FLY AWAY WITH ME
Blue Moon Harbor #1
Known for its rugged beauty
and eccentric residents, tiny Blue Moon Harbor is big on love...
For busy lawyer Eden Blaine, a
trip to a Pacific Northwest island she’s never even heard of is far from a
vacation. Eden’s ailing mother has tasked her with finding her long-lost aunt,
who once had ties to a commune on the island. Still reeling from a
breakup with her longtime boyfriend, romance is the last thing Eden is looking
for. But her gorgeous seaplane pilot has her wondering if a carefree rebound
fling is exactly what she needs…
SUSAN FOX is a Pacific Northwester with homes in Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia. She has degrees in law and psychology, and has had a variety of careers, including perennial student, computer consultant, and legal editor. Fiction writer is by far her favorite, giving her an outlet to demonstrate her belief in the power of love, friendship, and a sense of humor.
Susan’s "Love Somebody Like You" was a 2016 finalist for Romance Writers of America®’s prestigious RITA® award. Her books have won the National Readers’ Choice Award, the HOLT Medallion, the Booksellers Best Award, the Book Buyers Best Award, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, the Aspen Gold Readers Choice, the Golden Quill, the More Than Magic, the Lories, the Beacon, and the Laurel Wreath. "Sex Drive" was a Cosmopolitan Red-Hot Read.
THE Q&A
ANGI:
How often to you get lost in a story?
SUSAN:
As a reader, every day, more than once. I’ve been
addicted to fiction since I was a tiny kid. I’m an only child and books were my
wonderful companions as well as my ticket to adventure, emotion, and insights.
Some writers read analytically, dissecting how a great author does what she
does, or why a mediocre book doesn’t really work. Not me. I read for pure
pleasure. I love it when the author carries me away into the world of her
characters and story. I hate it when things jar me out of the story – like
inconsistencies or typos. As an author, I also get lost in my own story
sometimes when I’m writing. That’s when it’s the most fun: when I’m not
consciously thinking about it, just feeling it flow through my fingers on the
keyboard.
ANGI:
Favorite date night…fancy or at home?
SUSAN:
I choose
fancy, and at home. Is that allowed? I don’t want to have to drive or walk to
or from the venue. But nor do I want to do any work! I also don’t want anyone
else around, just the two of us with complete privacy. Am I picky, or what?
LOL. So, here’s the plan. Someone will come in and clean the house and prepare
a fantastic meal, they’ll disappear while we enjoy excellent food and wine, and
then they’ll quietly sneak back into the kitchen and clean up the mess while we
put on some music and dance in the front room, or perhaps wander down to the
beach for a moonlight stroll.
ANGI:
What’s your favorite cartoon character?
SUSAN:
Snoopy from
Peanuts. He invented the happy dance,
didn’t he? And he does it better than anyone else. Besides, I love the image of
him on the roof of his doghouse, with his typewriter, starting another “It was
a dark and stormy night” story. He’s my cartoon soulmate!
ANGI:
What’s your favorite thing about your book’s hero?
SUSAN:
In the
beginning, it’s how totally devoted Aaron is to his younger sister Miranda (a
single mom) and her little girl. They had a horrendous upbringing, first with a
mom who was a drug addict and prostitute, then (after she died) with her
parents, who made it entirely clear the grandchildren weren’t welcome or loved.
All through everything, Aaron has protected Miranda – even though she’s a proud
young woman who hates accepting assistance and frequently butts heads with him.
But he loves her, and he persists, and he’s always there for her and little
Ariana. So, even though Aaron’s cynical enough to believe that love is not in
the cards for him, and he acts like a carefree confirmed bachelor, he’s a guy
who is capable of long-term commitment and is deserving of love. I also like the
way that, as his and Eden’s feelings for each other develop way past the
short-term holiday fling they both intended, he pushes past his deeply
ingrained fears and goes after the girl!
ANGI:
High Heels or Hiking Boots?
SUSAN:
Neither!
Comfort, all the way, and as little confinement as possible for my feet. High
heels kill my feet (not to mention my fragile back and hips). Hiking boots are
way too heavy and make me feel lead-footed. If I’m going to walk, I like my
airy little Skechers or a pair of Merrill or Teva walking sandals. For dressy
wear, I’ve been known to don a pair of heels and I admit I like how they look,
and the fact that they add a couple of inches to my 5'2", but you can bet
I’ll be kicking them off at the first opportunity.
ANGI:
What’s your favorite movie of all time?
SUSAN:
I love “To
Kill a Mockingbird.” I’d been crazy about the book before I saw the movie, and
I think they did a really good job with the movie, of doing justice to the
book. I love the characters and story, and I’m crazy about both Atticus Finch
and Gregory Peck. I think Atticus is an excellent model for a hero, and in fact
he’s the basic inspiration for my heroes. And I suppose, in a way, both he and
Scout inspire my heroines as well. I don’t like bold, alpha-type heroes or
heroines. I like flawed human beings who have strong values, who stand up for
what they believe in, who struggle to be better people – and who do it in a
quiet, understated, but highly effective way.
ANGI:
What’s your perfect day?
SUSAN:
Great
weather – warm and sunny – and beautiful scenery. Probably by the ocean. A
villa in Greece would be nice. LOL. Getting up early to greet the fresh
morning, having a long, lazy, delicious breakfast outside as I enjoy the
scenery, smell the flowers, and read a good book. Then a long walk, a little
photography, a relaxed lunch with a good friend, also outside, with wine and
interesting conversation. In the afternoon, some time at my computer working on
my latest story – and being in that zone where I’m lost in the story. Where the
characters are talking to me, directing the action, and I’m happily typing
along. Later on, a relaxed dinner (outside – with wine – are you sensing a
theme?) with my guy. Afterward, maybe sitting outside and reading and/or going
for a stroll on the beach. Going to bed fairly early, with the windows open to
let in a gentle breeze scented with flowers and the ocean.
ANGI:
Salad or soup?
SUSAN:
Salad in
summer; soup in winter. I actually mostly eat salad for lunch all year round,
because it’s so easy to make. I’m lazy about making soup, and I don’t care for
most of the tinned or packaged ones. But there’s nothing better on a chilly day
than a lovely bowl of home-made soup paired with fresh bread!
ANGI:
Champagne or Soda?
SUSAN:
Champagne,
totally. I love bubbles. Actually, it doesn’t even have to be champagne.
Non-French bubbly, Prosecco, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, anything like that
will make me very happy. In fact, my way of celebrating small successes (like
completing a manuscript, or getting a fabulous review) is by drinking a mini
bottle of Henkell Trocken. At lunch!
ANGI:
Geek or Jock?
SUSAN:
Dreamer.
The one with her head in a good novel, not paying the slightest bit of
attention to either the geeks or the jocks.
ANGI:
Favorite inspiration
SUSAN:
For my writing, my best inspiration is my characters. In the beginning, I’m
inspired to get to know them, and then once I know them pretty well I let them
inspire what happens next in the book. As for inspiration in life, I guess it’s
people like Atticus Finch, doing their best to be decent human beings and to do
their small bit to make the world a better place. I hope I do that myself, by writing
stories that feature diverse characters and complex issues. Stories that,
hopefully, not only entertain but inspire emotion and sometimes even insights
and revelations. I love it when a reader tells me that one of my books has
helped her figure out a problem in her life or find the courage to take a bold
step forward. Or when someone says how much she loves reading about a heroine
who is like her (e.g., has an illness like bipolar disorder or multiple
sclerosis, and still finds the love of her life).
ANGI:
The most daring thing you’ve ever done… Care to share?
SUSAN:
I’d say
it’s the first time I volunteered to make a public presentation. I’m an
introvert and when I was younger, I was terrified about speaking in front of a
group of people. But I had a job that kind of expected it of me, so I forced
myself to do it. Fortunately, I had a good buddy who was going through the same
thing, so we offered each other support – and then we went out afterwards and
had several drinks! I can’t say we were fabulous at those first presentations,
but we faced the fear and we survived. Now, I’ve presented numerous workshops
and done other public speaking, and it certainly gets easier with practice.
SUSAN’S GOTTA ANSWER: I’m a
summer girl and I’d live barefoot if I possibly could. Failing that, my
favorite shoes are the lightest and most comfortable ones. So I’ll choose these
Teva sandals. I love the multicolored straps!
UP NEXT for SUSAN
CHRISTMAS KISSES
An anthology with Fern Michaels, Jules Bennett & Leah Marie Brown
Read a little, Buy the book
SUSAN’S PREVIOUS RELEASES
on her website including the beginning of her award-winning
CARIBOU CROSSING series
SUSAN is giving away an autographed print copy of Fly Away With Me
IF MAILING: North America ONLY or International ??
Get Lost on Facebook @GetLostInAStory #GetLostStories
AND OUR NEW Facebook Group: The Readers’ Spot
SUSAN WANTS TO KNOW: I’ve talked a bit
about what makes someone heroic in my eyes. Now I’d like to know what all of
you find heroic – both in fiction and in real life.
