I need an outline to keep me heading in the right direction! So, what are you working on right now?

I have 2 active projects at the moment. The first is a contemporary romance novel. The second will be a historical epic fantasy, tentatively entitled Blood of the Skies.

They both sound so exciting! I’d love to branch out into another genre at some point, possibly domestic thrillers, plus I have a historical fantasy WIP that I’m so excited to start working on once The Fair Chronicles is complete! What one piece of advice would you give aspiring authors? 

Start your story. Finish your story. Then worry about the rest.

Perfect advice, after all, many people start a book, but very few actually finish it, and even less go on to publish. If you write a complete manuscript you’re among the tiny percentage of people who will ever write THE END. And then the real work starts!

Thank you so much for chatting with me today, Susan! Before you go, how can we find out more about you and your books? 

Susan’s Website:  https://susanstradiotto.com 

Sign up to Susan’s Newsletter and get a FREE story!: https://www.subscribepage.com/susansfantasycommunity 

Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanstradiotto/ 

Join her Facebook group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/aworldawayfantasyreaders 

Upcoming Release: Raine of Fire, A Wickney Mystery Novel coming August 23, 2022: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58736734-raine-of-fire

I hope you enjoyed my chat with Susan, she’s an incredibly talented author and has been an absolute dream to work with on Once Upon a Name, I’m so honoured to be able to call her my coauthor and friend. Susan also has a story in an upcoming anthology that is supporting charities in Ukraine. It’s just 99c to preorder and will be released on 28 June, so if you’re looking for ways to support the people of Ukraine during this horrific time, please do consider buying Feathers of Hope – you’ll get over ten stories by NYT and USA Today bestselling and award-winning authors in return!

Happy reading!

Lyndsey

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Ten books my mum would love

It’s Mother’s Day this weekend, and whilst thinking about what to write for this week’s blog post I stumbled across a post I wrote back in 2017 for Father’s Day sharing ten books my dad and stepdad would love. So, I thought it would be a nice idea to complete the circle and share ten books my mum would love this Mothering Sunday!

My mum loves a good thriller, but she’s also a romcom fan, and she always passes any good books she reads on to me. So let’s see what new and upcoming releases my mum might be getting for Mother’s Day!

Verity by Colleen Hoover

My mum is definitely not on TikTok, and I don’t think she’s read any Colleen Hoover books, but as they’re so popular right now, I think they’d be right up her street. We both loved Gone Girl, and this one is supposed to be like Gone Girl meets Rebecca, with a shocking twist you won’t see coming – me and mum’s favourite kind!

Run, Rose, Run by Dolly Parton and James Patterson

Mum and I absolutely adored Nashville when it was on TV, and we actually went to see the cast perform on stage, too. Plus, who doesn’t love Dolly Parton? She’s an icon. We watched Steel Magnolias whenever it was on when I was a kid. Combine that with one of the greatest thriller writers of our time? Match made in heaven.

I’ll probably advise one of my darling brothers to get Mum this for Mother’s Day, there’s a gorgeous special edition in Waterstones with sprayed/stencilled edges and pretty end papers that I’m eyeing up. I don’t mind letting the boys get the credit for choosing this one, as long as I get to borrow it after!

Again, Rachel by Marian Keyes

This is the seventh book in Keyes’ Walsh Family series, but as most of the books follow different main characters, this is the first sequel, returning to our original protagonist from Rachel’s Holiday, twenty-five years after it was first published.

Marian Keyes is one of those authors everyone has read at least one book by, and I know Mum has Grown Ups on her shelf right now, although I don’t think she’s read it yet. But at least I know another Marian Keyes book would be a safe bet!

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

I started taking my little boy to the mobile library in our village just before Christmas, and I rediscovered my love of domestic thrillers amongst the shelves. I’m usually drowning in fantasy novels, whether it’s my own writing or my friends’ and other authors within my main genre, so it was really refreshing to delve into a few completely gripping, quick reads as a bit of a pallet cleanser. As my mum is also a fan, I chucked The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley at her after I’d finished it, and she enjoyed it just as much as me.

Foley’s most recent book sounds just as tense and thrilling, and it’s set in exciting Paris, so I reckon this is a good choice for a Mother’s Day gift that I’ll benefit from too!

The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell

The Family Upstairs was another library book we both loved, and while the sequel may not actually come out until July, I know it’s one Mum will be really excited to read. This one may have to wait until her birthday!

Because of You by Dawn French

I feel like this one is pretty self explanatory. Dawn French. Enough said.

I’m a huge Dawn French fan, I rewatch the entirety of Vicar of Dibley at least once a year, usually in the run up to Christmas. I didn’t even know she wrote fiction until a couple of years ago when I saw my mother-in-law reading one of her books. I’m yet to try them, but I just know they will be hilariously heartfelt, like everything Dawn does, so when I need a good book to make me laugh and cry with every page, she’s the author I’ll be turning to.

As this book is about motherhood and all of the heartbreak and anguish that comes along with it, it would be a perfect choice for Mother’s Day.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

This book was absolutely everywhere last year, and I was a bit put off by the amount of hype – I hate being disappointed, and I’m not usually a fan of mainstream literary fiction. But the blurb, and the fact that with over 1m reviews on Goodreads this book has 4.5 stars, have me convinced.

It’s both a murder mystery and a coming of age story, two of my favourite things, and despite the fact that YA is my cup of tea but not so much my mum’s, I can tell from the description and reviews that this isn’t aimed at young adult readers and has universal appeal. (I mean, over a million Goodreads readers think it deserves 4+ stars? That’s almost unheard of!)

Us Three by Ruth Jones

If you weren’t aware, Ruth Jones is the absolutely hilarious actress and writer from such televisual delights as Gavin and Stacey and Stella. She’s funny, warm and down to earth, and if her novels are anything like her screenplays then they’ll be a definite hit with my mum.

This one follows three childhood friends as they grow up and face all of the harsh realities of life, and events that put their lifelong friendship into question. I’m intrigued already!

Neighbors by Danielle Steel

I remember Mum reading loads of Danielle Steel when I was growing up, and sneaking the odd one to my room to read, hoping she wouldn’t notice! Neighbors came out in 2021, so I can be fairly sure she hasn’t already read it, but I think she’d love to revisit one of her first favourite authors.

The book sounds like a twisty, glamorous thriller, set in San Francisco during an earthquake, as a movie starlet now living as a recluse lets her neighbors take refuge in her beautiful mansion. It sounds right up mum’s and my street!

My books

And of course, Mum loves me, so she’d definitely love a copy of one of my books! She already has copies of all my current releases, but I’ll be treating her to my upcoming anthologies, Once Upon a Name and Enchanted Forests when they come out in April and July. Plus, they’re both raising funds for charity, so it’s a double good deed!

So there you have it! Ten books that would make the perfect Mother’s Day gift for mums who love romcoms, thrillers, or fantasy books by me!

What are you getting the amazing mother figure in your life this Mothering Sunday?

Lyndsey

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Review: Sadie by Courtney Summers

If you know me at all, you’ll know I’m a huge true crime fan, and a podcast addict. As soon as I heard about Sadie, the story of a teenage girl on a journey of revenge, told via a serialised podcast in addition to her own POV, I knew I had to read it.

Not only that, but I chose to listen to the audio book for the full podcast experience, and if you take one thing from this review it’s that the audio book is the absolute best way to experience Sadie (in my humble opinion).

Review

Title: Sadie

Author: Courtney Summers

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Sadie-Courtney-Summers-ebook/dp/B079DVQG97/

Rating: 5/5

Sadie is a relatively quick read, especially when you’re used to 800 page epic fantasies that convert into 30 hour audio books. At just under 8 hours, it’s definitely one of the quicker listens in my Audible library, but that might also be because it was so damn gripping and fast-paced, I found myself listening at all hours because I just needed to know what happened next.

The audio book is presented by not just one or two voice actors, but a full cast, so it genuinely felt like a podcast with every character/interviewee having their own voice. If I’m honest, I almost wish there had been more chapters from Sadie herself as I loved the voice Summers gave her titular character. And that’s without discussing the ending, which we’ll come to later. (No spoilers, but if you’ve heard anything about this book I’m sure it’s that the ending is a shocker).

We need to talk about trigger warnings, because Sadie touched on some of the darkest and most horrific things humans do to each other. If you’re at all triggered by child abuse, including sexual abuse, grooming, rape and molestation, then I wouldn’t recommend reading unless you’re prepared.

I would say that, as someone who has fortunately not experienced any of the above, it isn’t gratuitous and is handled with the seriousness that it deserves. But I wouldn’t want to tell you what someone who has been through those things would feel on reading this book, so I’ll just let you make the decision whether to read it for yourself.

The ending tore my heart out as I checked and rechecked that I hadn’t missed something and it was really, truly over. It wasn’t a happy or uplifting ending, it wasn’t even particularly hopeful, but it was real. And in the end, Sadie did what she set out, just perhaps not quite like she

Sadie is a book about revenge, about hunting monsters with human faces, and finding pure evil in some of the darkest and some of the brightest places. But beneath all of that, Sadie is a book about a girl who loved her sister with her whole, entire heart and only ever wanted to protect her. She didn’t always succeed, and sometimes she failed spectacularly, but she didn’t stop trying. Ever. Not until the very end.

If you like true crime, podcasts, really strong voice, quirky formats and stories about sibling relationships and unexpected endings, then you’ll love Sadie.

Lyndsey
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