Today on Carly’s View, I would like to welcome author and
actress, Susan B. James. Susan wrote the book, Time and Forever, which I had
the pleasure to review. Thank you for joining me, Susan.
Thanks,
Carly. It’s my pleasure. I so enjoyed your first Forest of the Mist book,
Travelers. Can't wait for the sequel.
CJ: You’ve led an interesting life, you’re an
actress, author, and voice actor. Can you tell your readers a little about
those careers?
SJ: I’m still pursuing all three careers. I am
delighted every time I have a chance to audition for a role, or a voice-over
project. I’ve always loved acting. I did get to sing
in a Broadway Musical, The Robber Bridegroom in the 1976-1977 season. That was
a dream-come-true. I’ve also done a number of TV and
short film projects. Recently I’ve been doing a lot of improv. I started Musical
improv and just finished the 301 level.
I think my son Chris and I are going to be a team. We’re calling it Son of a
Mother.
CJ: You started
your writing career as an author of children’s books. What made you decide to
take the leap into adult fiction?
SJ: Pure accident. I’ve always adored romance. I
have every Nora Roberts, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Jayne Ann Krentz, Lyn
Kurland, Jude Deveraux, and Georgette Heyer title. (The list goes on and on.) When
my children’s critique group started a blog in 2009, my first post was about
the joy and challenge of doing NaNoWriMo. To write the post, I had to sign up
to participate. Two days into November my Jewish/Catholic guilt genes forced me
to sit down at the computer to begin my journey to 50,000 words. I’m a pantser.
I took a deep breath and, started typing. By the first sentence I knew I was
writing an adult novel. And I loved doing it.
CJ: Time and Forever is a time-travel romance. What
inspired you to write this story?
SJ: I was in my sixties when I started this book. I
needed to read a book affirming second chances. What happens if your first love
doesn’t work out? What if your soulmate dies? Is there still time for a happy ever
after?
CJ: Did you have to deal with rejection with your
books? If so, how did you handle that situation?
SJ: Of course!! I have an email folder full of them
and a paper file folder with others. As a performer, I was used to dealing with
rejection. I thought it would be easier as a writer. (It’s not.) There are only
two answers to rejection: Find another place to send it, or rewrite and find
somewhere else to send it. We don’t all love the same books.
CJ: As an actress, you get to be creative in a whole
other way. If you could choose your dream co-star who would it be and what
scene would you play together?
SJ: Already did it. My "wasband", Barry Corbin
and I did Dylan A play about Dylan
Thomas. Caitlin Thomas was a dream role. I’d love to work with Bradley Cooper
or Hugh Jackman in anything! Who wouldn’t?
CJ: What was your most satisfying event in your
career?
SJ: In my writing career - Time and Forever being a finalist in the
2015 Golden Quill for Best First Book and being a Finalist in the 2015 RONE
Awards for Best Time Travel.
In acting. - Getting my first regular role on a TV series.
I got the part of Renee, the agent on
Warren The Ape when I was sixty six. The series didn’t last, but the thrill did.
CJ: What is something you want your readers to know
about you?
SJ: Every time I sit down at the page, I am
terrified nothing will come out.
CJ: What’s next in the life of Susan James? Any new
releases, WIP’s, or acting roles you can tell us about?
SJ: I just finished shooting an episode of Tim
and Eric’s Bedtime Stories for the Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. The episode is
called Sauce Boy. I play Mama Pantone
who is a kind of mafiosa. I get to sing (badly) and the costume and makeup are
so fun. So much fun to shoot. Here’s a picture.
I have two adult novels in revision, Kate’s Hero and Maybe This Time. Both are second chances novels.
CJ: Where can your fans find you on social media?
SJ: Blogs:
Twitter I
tweet @SusanJBerger
BIO of Susan B. James:
Susan B. James has been a bookaholic since the age of eight.
She met and married her true love and got to sing in a
Broadway musical. They moved to
California where they could pursue TV and film acting.
Two children and two grandchildren later, Susan is still a
bookaholic and absolutely believes in magic and Happily Ever After. She is
grateful to all the writers who enrich her lives with their stories.
Time and Forever, her debut romance is a finalist in the
2015 Golden Quill for Best First Book and in the RONE Awards for best Time
Travel Book. She has two more novels in revision.
Susan also writes children’s books as Susan J Berger. Her
fourth picture book (Her great American Novel) Log on Log, is under
contract to Beach Lane Books, Allyn Johnston’s imprint at Simon and Schuster.
Currently she is shopping a mid-grade novel laced with magic, three picture
books, and revising her non fiction book Earthquake!
for a second edition.
Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/SusanJames
Twitter https://twitter.com/susanjberger
She blogs Children’s books with her critique group at Pen
and Ink http://thepenandinkblog.blogspot.com/
Her adult blog is SusanBJames http://susanbjames.blogspot.com
TIME AND FOREVER by: Susan B. James
1969. Love
was free, man walked on the moon, and Sherry and Lorena found the loves of
their lives. Sherry shared a kiss that dreams were made of, with a stranger on
the tube in London. And ran away. Lorena found the love
of her life in Los Angeles and married him.
2014.
Sherry’s a successful businesswoman with two grown sons. Lorena’s an actress on
a popular sitcom. Sherry’s husband dumped her for a younger woman eighteen
years ago. Lorena’s husband died of cancer.
Sherry wants a second chance at Love. Lorena
doesn’t believe that’s possible. But when a glitch in a Virtual Reality
Adventure game sends them back to the real 1969, anything can happen.
READ MY NEXT POST FOR MY REVIEW OF TIME AND FOREVER. . .
Thanks for having me.!
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