I recently had a chance to sit down and talk with Sue Mydliak, author of Birthright. I am a huge fan of Sue’s, first meeting her when I wrote Flash Fiction for Vamplit and through the Masters of Horror group on Facebook. I read Birthright at that time and was very impressed by the story she had created and the depth of the characters. She is also a fantastic artist and is illustrating pictures for a children’s story I wrote, being published through Visionary Press Cooperative.
Birthright is a featured giveaway for our Halloween Trick-or-Treat event on DarkMedia City. Leave an RSVP to enter to win one of two eBook copies of Birthright or place a free advertisement in the December issue of The Indie Visionary to enter to win a paper copy of Sue’s novel.
Sue, tell me about your novel, Birthright.
Twilight meets up with its darker side, Birthright. A two time best seller introducing the no-nonsense Candra Rosewood, who connects with the delicious, captivating vampire, Kane Smith. Finding her parents dead, Candra must find who she can trust and who will help her put the pieces back together.
This is the second release of Birthright. Was it less stressful the second time around or did you find new challenges?
I wouldn’t put it less stressful, let’s just say I now have a fond appreciating for editors. It needed a light tweaking and I added in the first chapter of the sequel at the end. The ‘new’ challenges was the formatting, by the time I got the formatting to work so that it would print out nicely without any unevenness, I ordered my proof copy. From that point I had to re-read my proof slowly, making sure everything was just right. I don’t know how many times I have read and re-read my novel, but I was on the verge of losing it this last time. I wanted it to get re-published so bad, but I couldn’t rush through it and that was the hardest part of all…the not rushing through it.
So you are planning a seque. YAY!
I have already 8 chapters done with the sequel, so Birthright is a series, there is a third book to it, but I’m not going to think that far in advance, especially when I haven’t even finished Volume 2 yet!
You also have a short story collection out, Tortured Minds. Can you tell us a bit about that?
Tortured Minds is 13 of my very best Short Stories in Horror. Some are funny and some are just bizarre, while others have touching moments, but I will say this, Tortured Minds is NOT your typical Horror stories where you read and read about blood, guts and gore. My stories start out quite normal, nothing scary, but that’s what makes them so special, I lead you in to thinking they are normal short stories and then as you near the ending something starts to brew and then BAM…the ending is a complete shocker. So, if you read the sample copy and think, “this isn’t scary!” and don’t buy it, you are sadly mistaken, because they are true horror in its most unique way.
You’re also an artist. Tell us a bit about your work.
I’ve always loved art, it’s my love. My mother was an artist as well, hers was in oils. I just like creating and making pictures for others to share and enjoy. I haven’t been able to draw much lately, so I’ve become quite the photographer, to which some of my photos have been published. Right now I use my artwork to design book covers for other upcoming authors.
How do you balance your time between writing and art?
Balancing is really tuff, I work 7 hours a day with Autistic students and by the time I get home I’m exhausted, I barely have the energy to do dinner and then the dishes. I more or less feel out what’s important for that moment and then do it. So right now my sequel is my top priority so I work on it from 7-11pm
Favorite pizza topping?
Favorite pizza topping…black olives.
Hmmm… maybe I won’t eat pizza with you then. What has been the worst/best advice you were given as an author?
Actually I haven’t been given any bad advice, my writing career started when I met an author whose books have won awards and she is an editor for Mississippi Crow Magazine. She published my very first flash fiction, The Clearing. She has a great website Write Any Genre that gives you great tips and ideas on how to do anything in the writing world and she is my very best friend, we’re so much alike it’s uncanny! Best advice she ever gave me was to keep writing, write from the heart.
Do you have any advice to give to new authors?
My advice to new authors is this, I understand the need to get your book published and the world out there can be cruel. You need to watch out for publishers who seek you out without even seeing your work, huge red flag. Another is, if you are not given a contract for every new book or short story, etc., red flag again. Also, if you don’t know anything about the publisher do your research, look on the Writer’s Beware website, because anytime you are asked to pay for services of a publisher you run the other way.
Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?
I’m working hard on the sequel, and I can say, without a doubt that it is ‘so’ good and not because I wrote either, but it has a lot of suspense and loads more surprises then Birthright ever had.
You are the Art Director and E-Zine Editor for Visionary Press Cooperative. VPS was conceived between you, Wendy Howard and Blaze McRob. How did this idea come about?
VCP was brought about one day by Wendy. I was on my computer typing and also on Facebook when Wendy told me about this new publishing idea and wanted to know if I wanted to be in on it with her, so I said, “Yes!”
I think it’s a great idea and of course I’ve signed on too. Thank you, Sue, for taking the time to answer these questions and I look forward to reading your next novel!
ABOUT THE INTERVIEWER
Lisa McCourt Hollar is a wife and the mother of 4 children. She is the author of several short stories and story collections on Kindle, as well as being published in several anthologies, including the Satan’s Toybox: Demonic Dolls anthology through Angelic Knight Press. She is working on a novel, The Legend Of Graystone Manor, which is planned for release in 2012.
Jezri’s Halloween Nightmares is a collection of 14 stories, perfect for the Holiday, along with bonus material. Collection includes, The Bainbridge Witch, The Vampire Bureau, Ol’ Jack, Witch’s Brew, The Dress’s Curse, Retribution, Trapped, The Dragon’s Claw, Hide and Seek, A Prank Gone Too Far, Temptations, Dare, Ageless and Reverie, A Graystone Manor Short.
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