Author Interview: Suzanne Selfors PLUS Giveaway

Photo Credit: Suzanne Selfors Website

Please welcome Suzanne Selfors to GreenBeanTeenQueen! Suzanne is a superstar author who writes for Tweens and Teens. She has SIX books coming out this year-told you she was a superstar author!

Why do you write for tweens?

It feels like a natural fit for me. I started out writing for adults. I wrote 3 novels, found an agent, but none of those novels sold, except for one which eventually found a Greek publisher. Gaced with a pile of rejection letters, I almost gave up. But then I got this idea for a children's novel and I wrote it. I called it Curse of the Merfolk and it went to auction. Little, Brown won the auction, turned it into To Catch a Mermaid, and here we are.

And now, To Catch a Mermaid is being rereleased with an awesome new cover! Books with a bit of magic seem to be popular with tween readers. Was there any special magical power or wish you wanted as a tween?

I always wanted the power to morph into another form. To be a bird for a day. Or maybe a dragon. Or to be a boy for a day. That would be amazing.

You have six books coming out this year which just amazes me. What is a typical day like for you as an author? (I'm sure you're very busy!)

I'm crazy busy, but that's a good thing because I'm one of those hyper people and I need to keep my brain occupied. I write most days, usually in three hour blocks, but there's no real schedule to my life. I have kids and domestic duties and all that stuff so each day finds its own rhythm. I do tend to write in coffeehouses. I work better with music and the hum of the espresso machine.

Coffee and books-there's nothing better!! Where do you get the ideas for your books?

My life. To Catch a Mermaid was born when I took a walk along the beach and saw these really cool tidepools and wondered, "What would be the most amazing thing you might find in a tidepool?" Fortune's Magic Farm was born when I looked out the window one day during a particulary long spell of rain, and wondered, "What would life be like if it never stopped raining?" Smells Like Dog was born when I took a walk with  my dog and, after yanking on his leash for the millionth time, wondered, "What would it be like if a dog couldn't smell?"

Do you believe in mermaids?

Yep! With all my heart.

What book character is your book crush? (current crush or one from childhood).
Ah, well I actually included my childhood crush in my book, Coffeehouse Angel. His name was David and I was madly in love with him. My best friend and I had a secret code we used when we talked about him. I never worked up the courage to talk to him. And then he moved away. So tragic.

And of course, because I have to ask. Melanie, a fellow blogger and I have been recaping the Downton Abbey episodes on our blogs. Have you watched the show?

I watched the first season but haven't yet seen any episodes of the 2nd season. I'm a Masterpiece Theatre geek. I grew up watching it with my mom. I just streamed the 4 part series, How We Live Now. And I loved Upstairs Downstairs.

And that's why authors are my kind of people!! Thanks so much Suzanne! One lucky reader will win a copy of To Catch a Mermaid!
To enter leave a comment below saying what you would wish for if you caught a mermaid.
-One entry per person
-Please leave link to blog or e-mail so you can be contacted
-Open to US addresses
-Ages 13+
-Ends Monday February 20 at midnight central time