Author Interview:
Susan Slack
Genre: Historical Fiction
How old were you when you knew you wanted to be a writer?
I have samples of stories I wrote as a tiny little kid. Went something like "Funny Spot. See Spot run." I guess today we would call that fan fiction based on the Dick and Jane series. For those under 50 - ask your grandparents. Short story long: always.
What inspired you to write your first book?
My first book was called, "The Mystery of the White Stallion" written when I was in 5th or 6th grade. It won first place in the hobby fair in the writing division. Okay, so it was the only entry in that division, but no one knows that. It never went anywhere.
My first published book was a non-fiction, "Come Join the Circle; Singing and Dancing for Early Childhood Education". I was teaching teachers how to work with kids, encouraging them to integrate the arts into their classrooms. Brain research backs up my work. It was the field I had been working in for decades and didn't want what I accumulated to disappear with me. It is still available on Lulu.
What have you written?
Aside from "The Mystery of the White Stallion?" I was a columnist for two local papers in Buffalo NY covering music and so-called New Age things (now called eating well, exercising and breathing)
I wrote and recorded two and a half albums of music: "Sunrise", (iTunes & Amazon) "Semah" and "The Great American Kazoo-a-long"
My first non fiction book: "Come Join the Circle; Singing and Dancing for Early Childhood Education".
My first novel, "Hidden From the Face of Humans; A Mystery of the Last Egyptian Dynasty". Historical fiction just out on Amazon and Kindle
Is there a message in your book and/or books?
Always to see how big and varied our world is. Being stuck in only one point of view limits enjoyment of life. Corn flakes for breakfast every morning - really? Okay, but how do you know you won't like something else even better? It may be easy and comfortable to stay with one type of music on your playlist - but maybe you could really go deep with Mozart. You never know unless you try.
Is there anything in your book and/or books based on real life experiences?
"Hidden From the Face of Humans" is an historical fiction based in 400BCE Egypt, and not being quite that old, it is difficult to claim it is based on real life experience. Although anyone who writes will tell you that experiences, big or small, that go into your mental briefcase will show up in their story somewhere.
Who is your favorite character from one of your stories?
Thermafi is the lead character in "Hidden From the Face of Humans". It is she who is murdered -- no spoiler alert required here. We know from the first paragraph she is gonna get it. She is a sincerely caring person, one of the few who can see past surface issues. She studies earnestly, but doesn't always follow the playbook. Why she gets killed is what the book examines and takes the reader over the Mediterranean and across central Asia.
How do you conquer writer’s block?
I find a new location in which to write. If I can't get to the beach, I go to a park. Airplanes are great. Put myself in a situation where's there's nothing else to do. Write something. Anything. It doesn't have to be a keeper, but you might get one great phrase. Or maybe you get nothing. Most important -- you are keeping that part of your brain in good working order.
If nothing comes after weeks, I would say, just screw it for six months and work on something else - research your next book, begin that memoir. Then when you are ready, go back and read from the beginning and see what the hold up was all about. Your new outlook on it will surely get you through the forest.
For this book, it was the research. I loved doing the detective work, but as an independent it was difficult to gain access to a lot of material. Fortunately Jstory has opened up some of it articles to the public. Without a University involvement, our collective knowledge is being kept under wraps for only those deemed worthy enough to read it!!!
What have you learned and do you have any advice for other authors?
I have learned that the easiest part of writing is a book is that conversation you have with yourself in which you say, "I think I will write a book." The rest is all trials.
Best advice I can think of now -- be very clear for whom you are writing. Are you writing to show up your old boyfriend? Is that a big enough market? Or for your family? That may be a good universal model. Just try and get an idea of who might like to read what you have to say. There is the old maxim that says,"Write what you would want to read yourself," and that is great. Just know if you are exceptionally unusual and figure out if that is an attribute or not.
What famous person would you like to meet? Why?
I've already met a lot of famous people and they are just like everyone else. Though it would be cool to talk to our president and give him a couple pointers on world peace.
Who Killed the High Priestess Thermafi?
Palace intrigue . . . sibling rivalries . . . mysticism . . . and murder.
Hidden From the Face of Humans is a sweeping epic that brings to vivid life the last native Egyptian dynasty of 400 BCE. Behind the banquets and the festivities, the world-changing battles and maneuvers, are the great powers of the day: the pharaohs of Egypt, Plato of Athens, Persian King Artaxerxes, and Spartan King Agesilaus.
Moving serenely amidst the political turmoil is Thermafi, an Egyptian Priestess of Isis who, like the Magi of the Middle Eastern deserts and the oracles at Delphi, travels the ancient, timeless path of the unseen. Thermafi seeks no power for herself, but she is privy to the secrets of the powerful. As the beloved confidante of the pharaoh and revered teacher of the heirs to the Egyptian throne, Thermafi has hidden enemies—and someone wants her dead.
A tour de force dramatizing actual events and characters, Hidden from the Face of Humans offers ingenious solutions to longtime historical mysteries—and a page-turning entertainment.
Susan Slack is a professional drummer, singer and author and though born in Buffalo NY, currently lives in paradise aka Sarasota, FL. She has a grown son working in the corporate world - one of life's little jokes. If you tell her anything about brain research, astronomy, archeology or the natural world, you will capture her complete attention.
Author Links:
I have samples of stories I wrote as a tiny little kid. Went something like "Funny Spot. See Spot run." I guess today we would call that fan fiction based on the Dick and Jane series. For those under 50 - ask your grandparents. Short story long: always.
What inspired you to write your first book?
My first book was called, "The Mystery of the White Stallion" written when I was in 5th or 6th grade. It won first place in the hobby fair in the writing division. Okay, so it was the only entry in that division, but no one knows that. It never went anywhere.
My first published book was a non-fiction, "Come Join the Circle; Singing and Dancing for Early Childhood Education". I was teaching teachers how to work with kids, encouraging them to integrate the arts into their classrooms. Brain research backs up my work. It was the field I had been working in for decades and didn't want what I accumulated to disappear with me. It is still available on Lulu.
What have you written?
Aside from "The Mystery of the White Stallion?" I was a columnist for two local papers in Buffalo NY covering music and so-called New Age things (now called eating well, exercising and breathing)
I wrote and recorded two and a half albums of music: "Sunrise", (iTunes & Amazon) "Semah" and "The Great American Kazoo-a-long"
My first non fiction book: "Come Join the Circle; Singing and Dancing for Early Childhood Education".
My first novel, "Hidden From the Face of Humans; A Mystery of the Last Egyptian Dynasty". Historical fiction just out on Amazon and Kindle
Is there a message in your book and/or books?
Always to see how big and varied our world is. Being stuck in only one point of view limits enjoyment of life. Corn flakes for breakfast every morning - really? Okay, but how do you know you won't like something else even better? It may be easy and comfortable to stay with one type of music on your playlist - but maybe you could really go deep with Mozart. You never know unless you try.
Is there anything in your book and/or books based on real life experiences?
"Hidden From the Face of Humans" is an historical fiction based in 400BCE Egypt, and not being quite that old, it is difficult to claim it is based on real life experience. Although anyone who writes will tell you that experiences, big or small, that go into your mental briefcase will show up in their story somewhere.
Who is your favorite character from one of your stories?
Thermafi is the lead character in "Hidden From the Face of Humans". It is she who is murdered -- no spoiler alert required here. We know from the first paragraph she is gonna get it. She is a sincerely caring person, one of the few who can see past surface issues. She studies earnestly, but doesn't always follow the playbook. Why she gets killed is what the book examines and takes the reader over the Mediterranean and across central Asia.
How do you conquer writer’s block?
I find a new location in which to write. If I can't get to the beach, I go to a park. Airplanes are great. Put myself in a situation where's there's nothing else to do. Write something. Anything. It doesn't have to be a keeper, but you might get one great phrase. Or maybe you get nothing. Most important -- you are keeping that part of your brain in good working order.
If nothing comes after weeks, I would say, just screw it for six months and work on something else - research your next book, begin that memoir. Then when you are ready, go back and read from the beginning and see what the hold up was all about. Your new outlook on it will surely get you through the forest.
What has been your greatest challenge when writing?
For this book, it was the research. I loved doing the detective work, but as an independent it was difficult to gain access to a lot of material. Fortunately Jstory has opened up some of it articles to the public. Without a University involvement, our collective knowledge is being kept under wraps for only those deemed worthy enough to read it!!!
What have you learned and do you have any advice for other authors?
I have learned that the easiest part of writing is a book is that conversation you have with yourself in which you say, "I think I will write a book." The rest is all trials.
Best advice I can think of now -- be very clear for whom you are writing. Are you writing to show up your old boyfriend? Is that a big enough market? Or for your family? That may be a good universal model. Just try and get an idea of who might like to read what you have to say. There is the old maxim that says,"Write what you would want to read yourself," and that is great. Just know if you are exceptionally unusual and figure out if that is an attribute or not.
What famous person would you like to meet? Why?
I've already met a lot of famous people and they are just like everyone else. Though it would be cool to talk to our president and give him a couple pointers on world peace.
About the Book
Palace intrigue . . . sibling rivalries . . . mysticism . . . and murder.
Hidden From the Face of Humans is a sweeping epic that brings to vivid life the last native Egyptian dynasty of 400 BCE. Behind the banquets and the festivities, the world-changing battles and maneuvers, are the great powers of the day: the pharaohs of Egypt, Plato of Athens, Persian King Artaxerxes, and Spartan King Agesilaus.
Moving serenely amidst the political turmoil is Thermafi, an Egyptian Priestess of Isis who, like the Magi of the Middle Eastern deserts and the oracles at Delphi, travels the ancient, timeless path of the unseen. Thermafi seeks no power for herself, but she is privy to the secrets of the powerful. As the beloved confidante of the pharaoh and revered teacher of the heirs to the Egyptian throne, Thermafi has hidden enemies—and someone wants her dead.
A tour de force dramatizing actual events and characters, Hidden from the Face of Humans offers ingenious solutions to longtime historical mysteries—and a page-turning entertainment.
Hidden From the Face of Humans
NOW AVAILABLE
Click here to view or purchase Kindle edition and Amazon paperback
Click here to view or purchase Kindle edition and Amazon paperback
About the Author
Author Links:
Blog: HiddenfromtheFaceofHumans.com
https://www.facebook.com/HiddenFromtheFaceofHumans
@slacksusan Follow us!
Products page:
http://susanslack.net/Music.html
https://www.facebook.com/HiddenFromtheFaceofHumans
@slacksusan Follow us!
Products page:
http://susanslack.net/Music.html
Have a nice weekend Aimee.
ReplyDeleteYou too, Thomas
DeleteOver the past few weeks, I've been frequenting YouTube, telling people at random that they "deserve a house, for free".. I must've said it up to 200 times by now.
ReplyDeleteI'm still persevering, Aimee. The 28th is inching closer and closer.
You are a true champion of the common man.
Delete
ReplyDelete1) "Boost" cake bars.
2) High School dance, in Utah.
3) Ice Hockey game.
4) "When all's said and done.."
5) Brad Pitt, acting, in Interview With The Vampire.
6) Wanting one's mother, being nice.
7) American War of Independence.
8) Stonehenge.
9) A man, who's mentally unwell, being taken care of by a rich woman.
10) Star Wars: Dark Forces.
These are ten of the facets, Aimee, that I intend to read over the phone during the appointment.. Reading these, as well as making the point that fusing's ultimate point is the knowledge that "all of reality exists everywhere".
Interesting interview. I like that her message is not in any way preachy :) An intriguing author.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Her interests are eclectic. I love it when people make we want to make coffee and chat with them.
ReplyDelete