Author Interview: Suzanne Anderson

Suzanne Anderson's first novel, Mrs Tuesday's Departure, is a thought-provoking work of historical fiction set in Budapest during the German occupation. Suzanne kindly agreed to answer a few questions about her writing, as part of her Book Blast tour.

You might also be interested in my review of Mrs Tuesday's Departure.

Why did you choose Hungary in particular? Had you been to Budapest before you decided to set your novel there?

My mother's parents were from Budapest and I wanted to honor her through the story's setting. I was lucky enough to visit Budapest many years ago. It's a beautiful, quintessentially European city with lovely cafes and delicious pastry. I hope I will have the opportunity to visit it again.

Which aspect of the story was the hardest to research?

There wasn't a particular part of the story that was difficult to research, just that there are not as many popular books about Hungary's place in World War Two. And in many respects, the story could have been set in many different European cities at that time. It was the relationships between the sisters and Mila, and the difficult choices they faced, that really became my focus, so the city was almost anonymous.

Were any of the characters in Natalie's story based on real historical figures?

Natalie is probably the closest character to myself. Her thoughts and decisions reflect what I hope I would have done in her place. Anna, however, was inspired by a famous writer who was stricken with Alzheimer's at the prime of her career. I thought nothing could be worse than to lose one's memory if your life revolved around language.

What are you writing at the moment?

I just published my first children's chapter book God Loves You. -Chester Blue. In September I will publish a children's picture book. And later this fall I will publish another novel in women's fiction. (It's completely different than Mrs. Tuesday.) So, I've been busy!

How do you balance your writing time against your other commitments?

Not very well, I'm afraid! The funny thing is, when I am actually writing it is the best part of my day. I truly love it and always feel a sense of satisfaction afterward. However, like everyone else, I am not yet at the point where writing is my only job, so it's a constant balancing act between work, home, and writing. My dream goal is to write full-time. I really love it that much.

What is the one thing you wish someone had told you before you decided to self-publish?

How much time must be devoted to marketing, it truly is time consuming and a challenge for an introvert, like me. On the other hand, self-publishing has been so liberating and just plain fun. For instance, I've worked with a voice artist to create an audio version of Mrs. Tuesday's Departure. It will be available through Audible.com, Amazon.com and itunes next month.

I cannot adequately describe how much joy it brings me to know that my stories are finally being read by readers. So, although it's a constant learning process, it's the best thing I've ever done.