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Friday, March 21, 2008

Spotlight on Susan and Megan Davis and Homicide at Blue Heron Lake

Happy Good Friday to you today. Only 2 more days until Easter, and we're headed out of town. So, I'm getting this one posted a smidgeon early.

Spotlight #2 this week features another of Heartsong Presents Mysteries cozy mystery books. Only this time, it's a mother and daughter team, where the mother is also a web design client of mine. That makes it double special. :)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Susan Page Davis is a Maine native and author of mysteries, suspense novels, and historical romance. She has won the short historical category of the ACFW Book of the Year and the Inspirational Readers' Choice Award. She’s the mother of six home-schooled children. Three daughters now hold degrees in creative writing. Her husband, Jim, is a news editor.

HOMICIDE ON BLUE HERON LAKE
by Susan and Megan Davis
Published by Heartsong Presents Mysteries

Join the Club Today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. This is your first novel with the recently launched Heartsong Presents Mystery Club, and one you've co-written with your daughter. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

I grew up in the beautiful town of Belgrade, Maine, nestled among several lakes. One of these served as Ernest Seton Thompson’s inspiration for On Golden Pond, complete with the mail boat that STILL runs in summer on Great Pond. I wanted to write a story about a guy (Nate in our book) who took mail to people in cottages on islands, who transported people over the lake and delivered packages. So Baxter Marina was born. I had the basic story line, and when I told my daughter Megan about it, she had a great idea for the plot. I asked her to write it with me. The result was our first book, Homicide at Blue Heron Lake.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced the characters of Emily and Nate? What aspects became traits that were theirs and theirs alone?

Emily is really more like Megan than me. She's young, lovely, poised on the brink of adulthood. Our heroine has been hurt, but she's made the best of it. We're proud of Emily and the way she deals with a scary situation.

3. What themes exist in Homicide on Blue Heron Lake that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

Confession and forgiveness are prominent. The character Raven Miller especially portrays this. The past has warped her, and she needs reshaping. Emily and Nate, on a smaller scale, have to overcome the past. All of them learn that, even when you thought a situation was irreversible, there’s always hope.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

For me the hardest parts were scenes where several people gathered to talk about the murders. It's difficult to keep a scene moving when several people are talking and moving around. You have to focus on what will advance the story and stay with that, not get distracted by everything going on.

My favorites were when Emily and Nate were together. The chemistry between these two is great. Megan and I alternated chapters, and we both went over each section and then the whole thing to be sure the end product was seamless.

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

My next suspense book, Witness, releases in April from Love Inspired Suspense. In it, a woman witnesses a murder, but the police don’t believe her when they find no evidence of a crime. A couple of months later, I'll have a historical romance from Heartsong presents—Return to Love, set in Dover, New Hampshire, 1694. And Megan's and my second cozy mystery will release in August: Treasure at Blue Heron Lake. Those are written. I'm now working on my third Frasier Island Series book, Inside Story, for January 09 release.

Our MAINEly Murder series (Blue Heron Lake books) can be found at: http://www.heartsongmysteries.com/SusanDavis0001
And visit me at my Website: http://www.susanpagedavis.com/.

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Thank you, Susan, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Homicide at Blue Heron Lake.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:" when you leave a comment and type the email address where you'd like them sent. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

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13 comments:

Carole said...

I love Maine as the setting for a book, and I'm sure this would be a great read. Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy.

cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

Robyn said...

I'm really looking forward to reading this book! It sounds very interesting, and is written by 2 great writers!

Robyn.Flenner@uscm.org

Anonymous said...

Great interview. I've been looking forward to reading this book for awhile. Two talented, and sweet, writers.
Cheryl

toddandcherylshaw [at] embarqmail [dot] com

Carolynn said...

please enter me, thanks. It sounds like a good book, I love that it's a Mother/daughter writing team:)

Cherie J said...

Sounds like a great story. Would love to win.

Susan Page Davis said...

Thank you all for your encouragement. Megan is going through the real-life things Emily is going through in our second book as she plans her Aug. 16 wedding.
Susan

tetewa said...

I'd like to be included! tWarner419@aol.com

Julie Arduini said...

This book looks great! I look forward to reading it.

jarduini(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

Grateful Gramma said...

I love mysteries. Please enter me in the drawing. Thanks!

Ginnie
vmstokes(at}verizon{dot]net

windycindy said...

Greetings, I have read interviews with the mother and daughter team. I think it is great that they collaborated on a book! I love a good suspense book. Please enter me in the hat. Thanks,Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

Toystory said...

We have only been to Maine once ~~ but we had a really relaxing time, and I would go back anytime. Mysteries are my favorite, so enter me please!

ChristyJan said...

This sounds like a wonderful read. Please enter me to win a copy of Homicide at Blue Heron Lake.

Tiffany Amber Stockton said...

We have a winner for this spotlight, folks, and that winner is:

JULIE!

Congratulations. I've sent your information to Susan, so she can mail out your book.

Thanks, everyone, for your continued support. Two more winners announced for Linda Windsor and S. Dionne Moore. Check to see if it was you!