Susan Frances - Author Life

Susan Frances, author of A Glimpse Beyond the Aether, was published in Novemeber 2017. We wanted to catch up with the author and ask her a few questions about how her life since her book was released.

Did you always dream of becoming an author?

As I was going through my normal hectic, busy life, I would occasionally wake up with stories in my head.  I could not shake them until I at least would get the first few chapters and the story outline down on paper.

I wanted to be an author, but I had a family and needed a steady pay check. So my dream was that, once I retired, I could complete my stories and work on finding someone who would publish them. A daunting task that I knew would take an enormous amount of time, and very likely end in complete failure.

What was your first job?

I had a long career in nursing.  The last thirteen years before I retired, I was a nurse practitioner, a job that was both satisfying and rewarding.

I also spent six years as a hospice nurse, where quite a few of my patients talked about being close to death, and some of whom had near-death experiences. I’m sure I was effected by those experiences, as well as my own.

How did you come about writing your book? Was that your intention or did you start writing for fun?

I had a dream which provided the basis for A Glimpse Beyond the Aether. There was no way I could NOT write it.  I could hardly devote my full concentration to anything else until I had written the first four chapters and the outline – to be completed at a future date when time was permitting. When my mind was in this writing phase, or what I would call ‘writer’s mode’, I would literally be obsessed with my story and characters. They would always be on my mind to the point that, to me, they were almost real people. Often I would dream about my characters, and sometimes it would be as if they were telling me their story, the way they wanted me to write it.  I actually ‘dreamed’ six of the names of my characters, and I wouldn’t change them because it seemed to be the names they wanted (I know that sounds strange).

What was your life like before you became an author?

I recently retired from a long career in nursing. My husband and I spend a great deal of time with our grandkids.  The first books I gave my attention to wass series of children’s picture books, which I self-published, only to have that experience be very disappointing and expensive. The only benefit was that I had the picture books to read to my preschool granddaughter and other children of friends and family.

A Glimpse Beyond the Aether was the next writing I set out to accomplish. The whole story was in my head, so it was just  a matter of getting it down on paper. I knew I wanted it published by a reputable publishing agency, or else it would be doomed to languish in my drawer.

Did you face any struggles before becoming an author? If so, how did you overcome them?

I’ve had chronic pain for about the last twenty years, along with many health issues. I’ve had four surgeries on my spine, including a fusion and titanium implant. I eventually had a neuro stimulator implanted in my spine in an effort to block the pain. An accident at work when a patient fell on me rendered the stimulator ineffective. Once I retired, however, the pain became more manageable. Just the fact that I did not have to be constantly active, standing bending or sitting, and could lie down at any time, has greatly relieved my pain and improved the quality of my life.

Now that you are a published author, how has your life changed, if at all?

My first book has only just been published, so I have not reaped any of the benefits financially or otherwise, but I anticipate doing so!

I gave out a number of my complimentary books to friends and family. Quite a few of my friends have written a vanity autobiography, or are now in the process of doing so. These people are urging me to read and critique their writing, I believe with the hope that I could help them with their dream. This puts me in an uncomfortable position.

The best way that this has changed my life is that now I feel encouraged to continue with my writing. The fact that a prestigious publisher such as Pegasus found value in my writing, and took a chance on promoting my book, meant that I really could write. Therefore, I’ve continued with the other stories that I have in various stages of completion.

Can you please describe a typical day in your life now?

I spend some time each day writing. Our grandson is here every day, and our granddaughter is at our house frequently as well. We have a small dog and a cat.  All in all, I think my life is pretty okay.

What is your most memorable moment of your life as an author?

My grandson, who is thirteen, is reading A Glimpse Beyond the Aether for his book report. It is perhaps a little ‘over his head’, but he is so proud to read it that he insists he can handle it. As it is not on his school’s ‘reading list’, I have had to provide his teacher with a copy so she could approve it. He is getting through it very well, and really enjoys it, but I have had to explain it as he goes along, chapter by chapter. It would not be my own choice for him for a book report, but he is so proud of his grandmother, and for that I am most appreciative.

Most of my writings have what I call a “spiritual edge”. I’ve worked for six years as a hospice nurse, but I have also had a personal incident as well. Many years ago, while meditating, I had an out of body experience which was profound and changed my life forever. I experienced many of the same things that people who have near death experiences do. It is the single most incredible and intense thing that has ever happened to me, and I’m sure it colours what I write (I hope in a good way).

How would you best sum up your experience with Pegasus Publishers?

So far, it has been amazing.  A dream come true.  I know the small percentage of writers that are successful in getting their book published, especially with a top-notch international publisher who is in a position to push their work and make them a success.