Sunday, December 9, 2012

[Interview] With River Road Author, Suzanne Johnson



Welcome Author Suzanne Johnson


Suzanne Johnson writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance from Auburn, Alabama, after a career in educational publishing that has spanned five states and six universities.  She grew up halfway between the Bear Bryant Museum and Elvis' birthplace and lived in New Orleans for fifteen years, so she has a highly refined sense of the absurd and an ingrained love of SEC football and fried gator on a stick.






If you could have any superpower what would you choose?
Asked this question last week, I’d have said teleporting, the better to avoid airports and such. Now I’d choose telepathy, since my day job’s in sudden turmoil and I’d know what everyone was thinking. Oh, okay. Might as well throw mind control in there, too!

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
Wow, there have really been a lot. Anytime someone takes a few minutes to send an email or note to tell me they like my books (or voice an opinion about what the characters should do next—LOL) is incredibly rewarding. It reminds me I’m not doing this just for myself or writing in a vacuum, even though it feels that way sometimes.

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.
It will make you laugh, turn some fantasy conventions upside down, and leave you feeling as if you’ve just returned from a trip to New Orleans and South Louisiana.

Favorite food?
It changes from week to week. This week, it’s oysters—fried, baked, broiled, doesn’t matter.

What book are you reading now?
I just finished a new post-apocalyptic YA by Tim Lebbon called London Eye. Next up: Kim Harrison’s Ever After, which I’m reviewing in advance of its January release.

What’s your favorite season/weather?
Fall. The summers are so hot in the South that when that you feel that first hint of coolness in the morning air, it’s heavenly. It’s going to be in the 80s here this week, and that’s just wrong. It’s December, for crying out loud.

What was your favorite children's book?
Probably Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden, although I also was a huge fan of Heidi.

Beach or Pool?
Inside in the air conditioning, looking out the window at the beach. Did I mention I hate hot weather?

What is one book everyone should read?
I’m tempted to say the Bible and the Koran, because even if the reader is not a person of faith it will help lend understanding to what is driving so much of our world. However, I won’t say that, because I don’t think there is one book everyone should read. One of the beauties of life is the freedom to choose what one reads or doesn’t read. Except mine, of course. Wait—I want to change my answer. Everyone should read River Road—LOL.

Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?
Elysian Fields, book three in the Sentinels series, will be out next August, and I will have one or two digital shorts out before then set in the Sentinels world. At least one, if not both, will be told from the point of view of the undead pirate Jean Lafitte, a major character in the series. I also write a paranormal romance series under the name Susannah Sandlin, and there’s a new book out in that series in early February.

Thanks for having me here, Michelle!

Thanks so much for being here!! :)





River Road
Sentinels of New Orleans, Book 2
Suzanne Johnson
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Tor Books
ISBN: 978-0765327802
ASIN: B00842H5VI
Number of pages: 336
Word Count: approx. 92,000
Cover Artist: Cliff Nielsen



Book Description:

Hurricane Katrina is long gone, but the preternatural storm rages on in New Orleans. New species from the Beyond moved into Louisiana after the hurricane destroyed the borders between worlds, and it falls to wizard sentinel Drusilla Jaco and her partner, Alex Warin, to keep the preternaturals peaceful and the humans unaware. But a war is brewing between two clans of Cajun merpeople in Plaquemines Parish, and down in the swamp, DJ learns, there’s more stirring than angry mermen and the threat of a were-gator.

Wizards are dying, and something—or someone—from the Beyond is poisoning the waters of the mighty Mississippi, threatening the humans who live and work along the river. DJ and Alex must figure out what unearthly source is contaminating the water and who—or what—is killing the wizards. Is it a malcontented merman, the naughty nymph, or some other critter altogether? After all, DJ’s undead suitor, the pirate Jean Lafitte, knows his way around a body or two.

It’s anything but smooth sailing on the bayou as the Sentinels of New Orleans series continues.

Photobucket


Purchase Links


9 comments:

miki said...

telepathy is a good idea but i think i wouldn't like someone rading my thought so if i had to choose i would pick healing power ( for animal and plant included so being able to speak any language would be a great bonus)

i ca,'t wait for the short stories and i wouldn't if you got a contract for more book being in the penton legacy or the sentinels of new orleans

i wish you a lot of success^^

Roger said...

Suzanne,
I agree, "Everyone should read River Road".
Miki,
Your idea of being able to speak any language is a wonderful idea.
Mom With A Kindle,
Thanks for the Q&A. Enjoyed!

Christina Fiorelli said...

This is a wonderful interview - Suzanne has an awesome sense of humor. I too would choose mind control. Would be useful:))

I completely agree with what you said that each person has their own must-read. It's so personal, it depends on what you need at any given time.

ccfioriole at gmail dot com

Readsalot81 said...

Great questions! :D I'm a fan of fall as well.. although in California, we mostly enjoy mild weather all year around. I do know what those 80 degree days feel like in December though!! :D

Tanya1224 said...

stories from Jeans POV...yay!! That will be so cool :) I learn a little something new at each tour stop. Thanks for the post...I'm going to be sad when tour is over

SandyG265 said...

I like the idea of being able to speak any language. It'd come in really handy for travelling.

donnas said...

Great interview. Thanks for sharing!!

Liz S. said...

Just finished River Road. It was awesome! I enjoyed the interview very much. I'd love some stories from Jean LaFitte's POV.

Suzanne Johnson said...

Thanks, guys--sorry I wasn't able to respond to comments yesterday. My Internet was down all weekend (and still is at home--good reason to come to work today!).

And thanks to Michelle for having me here!