Interview with Saylor Storm, Author of Sue's Seduction (Review plus Giveaway)

 

Does the fountain of eternal youth really exist? Tales of a spring that supposedly restores the youth of whoever drinks and bathes in it have been recounted for thousands of years. During the 16th century the legend of the miraculous water became particularly prominent: according to some apocryphal literature, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon searched for the longevity fountain during his travels to the Caribbean. The legend remained, well, a legend. Like for the Saint Graal, nothing was ever found to substantiate the myth, but today scientists claim that the anti-aging miracle is possible, in the form of a revolutionary pill.  

In Sue's Seduction, book 1 of the Sue's Journey series, romantic suspense writer Saylor Storm takes an actual scientific premise (the 'youth pill', a powerful blend of complex botanicals and vitamins that could stop and reverse aging) and turns it into something imaginatively bold, positively entertaining, and altogether thought-provoking.

“According to science, the thing that ages us is the shortening of Telomeres [Editor's Note: telomeres are a DNA sequence that appears at the end of each chromosome. When cells divide, the telomeres get shorter and this is what causes the cells to age],” Storm explains. “And hypothetically, if you could reverse that shortening, you could potentially reverse aging. So I took that piece of reality, and exaggerated the possibilities. I had a lot of fun with it.”

Would you defy the laws of nature and use this miraculous supplement? Would you let exterior beauty and youth define you? Are you what you look like on the outside or are you the sum of your experiences, achievements, personal history, and spiritual path?

Middle aged, overweight, depressed, and lonely Susan Kent becomes part of an anti-aging clinical trial and is offered a lease on life. She swiftly transforms into a budding beauty. Her newfound tender age brings opportunities, lovers, and tragedy. Sue's youthful path takes her  on a journey that she never could have imagined and catastrophe brings sobering consequences. Compassionate attorney, Roger Grayson, enters her life and saves the day. In the end does Susan choose youth or the promise of love?

With its bite-sized chapters, accessible prose, and absorbing pace, Sue's Seduction pinned me down to my chair: a modern-day, chick-lit version of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, Saylor Storm's fascinating narrative provided me with a few hours of uninterrupted reading pleasure, leaving me, in its final pages, on a delicious cliffhanger. No worries, though. The sequel, Sue's Rapture, is now available on Kindle Amazon for $ 0.99. I'm hooked...line and sinker.

***Review copy of Sue's Seduction graciously offered by the publicist in exchange for an unbiased and honest opinion

Interview with Saylor Storm

I am thrilled to have Saylor Storm on the blog with a great 'two-way' interview (Saylor's questions and my answers are at the bottom of this post) and a giveaway you don't want to miss. Saylor loves to interact with her readers, so don't be bashful...stop by and comment away!

Welcome to Mina's Bookshelf, Saylor! It's great to have you on the blog. Your novel, Sue's Seduction, was so easy to breeze through. I read your bio and you are quite the traveler - if we could conduct this interview face-to-face, in a place other than the blogosphere, where would we meet?

Thank you for having me here today, Mina, and thank you for taking the time to read Sue's Seduction. My favorite spot in the world is Fiji. We could meet there for a tete-a-tete, enjoy the magnificent beaches and be served fresh lobster and Australian wine by the friendliest natives in the world and after we could drop in on a local medicine man for a cava ceremony [Editor's Note: Kava is a crop used for medicinal, religious, political, cultural and social purposes throughout the Pacific. These cultures have a great respect for the plant and place a high importance on it. In Fiji, for example, a formal yaqona (kava) ceremony will often accompany important social, political, religious, functions.]

I've never met you. How do I recognize you? The adjectives that better describe you as a woman and an author.

Inspired easily, calm and collected, salubrious and straightforward.

How did you find your call as a writer of 'romantic suspense'? Or should I say 'romance'? Which category does your writing better fit in?

It's not easy to fit into a particular category; I believe that is why there are so many of them these days. I may have started out as a romance writer with some suspense, but feel that as time goes on it will be the other way around; a suspense writer with some romance.

Your Sue's Journey trilogy blends elements of romance, suspense, and science fiction. How did you get hooked on this particular combination of genres? Did any author/book/life experience influence you?

John MacDonald had a big influence on me, growing up I read every one of his novels and I think Travis McGee stuck in subconscious somewhere, hence my character, Arnie Darrow. The science fiction ideas are a fun way of taking something from real life and twisting into something surreal.

How did Sue's character come about? Is she inspired to a real story? What shaped your imagination?

To me, Sue is the typical middle-aged woman who is bitter and has given up on life. She takes no responsibility for her own happiness and blames everyone around her for her misery.  She buries herself in too much bad food and alcohol.

Can you share with us more details about this heroine's arc throughout the trilogy? Book 1, Sue's Seduction, was released last year; book 2, Sue's Rapture, will be next and there are plans for a third one. What made you decide to bring Susan Kent back?

In book 1, Sue's Seduction, middle aged, unhappy and overweight, Susan Kent, becomes part of a reverse aging clinical trial and goes from 55 to a 20-year-old model. In the beginning, her life is perfect, then reality sets in and it all starts to come apart.

Book 2, Sue's Rapture, finds Sue back to her real age and connecting with the love of her life, Roger Grayson. Life is idyllic until Roger becomes gravely ill. Desperate to keep her love alive and well, they experiment with the reverse aging product. Roger's disease dissipates, but Sue sees a new side to Roger that is dark and foreboding.

I had decided to kill Sue off at the end of the second book, but then decided that her character is key to the plot in the last book.

The third book, Sue's Legacy, will play out with Sue's daughter, Karen, having to deal with the aftermath of her mother's involvement with the reverse aging drug. The story unfolds with deception and greed and it is difficult to tell who can trust whom.

What is the most amazing fact you have discovered while researching and writing about beauty, youth, and aging? Did your own views about health, beauty, and science change somewhat as a consequence?

The fact that a reverse aging product is a real possibility in our lifetime; that right around the corner we may all be able to take a little pill that will make us look and feel like a 20-year-old until we die at a ripe old age of 120! I have implemented numerous practices for protecting the length of my telomeres (the endings of our  DNA) such as taking specific supplements, exercising moderately and meditation.

Saylor, you have a professional background in fashion. How do you incorporate your work experience into your writing? Do your past professional and your new venture as an author have anything in common, any trick or lesson that helped you navigate the writing and publishing world?

There are ideas that hold fast and true for any business and writing is a business just like any other. It all comes down to marketing and selling a brand. Every brand needs a recognizable logo for the public to identify with.

Twitter style, 140 characters, who should pick up your Sue's Journey Trilogy and why?

Follow Sue's Journey as she reverses aging 50 to 20, finds Sex, Love & Happiness? http://tinyurl.com/m48jpyb #intrigue #deception #romance

What are you currently reading? Any thing in particular on your nightstand or kindle?

I am reading The Science of Love by John Baines as research for a monthly article that I write about love for a soon to be released magazine called Cover It.  The author divides love into two basic categories: corrupt love and divine love. The book is based on the theories of Hermeticism. Hermes was the god of wisdom I ancient Greek mythology.

Absolutely fascinating! Thank you for gracing my blog with your presence, Saylor.

As I mentioned before, this is a 'two-way' interview: I'll be answering Saylor Storm's questions, but first, a few more details about this intriguing author and a treat for our readers.

About Saylor Storm

 

Saylor Storm takes something from real life and turns it into something fun, and perhaps a bit twisted. Reality becomes fantasy, or is that imagination turns into real life experience? Her stories include places where she has lived or visited from beaches of Malibu to Islands of Fiji and destinations in between, including the monastery in her novel, Dr. Selfish. Love and passion are at the root of her novels; after all isn't that what life is all about? Storm is a long-time resident of beautiful Lake Tahoe and n active member of the Romance Writer of America.  Saylor is currently working on several new books and loves to hear from her readers! Visit her at www.SaylorStorm.com

Social links

 

Website / Twitter / Facebook

LinkedIn / YouTube / Goodreads

Email

About Sue's Rapture

At long last, seasoned and savvy Susan Kent finds the love of her life, compassionate attorney, Roger Grayson. The two create an idyllic life until Roger receives devastating  news that could change their lives forever. Unwilling to give up on her perfect love, Sue devises a new plan to get their lives back on track. Sue could never have imagined how her perfect plan could have gone so completely out of control. Will Sue be able to repair the damage and will she even want after she sees a darker side to Roger?

Buy links

Sue's Rapture (Sue's Journey, Book 2)
Amazon KINDLE EDITION, ONLY $ 0.99!!!

Sue's Seduction (Sue's Journey, Book 1)
Amazon / Barnes&Noble

GIVEAWAY

An e-copy of Sue's Seduction is up for grabs. Click HERE to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway. The contest ends on November 1st.

 

 

Interview with Mina's Bookshelf

 

Saylor, thank you for your questions! Sometimes you don't know what's in your heart until you have to put it in writing. So, this is the woman behind the bookshelf...

 

How did you begin blogging?

My life-long passion for reading and reviewing books turned into a daily ritual in recent years. When authors and publishers started to reach out to me for feedback on Goodreads and other social media, I decided to give my thoughts an organic structure, a hub authors and readers could easily identify and refer to.

 

Do you have a special time to blog or how is your day structured?

There's a beautiful YA novel by David Almond whose title perfectly answers the question: "My Name Is Mina And I Love The Night." As a single mother of two young children, blogger, book editor and contributor for an e-magazine, I make the most of any available moment during the day to read, analyze, and research. But it is at night, when the kids are asleep, that I find the perfect conditions to put all the fragments together and write.

 

What motivates you?

Love of knowledge.

 

Why do you blog?

To share my knowledge with readers who rely on reviews and word of mouth to choose their next read. Blogging is a conversation I have with myself and with an audience of people who share my passion.  That sense of community is what keeps this blog going.

 

How do you use facebook?

Daily. I am active user. On both pages, personal and public (http://facebook.com/MinasBookshelf)

 

What challenges have you set for yourself?

Being the best mentor and guidance for my children.

 

Are you a brand?

I think I am, in my own little way. I offer a service. I create a value (albeit intangible) that has its own peculiar, unique characteristics.

 

What do you read, and how do you read it?

My reading taste is quite diversified. I like variety. Historical fiction, mystery, fantasy, chick lit, self-help, psychology, parenting, business...anywhere, anytime.

 

What are you grateful for?

The list is long. My family and friends above all else.

 

What are you good at?

Anything I put my heart into.

 

What would you most like to learn on your own?

A fourth language.

 

Who inspires you?

Human rights advocates and the people I love.

 

What have you done to earn money?

I started working when I was 16. I've been a cashier, a sales rep, a private tutor, a translator, a tour guide, a park greeter, a Fellowship Ambassador, a cultural rep, guest relations officer, customer service expert, account executive, export manager, freelance illustrator and writer.

 

Where is the line between truth and fiction?

Hard to see  a blurry line...fiction is laced with truth and there's not such a thing as one, unalterable truth.

 

How productive and organized are you?

I am creative and I value quality over quantity. Organized chaos can be very productive.

 

When have you ever failed at something? What happened as a result?

If you learn from your mistakes, failure is the key to success. I call it 'experience'. I have never failed at anything.

 

How full is your glass?

Brimming.

 

What do you want out of life?

Be happy. Be helpful.

 

What will make you feel successful?

Doing what I love to do at the best of my abilities.

 

What makes you happy?

My kids, a good book, a cup of tea.