Interview with paranormal author Susan C. Muller

Today's focus is on The Witch on Twisted Oak by Susan C. Muller. The novel is a paranormal romantic suspense.

Susan will be awarding a $20 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. To be entered to win, leave a comment below. To increase your chances of winning, visit other tour stops and leave comments there, too.

Bio:

Susan C. Muller is a fourth-generation Texan. She attended Stephen F. Austin State University where she studied creative writing. She started her first novel at age eleven, but it wasn’t until after she had worked many years and raised a family that she returned to her first love, writing. Her novel, The Secrets on Forest Bend, has won several awards. The Witch on Twisted Oak released in August, 2013. Voodoo on Bayou Lafonte will be available in 2014.

Susan lives in Spring, Texas and has two children and four grandchildren.

When not writing, she can be found doing volunteer work at a local hospital. Her hobbies include reading, traveling, snorkeling and taking long walks.

Welcome, Susan. Please tell us about your current release.

The Witch on Twisted Oak is the story of Detective Ruben Marquez. A powerful psychic is murdered. Secrets are revealed. An old enemy is out for revenge. Ruben must use himself as bait to protect all he holds dear—his family, his career, and the mysterious witch on Twisted Oak.

What inspired you to write this book?

I always loved Detective Ruben Marquez, a secondary character from my novel, The Secrets on Forest Bend. I knew I wanted to write his story, but didn’t have a plot until I attended a lecture given by an agent of Homeland Security. He claimed that many of the smugglers along the Texas/Mexico border were so superstitious that they consulted psychics before leaving with their cargo. Later the psychics sold this information to the border patrol. When researching this, I learned that many psychics are witches. That’s when The Witch on Twisted Oak was born.

Excerpt:

Ruben shoved back his chair and stomped across the room to the bank of elevators. He waited, tapping his foot in frustration at the hour he was about to waste.

The bell rang on the far elevator and he twisted in time to see a tall woman step out. Her eyes and hair were as dark as his own, and her olive complexion glowed like polished brass.

Despite several people in the hall, she headed directly for him.

“I’m Theresa Reyna. Yolanda Garza’s . . . niece.”

“I’m Detective Ruben Marquez,” he said.

“Yes, I recognize you. You really haven’t changed much.”

What did she mean by that? He’d never seen her before. He’d have remembered that face.

Ruben strode toward the squad room and beckoned to his partner. When he looped back toward the woman, he did a double take. She faced away from him and her hair hung past her shoulders in a black waterfall. The florescent lights that made most people look sickly, reflected off the darkness like the full moon in a mirror.

A feeling of déjà vu swept over him and was gone. Where had that come from?

What exciting story are you working on next?

Voodoo on Bayou Lafonte is the story of another detective in Ruben’s squad. Remy Steinberg must return to Louisiana to rescue his kidnapped daughter and face the two things he fears most in the world; the swamp and the ex-wife he never stopped loving.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

The day I won my first writing contest. When I sold my first book, I was sure of it.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I’m retired, so I can write whenever I want. This should make for a productive day, but life seems to get in the way. I work best when I have a deadline.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I don’t know of any quirks, but I am short. I have to sit on a cushion when I use the computer.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

An actress, a stand-up comedian, or a singer. If you ever heard me sing, you’d be thrilled I took up writing.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I’d like to thank you for hosting me on your blog. One lucky commenter on this blog tour will receive an Amazon gift card. There’s no penalty for commenting twice.

Thanks, Susan!