Author Spotlight with Suzey Ingold and her new book Speakeasy

Thank you so much for stopping by today’s author spotlight with Suzey Ingold. Today we will learn a little bit about Suzey as an author and get a sneak peak into her newest book Speakeasy. Please leave any questions you might have for the author in the comments section. You can also reach out to the author at the links following the interview. I have included affiliate links in the post if you are inspired to buy the book and support the author and my blogging endeavors.

 Speakeasy by Suzey Ingold

Purchase links: Amazon

 

First off, I want to thank Suzey for taking the time to answer these questions for me. Please feel free to leave any questions you may have in the comment section below!

 

ABOUT THE BOOKS:

What is the title of your newest or upcoming book?

Speakeasy

What publisher is this book being published by?

Interlude Press

What is the publication date?

2/18/2016

THE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

Suzey Ingold is a writer, linguist, and coffee addict currently based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Brought up in a household where children’s books were quoted over the dinner table, literature has always had a strong influence on her life. Her short story, The Willow Weeps for Us, was published in the 2015 Duet Books anthology, Summer Love: An LGBTQ Collection.

Can you give the readers a brief summary of your latest book?

In the height of the Prohibition era, recent Yale graduate Heath Johnson falls for Art, the proprietor of a unique speakeasy tucked away beneath the streets of Manhattan where men are free to explore their sexuality. When Art’s sanctuary is raided, Heath is forced to choose between love and the structured life his parents planned for him.

What genre does it fall in?

Historical Romance

Will you share a few words about your latest book, other than the usual blurb?

The 1920s in New York City was a time of opulence and exuberance—post-war, pre-depression. The focus was on living each moment as though it might be the last. This isn’t unknown to Heath, even if he has spent his life living to the letter of his parents’ law rather than to his own. But the summer of 1927 brings a new kind of way of living for him, helped in part by meeting Art, who knows well how to live his life by his own rules.

Give us a little insight into your main characters! Who are they?

Heath is a Yale graduate from an upper class New York family: conscientious, a little naive, and somewhat suggestible. He loves to please his parents and his family, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t explore some of his own interests too, of which they might not approve: studying philosophy as a minor at college, for one. He’s a romantic at heart, and a traditionalist. Art is far more independent: the owner of a reputable speakeasy in Midtown Manhattan, founded thanks to the money left for him by his Uncle TJ. He’s confident and passionate, but stubborn.

Will we be seeing these characters again any time soon? Is this book part of a series?

It’s not, and while I don’t think it will ever become an actual series, that’s not to say I won’t work with these characters a little more yet…

Tell us a little bit about your writing style. When and where is your favorite time/place to write?

The middle of the day seems to be my sweet spot for writing. I’m awful at mornings and I tend to hit a slump by late afternoon/early evening—between around midday and three works best for me. Sometimes I have another rush of energy later into the evening, but not always. I usually prefer to write away from home where I can be around people and a bit of bustle as I work. As much as I begrudge how much I end up spending on coffee and snacks, I do love working in nearby coffee shops.

What sort of book do you enjoy reading in your free time? What was the last book you read? Did you enjoy it?

The last book I read was “The Woman Who Stole My Life” by Marian Keyes. She’s been one of my favourite authors since I was a teenager and while this wasn’t necessarily a stand-out for me from her works, I did enjoy it.

Did you always know you wanted to be a writer? Have you held any interesting jobs while you worked on your books?

I think I probably did, though for a long time I didn’t really think it was something I would get the opportunity to do professionally so I’ve been really lucky there. I was always writing little stories as a child, though, and one of my brothers wrote and I completely idolised him when I was young and wanted to do whatever he was doing! I’ve had quite a range of jobs in the past couple of years while writing has been a big part of my life—perhaps most interesting was this time last year when I was working in the submissions office for a film festival, on top of prepping for Speakeasy and continuing on with university, too!

What does your writing process look like?

Lots of lists and lots of coffee. When I’m working on a big project, I’ll have an overall plan for the story but I’ll also work day-to-day in the sense that at the end of one day’s writing, I’ll note down what I want to work on the next day before I break and lose momentum, while everything is still fresh in my mind.

Why did you choose to write GLBTQ romance? Why not another genre?

Romance has long been a favourite genre of mine but it’s disheartening to see how much of it in mainstream publication is always the same in terms of sexuality, gender roles, race, ethnicity, and the like. If you’ve got a story to tell, why does it need to stick to what society has defined as the “norm”—especially in this day and age? The opportunity to write GLBTQ romance wasn’t one I would pass up—and it also worked for me coming from many years of experience writing GLBTQ fan fiction online.

One last questions…totally unrelated to books! I am a passionate foodie. Is there one thing in your pantry that you would be horrified for people to know that you eat?

There will always be a bottle of HP Brown Sauce in my cupboard which is only horrific if you knew how many different foods I put it on…

Thankyou so much for answering my questions. I think my readers will enjoy learning more about you! Good luck in your future writing!

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE AUTHOR:

Find out more about Suzey by visiting the author’s website. You can also check out their profile on Goodreads or follow on Twitter.