Susan Krinard

Val Cache Courier

Issue #19
Spring 2003

Dear Friends and Readers,

Ah, Spring at last.

I've decided that Spring is definitely my favorite season. After so many years in California, I became spoiled by short, mild winters and leaves on trees by the end of February. Not so in New Mexico; here I have to wait at least a month longer for the leaves, and the nights remain cold through April.

However, I can't complain. This year the last freeze was in early April, so I was able to get new plants in the ground early. My garden is beginning to flourish, with some flowers already in bloom. And my husband just finished building a new, three-tier raised bed, now filled with young plants. I'm surrounded by beauty every time I go outside.

The hummingbirds have reappeared, so we've put up our feeders; other birds are busy building nests, including a curved-bill thrasher in a nearby cholla cactus. And the rock squirrels are driving my dogs crazy as they forage for seeds fallen from the bird feeder.

While I'm enjoying the mild weather and sunshine, I also continue to be very busy with my writing projects. For this reason I'm behind on answering mail, e-mail, and the like; I wish there were more hours in a day to complete all my various tasks! I'd still love to take two solid months off just to get my office in order and simply relax, but it's not to be.

Current and Future Writing Projects

In early March, I turned in the manuscript for Kinsman's Oath, which my editor has accepted. This is what I consider to be "true crossover," with SF and Romance elements almost equally matched, so I'm quite excited about it. Right now the projected release date is May or June of 2004.

I turned in page proofs for "Kiss of the Wolf," my novella for When Darkness Falls. I also received the cover, which is on my website. I've also received the cover for my September Berkley release, To Catch a Wolf. It's quite interesting, and different from all my others. I'd like to hear what readers think about it. Check for my To Catch a Wolf and When Darkness Falls pages.

I'm in the process of planning my next Berkley romance, which will probably be the story of Sim Kavanaugh from Once a Wolf.

But my biggest news is the completion of my first "straight fantasy" proposal, Shield of the Sky. I've just turned in the Prologue and first three chapters to my agent, Lucienne Diver of Spectrum Literary Agency, and she's very excited about the project. She's planning to send it out to several SF/Fantasy publishers within the next week.

Needless to say, I'm very excited, too! I've been wanting to do this for a long time, but the circumstances have finally come together in just the right way for me to attempt it. At the moment, Shield is the first book in a projected five-book series. One of its main protagonists is an Amazon warrior woman, Rhene, and there will be several romances throughout the series. Rhene is uncomfortably involved with a panther shapeshifter, Cian, whom she has sworn to protect. But they are only two characters out of many engaged in a quest to defeat the Stone God, a being bent on destroying all Earth.

Wish me luck!

Other News

For the first in many years of entering, I've finaled in the Paranormal category of the Romance Writers of America RITA Award. The Forest Lord is one of four finalists.

If you're interested in receiving my monthly newsletter (sent via e-mail in February, March, May, June, August, September, November and December), please visit: http://www.simegen.com/mailman/listinfo/skrinardmonthly-l. The monthly newsletter contains additional excerpts, articles, etc. that do not appear in the quarterly newsletter. For a sample, see my December Monthly Newsletter.

This and That

As I write this, I'm going crazy with anticipation for THE movie of the year: X-2: X-Men United.

In 2000, one of my two favorite movies was the original X-Men. I'm hearing that the sequel is twice as good, and it still features one of my all-time most-adored heroes of the screen: Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. I dare any woman with all her hormones intact to remain indifferent to this muscular bundle of pure, unadulterated maleness--not to mention animal magnetism (literally!)

This is the year for superheroes. Serge and I saw Daredevil twice, and in spite of bad reviews, we enjoyed many aspects of it and look forward to the release of the DVD. In June comes Hulk--admittedly not one of my favorites, but it should be entertaining. But nothing, and I mean nothing, can match Wolvie!

The word on Hugh's stint as Van Helsing, next May's blockbuster fantasy, is excellent. How am I going to wait a whole year?

And what about the John Doe finale? I admit that I was startled by the twist ending, and I hope that Fox has enough sense to renew the series. I'm looking forward to new episodes of Stargate SG-1 and Monk in June.

Reader Feature

Please welcome Rosina Rugosa, silverpixi@aol.com.

Sue: Please tell us a little about yourself, your family, work and home.

Rosina: I'm single and looking for the right man to come into my life. I have a home based business selling candles and accessories which is really fun to do, it's not like work at all. I am also looking for a new full time job as well. I live at home with my wonderful parents, sister, brother and my beautiful niece.

Sue: Why do you like reading romance? Why paranormal romance?

Rosina: I guess the reason why I like to read romance is because I like to be carried away in the characters romances and imagine that its me. Sounds silly, but its fun. Paranormal romance is fun, reality with fantasy mixed in.

Sue: What other, if any, types of books do you like to read?

Rosina: Mystery, adventure, self-help books.

Sue: Who are your favorite authors (in any genre?)

Rosina: You, of course, but I also enjoy reading V.C. Andrews.

Sue: Have you ever had the ambition to write a book of your own? If so, on what subject?

Rosina: I never really thought about writing a book before, but I think if I did it would be How to book on avoiding the wrong men.

Sue: What, besides reading, are your hobbies or special interests or skills?

Rosina: I enjoy dancing, shooting pool, darts, bowling, music, movies, the beach, I really enjoy the water, tried waverunning once, that was really fun. I like to craft, photo albums are my specialty.

Sue: What ability do you wish you had?

Rosina: Hmm, well, I would love to be able to just snap my fingers and be able to transport myself to somewhere I had to be or for that matter any where fun.

Sue: If you could visit anywhere in the world, no matter how far away or exotic, where would that be?

Rosina: I would love to visit Italy again, I was there when I was a child and would love to see it again as an adult. I also would love to go to the Bahamas and swim with the dolphins.

Sue: If you could have lived in any historical period other than the present, what would that be, and why?

Rosina: I think I would have to say back in the days of the Salem Witch Trials. Why, to make them see, that just because someone is different does not make them a bad person or evil.

Sue: Which would you rather meet, and why: a friendly ghost, vampire, werewolf, sorcerer, fairy or alien? What would you ask him or her?

Rosina: A sorcerer, I would ask him to teach me his magic, so that I could cast a spell and bring peace and harmony back into the world.

Sue: What, to you, is the most important thing in life?

Rosina: My family, my friends, being happy and healthy.

Sue: Is there anything else you'd like to add or say about yourself or your interests?

Rosina:I'm a very easy going person, who just likes being me. I'm far from a boring person and I like to keep things interesting, my sister will agree with me on that. :-)

*~*~*

If you're interested in being one of the future interviewees, with the subject header "Reader Feature" and tell me why you'd like to be in a future "Feature." And if you've already volunteered, please remind me; I seem to have lost some of my e-mail!

Links of the Month



Best Wishes,

Sue Krinard
email
http://www.susankrinard.com/
P.O.Box 51924
Albuquerque, NM 87181