Susan McBride gives us the truth...and her latest novel!

***Giveaway is now closed***

Interview by Tracey Meyers

Susan McBride, one of CLC's favorite Chick Lit authors, is back today to celebrate with us the publication of her latest book, The Truth About Love and Lightning (reviewed here).  

The Truth About Love and Lightning marks her 13th book, which includes her memoir, In The Pink, a inspirational story of her battle with breast cancer and finding love at the age of 40. Not only is today her pub day, but she's also a first time mom and just moved into a new home! To top it off, this is her third visit to Chick Lit Central!

To celebrate these special occasions, Susan has TWO copies of The Truth About Love and Lightning for lucky readers located in the US and/or Canada!

You can find Susan at her website and on Facebook.


What do you think about the use of profanity in novels? Do you think it serves a purpose?
I’m okay with using profanity in novels, although I don’t do it often. If using a four-letter word makes sense in a particular situation—if it’s something the character would say—then I don’t see a problem with it. These days, however, it seems like most of the stories I tell deal with people who don’t use really harsh profanity anyway. If one of them does use a four letter word, the reader will know it’s because they’ve been pushed to the limit. Whatever language I use is there because it’s how my characters speak. They’re the ones who tell me what they want to say. I just write it down for them!

Describe a typical day when you are in the process of writing a book.
There is no “typical” day any more, not with a seven month old baby! Whenever I get writing time now, it’s especially sacred. I was very spoiled before Emily. I could write whenever I wanted to. So I pretty much started the day by going online, catching up on emails and Facebook, then I’d settle into writing after lunch. After Emily, I write in the middle of the night after feedings because it’s the quietest time. Otherwise, it’s crazy around here. And we’re in the process of moving into a new house and selling our current house, so it’s doubly nuts!

Which of your books was the easiest to write and why?
I don’t think writing any book is ever easy! It takes a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and time to produce a full-length novel. Each novel I’ve written means something different to me. Each one in some way reflects what I was going through at that point in my life. When I think of Too Pretty to Die, for instance, the fifth and final in my Debutante Dropout Mystery series, I remember being diagnosed with breast cancer and having to finish the last 100 pages of the book while going through two surgeries and radiation therapy. Little Black Dress, my second women’s fiction book, was very emotional as I went through a miscarriage while writing about a character who suffers several miscarriages. My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and one of our cats nearly died during LBD, too. So it was a tough process, getting the novel done and just getting through each day as I worked on it. A very happy life event happened while I was conjuring up The Truth About Love & Lightning. There’s a character in the story, Abby, who has a surprise late-in-life pregnancy. Lo and behold, I found out I was pregnant, too (at 47 years old!). So it was very hard to concentrate on Love & Lightning, knowing I was pregnant after having had a miscarriage the year before. I’m just so happy it turned out so well. Of course, it’s my favorite book (until the next one!).

Do you feel ebooks have changed the writing and/or reading experience? Why or why not?
It doesn’t change anything for me as a writer. I’m still writing novels the way I always did. I look at ebooks as another format, like large print, audio books, etc. I’m sure it has changed the reading experience for those who have e-readers (I don’t—not yet anyway!). I am all for anything that makes books more accessible to people!

One of the unique characteristics about me is that when I sneeze, I sneeze three times in row. Do you have any characteristics like that that are unique to you?
My daughter always sneezes twice in a row! Too funny! I am a loud sneezer. I can clear a room when I sneeze. I also laugh loudly and so hard that I make myself cry. Hmm, I have a pair of “lucky” earrings that I tug on when I wear them. I like to make sure I haven’t lost one (I did the other night and panicked! But I found it, thank goodness).

On your website under the "Pink & Links" section there is a picture of you from a Race for the Cure event. Tell us about participating in that event.
I’ve participated in quite a few Races since my breast cancer diagnosis at the end of 2006. I have friends who are survivors as well, so Ed and I would meet them downtown and walk with them. My first Race was really emotional, I must say. It was really something to see so many others in pink Survivor T-shirts. I kept looking at the numbers tagged on their shirts and realized how many others had gone through what I’d gone through. It made me feel like part of a huge pink army, a really special sisterhood. I hope I’m able to participate in many, many more Races. It’s such an uplifting experience.

If you could only shop at one store for the rest of your life, what store would that be and why?
It would have to be the grocery store. I need peanut butter. I put it on everything. I don’t think I could live without it.

You're having a celebrity dinner party, who's attending?
Yipes. I’m not sure there are too many celebrities today that I’d want to dine with. I’d rather just have dinner with my husband and baby. I know. I’m so boring!

Thanks to Susan for visiting with us and sharing her book with our readers.

How to win The Truth About Love & Lighting:
Please comment below with your e-mail address. (Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted. You can use AT and DOT to avoid spam. Or provide a link to your facebook page or blog if you can receive messages there.) 

Bonus entries (can be listed all in one post):
1. Please tell us: What is a unique characteristic that makes you who you are?
2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
4. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. Edit settings if you don't want to receive a lot of messages at your e-mail account. Please read our posting guidelines as well. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)
5. Follow us on Twitter and/or Pinterest.
6. Add a friend to our Facebook group. (Tell us who you added.) Be sure to remind them to edit their settings.


US and Canada only. Giveaway ends February 18th at midnight EST.