Susan Krinard

Val Cache Courier

Issue #20
Summer 2003

Dear Friends and Readers,

The months go by so fast, it's hard to believe we're already halfway done with summer!

It's been a very "interesting" few months for me. I've definitely been in a period of transition; I wrote my first fantasy proposal, sent it out to several publishers, and finally sold it; I found myself in between romance contracts; and I've been struggling with a peculiar form of fatigue which may or may not be related to sleep problems. Altogether it's been something of a challenge for me

My garden was absolutely beautiful this year, but the ongoing drought, and the failure of any new rain to fall with the coming of the summer monsoon (usually in July and August) has really taken its toll. I do my best to keep things alive, but the bugs have also gone crazy this year because of a fairly wet spring.

Serge and I visited southern California in early July to see my grandmother, who is currently in hospice, and to sort through nearly a century's worth of things she's saved in her Riverside home. Among these are antiques and papers passed down from the Willingham and Arnold families. I discovered some amazing letters and documents from the mid-nineteenth century, many from the antebellum South. I'm currently in the process of finding out how best to preserve these documents for the family and posterity.

We also took a vacation to Colorado and enjoyed beautiful, if hot, weather in the mountains. I suffered altogether too many mosquito bites until I discovered a repellant strong enough to keep them away from me ... bugs just like me too much!

Some good family news: My sister Lauran is getting married to a wonderful man named Jeff, and I'll be attending their wedding early next year in California. Congratulations, Lauran and Jeff!

Current and Future Writing Projects

The "Big News" is the sale of three books in my projected five-book fantasy series, which I call "Shadow of the Stone," to Luna. Luna is Harlequin's new, female-oriented fantasy line, which has already signed some big names such as Mercedes Lackey and Barbara Hambly. These books will be "straight" fantasy, not romance, but most should have a strong romantic element, and mine definitely has several ongoing romantic relationships. I'm in the process of doing a bit of rewriting for my new editor; at the moment the first book, as yet untitled, is due to be released in trade paperback in fall of next year!

Coming up very soon are To Catch a Wolf, with Berkley books in September, and When Darkness Falls, from Silhouette in October. I expect to have no less than three releases next year: the untitled Luna fantasy, Kinsman's Oath from Berkley in spring, and the short story "Murder Entailed" in the anthology Murder by Magick in October. I'll be updating my home page to reflect these future releases.

At the present time--such is the very strange world of publishing--I'm not sure what my next romance project will be, though I'm still planning on writing one fantasy and one romance a year. I have several proposals under consideration, including another in the historical werewolf series, and a new contemporary paranormal series. I should know within the next couple of months what I'll be doing. It's an unfortunate fact that even established writers don't always have absolute say in the direction their careers will take, even if they have laid the best of plans. I can only promise to do my best to write books that my readers will enjoy.

This and That

As I mentioned in the last newsletter, I rushed out to see X-Men II as soon as it hit theaters. Though initially I was disappointed, I enjoyed it even more the second time, especially all the parts featuring Wolverine, of course!

Hulk proved to be something of a disappointment, as did League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, but Serge and I unexpectedly enjoyed Pirates of the Caribbean, and there seem to be quite a number of interesting movies due out this fall.

We're enjoying Monk and Stargate: SG-1, as always, but the pick of new fantasy or SF related television shows this coming season looks pretty dismal. Good thing we have books!

In terms of reading, I've been enjoying several paranormal suspense novels and historical novels, expanding my reading into new areas. I'm just as excited discovering new and wonderful authors as anyone else!

Monthly Newsletter

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: (no longer available; see Mailing List).

The monthly newsletter contains additional excerpts, articles, etc. that do not appear in the quarterly newsletter.

Reader Feature: If you're interested in participating in a future Reader Feature, please . And if you've already volunteered, please remind me; I seem to have lost some of my e-mail!

Reader Feature

Please welcome Debbie Vowles!

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

Debbie: My name is Debbie. I am 51 years young. I am married with one child and have three grandchildren. I work as an assistant librarian in a small town in Indiana. I am a handicapable (disabled is a word of the past as far as I am concerned) individual who loves her God, family and job.

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

Debbie: I think we all need a time for ourselves that take us away from our troubles. So romance and I began to spend time together some 28 years ago. Why paranormal? It is fun to imagine all kinds of people and worlds out there. It is so far removed from my life that it gives me a rest.

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

Debbie: I like to read murder mysteries! I like to figure out who done it. Most of the time I do.

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

Debbie: I like Sue Krinard, Kay Hooper, Maggie Shayne, Shannon Drake, Iris Johansen, Patricia Cornwell and many others. Too many to put down here.

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

Debbie: Believe it or not I have wrote a book! A friend and I wrote a suspense novel many years ago.We sent it off and received a letter back from an editor telling us what she thought should be changed before we sent it back in again. But my partner in crime didn't want to change it so we just went our separate ways. And that was that. I got very busy after that raising my child.

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

Debbie: I am co-chair of our county's American Cancer Society's Relay For Life. I have been involved with this since I had cancer 5 years ago. Also, I have a disability support group that I started 2 years ago. All that keeps me busy.

Sue: What ability do you wish you had?

Debbie: My wish would be able to walk with out my crutches. Other than that I can honestly say that I am happy with things as they are.

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

Debbie: This one is kind of simple. I have no wish to visit other areas. I am not a traveler. So am happy in my corner of the world.

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

Debbie: If I could bypass all the hardships of the time period I would like to visit the Medieval era. I am partial to the rescued by a Knight in Shining Armor idea.

Sue: What is your biggest dream for the future, personally?

Debbie: To live a cancer free life. And to being able to keep working where I am. I love reading and where I work there are books everywhere. I love it. A dream come true.

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

Debbie: My God is 1st, then family. Both I love with all my heart.

Links of the Month

Naughty me ... I didn't get this done this time! Please think good thoughts that I find the source of this fatigue and a nice cure so that I can get my head back on straight!

Best Wishes,