FEATURED AUTHOR: SUZANNE TRAUTH

ABOUT THE BOOK

The tide has turned for Dodie O'Dell since a hurricane upended her life on the Jersey Shore. Now she's further up the coast in sleepy Etonville, managing a restaurant that dishes dinners themed around the community theater's latest productions. But Dodie just never imagined she'd land the starring role in a case of bloody homicide . . .

Intrigued by rumors of vanishing box office money, Dodie has agreed to help oversee the casting of Romeo and Juliet at the modest Etonville Little Theater. If nothing else, it's a welcome escape from the thirty-something's usual going-to-bed-with-a-mystery-novel routine. But when Jerome Angleton, a well-respected member of the theater company, is inexplicably found murdered on the loading dock, deadly drama transcends the stage-and the page. As a crime wave crashes over the small town, the spotlight is on Dodie to orchestrate her own investigation behind the scenes . . . before someone has a chance at a killer encore.

INTERVIEW WITH SUZANNE TRAUTH

Suzanne, how did you get started writing?
I’ve been writing since I was in grade school, entering writing contests, writing essays. I write in several genres, so I was writing plays and screenplays before novels.

What's your favorite thing about the writing process?
Getting into the flow so that I’m not even aware time is passing.

Do you have a writing routine?
I try to work every day, writing new material, revising work I’ve already drafted, promoting my work.

What do you think is hardest aspect of writing a book?
Sitting down at the computer, getting started!

What’s more important – characters or plot?
I start with character ideas and incorporate plot.

How often do you read?
Every day! I am always with a book . . . don’t go anywhere without reading material.

What is your writing style?
For this novel, I wrote a story that can be read quickly, a page turner. A light summer read. But I’ve also written more serious, literary work.

What books do you currently have published?
Non-fiction: Sonia Moore and American Acting Training; play anthology, ed.: Katrina on Stage: Five Plays.


Is writing your dream job?
Yes, yes, yes!


What is the worst job you’ve ever had? What did it teach you?
Selling magazine subscriptions on the phone. I got fired after one day. I learned phone work is not for me. Face-to-face is another story.

If you could only watch one television station for a year, what would it be?
PBS.

How do you feel about Facebook?
I love it . . . getting the word out and meeting people from my past and present.

For what would you like to be remembered?
Being generous, being creative, having a good sense of humor.

What scares you the most?
Hate.

Would you make a good character in a book?
Maybe. I’m quirky in my own way and have had some interesting backstory experiences.

What five things would you never want to live without?
Books, comfortable shoes, jeans, tea, books.

What’s one THING you never leave the house without.
My purse. It is jam-packed with stuff I probably don’t need with me all of the time.

What do you love about where you live?
New Jersey – proximity to New York City, access to the shore, a few hours by car to mountains, country.


What’s your favorite thing to do on date night?
I love dinners out; I live near a great restaurant town.

What's your favorite treat for movie night?
Popcorn and character-driven movies.

What’s your favorite beverage?
Tea . . . and seltzer

What drives you crazy?
Traffic jams!


Name one thing you’re really good at and one thing you’re really bad at.
Good at organizing people and events; bad at directions! I am directionally-challenged
.

What is one of your happiest moments?
Seeing the cover of my book Show Time.

What do you like to do when there’s nothing to do?
Read and do crossword puzzles.

Where is your favorite place to visit?
The south of France.

What’s your least favorite chore?
Food shopping . . . it’s such a trek, so many people, avoiding bumping into carts, waiting in lines . . .


Would you rather be a movie star, sports star, or rock star?
Movie star
.

Do you procrastinate?
Sometimes I have to really talk myself into sitting down at the computer.

What’s your most visited Internet site?
Right now it’s Facebook!

What’s in your refrigerator right now?
Peanut butter, orange juice, jelly, bread, salad, frozen yogurt, frozen vegetables, condiments.

What is the most daring thing you've done?
Walked 60 miles in three days for a fundraising effort.

What is the stupidest thing you've ever done?
Gotten on a motorcycle (and had an accident).

What would your main character say about you?
We are alike in some ways!


Where is your favorite library, and what do you love about it?
The Performing Arts Library at Lincoln Center in New York City; it has an enormous number of resources, rare books, historical material, videos of NY shows. It’s just an amazing place for research.


If you had a talk show who would your dream guests be?
Meryl Streep, Judi Dench, Brad Pitt.


What’s one thing that very few people know about you?
I sometimes like to cook.



How do you like your pizza?
With mushrooms and onions

.

Describe yourself in 5 words.
Driven, fun, organized, conscientious, social
.

What’s your favorite song?
Any of the songs from the Big Chill

.

What is your favorite movie? The Big Chill.

Do you have a favorite book?
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.


If you had to choose a cliché about life, what would it be?
Things happen.


What are you working on now?
Book 3 in the Dodie O’Dell Mystery Series.





Connect with Suzanne:
Website  |  

Facebook  |  Twitter  |  
Goodreads  

Buy the book:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble 


 

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