This week, we’re talking with Susan Merson about her book, How We Saw the Moon
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
I am also a tarot reader and am practicing psychic mediumship.
Why do you write?
I have been on the planet for awhile and the images and observations of people as they struggle toward fulfillment and compassion move me to write about them.. It's important to know each other.
Where did you get the inspiration for your current book?
I , like my protagonist Annie, volunteered for the Hillary campaign in 2016 and it gave me a preview to the current rise of fascist, right wing ideologies in our country, I was invited to a Literary Conference in the UK in 2017-2018 and when reading parts of the book about the campaign, the audience was shocked— as was I, that I was seeing what was coming.
What do you enjoy the most about your genre?
I tend to write against genre– but literary fiction is the closest to what I have to say. I am most interested in the people of our time, their struggles and successes.. and these are the souls I am drawn to..
How would you describe your writing process?
I tend to get quiet and listen.
What do you think authors have to gain from participating in social media?
It is the platform on which we communicate these days, so if one wants to be part of the conversation, it is important to be part of the platform. That being said, I hope to interest people enough to then go deeper into my work and the nuance of behavior and desire with which I am fascinated.
What advice would you have for other writers?
Write your heart, whether you know it or not.
How do you select your books’ titles and covers?
This last title, HOW WE SAW THE MOON, came from a kids chalk drawing on the sidewalk of my street, a drawing figuring out science assignments. I am drawn to strong visual images that offer the mood of the work within the covers.
What book do you wish you had written?
The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiesson His search, his certainty that there was this mythical being and that that majesty can be observed, understood and basked within.
How do you react to seeing a new review for your book?
I hope it is balanced enough to introduce people to my work.
What's your next step?
I am currently working on my next book about finding safety; emotional, physical, and psychic. THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US. It takes place in a dystopian future where the government in the US has become fully fascist, and my protagonist Carey flees the country only to understand that safety and stability come from inside, not outside.
GET SUSAN'S BOOK ON AMAZON
