Susie Black

In this episode, Linda Hengerer talks with Susie Black.

Born in the Big Apple, Susie Black calls sunny Southern California home. Like the protagonist in her Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series, Susie is a successful apparel sales executive. Susie began telling stories as soon as she learned to talk. Now she’s telling all the stories from her garment industry experiences in humorous mysteries. 

She reads, writes, and speaks Spanish, albeit with an accent that sounds like Mildred from Michigan went on a Mexican vacation and is trying to fit in with the locals. Since life without pizza and ice cream as her core food groups wouldn’t be worth living, she’s a dedicated walker to keep her girlish figure. A voracious reader, she’s also an avid stamp collector. Susie lives with a highly intelligent man and has one incredibly brainy but smart-aleck adult son who inexplicably blames his sarcasm on an inherited genetic defect. 

Looking for more? She loves to hear from readers, who can email her at [email protected]. The first book in the series, and Susie’s debut novel, is Death by Sample Size.

I'll update with Susie's website after it goes live.

Get to know Susie - The Tart Words Baker's Dozen:

1.   Plotter or Pantser? Combo? SUSIE: Combo. I plot the beginning and the end but let the story and the characters take me through the middle to the end. 

2.   Tea or Coffee? SUSIE: Coffee, lots of it. Without me, the Columbian economy would collapse. If I’m drinking tea? Better stay clear of me as that’s the first clue I am under the weather. 

3.   Beer, Wine, or Cocktails? SUSIE: Wine with dinner. Since I don’t like the taste of most liquors, the only ones I drink are disguised in one of those fruity concoctions you drink at a tropical resort. 

4.   Snacks: Sweet or Savory? SUSIE: Both. I am a non-discriminatory nosher.  

5.   Indie Published, Traditionally Published, or Hybrid? SUSIE: Traditionally published. 

6.   Strict Writing Schedule: Yes or No: SUSIE: No. I’d never follow one so there’d be no point. 

7.    Strictly Computer or Mix It Up? SUSIE: Strictly computer. 

8.    Daily Goal: Yes or No SUSIE: Nope. See question 6 for the reason. 

9.    Formal Track Progress: Yes or no SUSIE: No. See question 6 again. 

10.  Special Writing Spot? SUSIE: Yes. Two: On the forward deck of my houseboat or in my home office facing the golf course. 

11.   Writer’s Block? SUSIE: So far, thank goodness, no.

12.   File of Ideas: Yes or No SUSIE: Yes. I have so many I’d have to live to be 150 to write them all.

13. Favorite author(s)? The late, great Joan Hess, and Carolyn Haines.