Susan Sands.

Today I'd like to welcome Susan Sands, author of “Again, Alabama” to The Thursday Interview. Before we get started, a quick intro! 

Susan Sands grew up in a tiny Southern town in Northwest Louisiana near the Texas border. Calling it a town is generous, really. She has a degree in education from Northwestern State University in nearby Natchitoches, Louisiana where the movie, Steel Magnolia’s was filmed during Susan’s time living there. There’s no more Southern, small town claim to fame than that. Her characters and setting are pulled from those very Southern, small towns and open spaces, where the air is clean and the words are often spoken with more syllables than necessary, y’all. Susan lives with her dentist husband and three nearly grown children in the Atlanta suburbs. She is a member of the Georgia Romance Writers and the Romance Writers of America.

OK - HERE WE GO !!  

No.1  Would you break the law to save a loved one? Why?

Absolutely, if he/she was in danger. But I’m generally not much of a rule-breaker. When you say save, I’m assuming you mean life and death. I wouldn’t break laws to bust them out of a situation they’d gotten into for a “Hey y’all, watch this…” kind of thing. 

... why? I love my people and I would do anything to keep them safe, but sometimes consequences are the best teachers.

No.2  What is the difference between being alive and truly living?

Being alive is breathing with a heartbeat. Living is finding your happiest life and working to make your dreams come true. It’s feeling your emotions, instead of trying not to feel.

No.3  What motivates you to write?

I live between my ears—a lot. So, there’s a ton of activity that needs an outlet. I often think in dialogue. Maybe it’s the years of reading book after book. Maybe I’m really strange. But I correct grammar in my head. Better to get all that stuff out on paper.

No.4  Why do humans want children?

I can speak for myself. All I ever wanted to be was a mommy. It could have been that I had an incredible support system growing up surrounded by loving grandparents and parents. It made me want my own children to love. I know people who have never wanted children for the exact opposite reason.

No.5 What was the biggest challenge in creating your book "Again, Alabama" ? 

Sitting down and writing. Seriously, I get so distracted by every thing around me. I know my story and my characters, but making myself stay in that chair is crazy hard.

No.6  What is the most important thing you have learned in life so far?

It’s hard. Life is so hard. It never goes as planned and you can’t count on anything or anyone to give you what you want or need. But you can work hard and gain satisfaction in your own accomplishments. Don’t blame others when things don’t work out. If you want something, don’t give up.

No.7  How did you come up with the title "Again, Alabama" ?

My title started out as MISERY, ALABAMA.  My publishing team told me it wasn’t very romantic. I write borderline romance/women’s fiction, so I had to agree. AGAIN, ALABAMA made sense because my main character is dragged back to her small town and has to confront some really hairy stuff. So, she’s back—again.

No.8  How do you handle personal criticism? 

If you’re taking the traditional route to publication and submitting work to agents and editors, you either get used to criticism or you quit. If you mean true personal attacks, then I walk away. Life is too short to maintain relationships with those who attack me personally. I’m a pretty nice person who treats others fairly. Reference #6 Life is hard. Too hard to put myself through that.

No.9  Why should people read your book? 

Because it’s full of fun, crazy Southern family shenanigans, and it has a fantastic second chance love story. 

No.10 Why is there something rather than nothing? 

Why would any of us be here otherwise? Why would we struggle so hard to be better people? What would be the point of anything if there was nothing? Why would we be so thoughtfully made to interact with one another? We wouldn’t question anything if there was nothing.

Thank you Susan  :)

For taking the time to answer my questions 

& the best of luck with your new book!

Check out "Again, Alabama" on

GOODREADS & AMAZON

Cammie Laroux is back in Alabama---again.

Dragged back to her small town to help her mother recover from surgery while rescuing the family event planning business should be a cinch. Even for a disgraced television chef, right?  Wrong.

Among the many secrets Cammie's family’s been hiding is the fact that their historic home is falling down. Oh, and the man hired to restore the house, Grey Harrison, is the same high school and college love of her life who thrashed her heart and dreams ten years ago.  Yeah, that guy. Grey, a widower with a young daughter, has never stopped loving Cammie, and when they are face to face once again, the chemistry is off the charts.  Cammie may be in full-blown denial, but letting go is no longer in Grey’s vocabulary, even when winning Cammie’s forgiveness and renovating their love may seem like an impossible build even for a master architect and carpenter.

As Cammie finds herself forgetting all the reasons she can’t trust Grey or love again, he finds himself remembering all the reasons he wants her to stay with him in Alabama… forever.