Author Susan Bagby is joining us today for an interview. Her latest novel, Sweet Ridge Hearts, is a perfect pick readers in search of their next small town romance.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Title: Sweet Ridge Hearts
Author: Susan Bagby
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Small Town, Clean and Wholesome
BLURB:
Career-driven Katy Flanagan desperately wants to become creative director of the Martin and Lewis marketing agency. But when she loses the promotion, and gets dumped by her boyfriend the same day, Katy flees New York for a small-town break with her cousin Christine.
Yet even in country-quiet Maple Ridge, Katy’s skills can be useful, and she’s prepared to jump in to help Christine win a competition for her Sweet Ridge Bakery. What she’s not prepared for is handsome bakery manager Derek Higgins.
A veteran dealing with the aftermath of PTSD, Derek is a loner, and he likes it that way. Being forced to work with a spirited businesswoman and her healthy ego is a challenge every step of the way. But the stakes are too high for him to give up helping his boss.
As the competition heats up, so does the chemistry with Katy—until she’s offered a new job in another city. Now she must decide whether to take a risk and start her own company, or become the creative director of a new, successful firm, which is everything she ever wanted. At the same time Derek must face his own issues when personal tragedy wraps him in survivor’s guilt, leaving him unable to forgive himself for past actions.
While Derek strives to heal the wounds of a haunting past, and Katy gathers the courage to face her fears and carve a new path, their individual growth becomes an inspiring testament to the human spirit. What will become of their relationship in the face of such profound change?
INTERVIEW:
Welcome! It is my pleasure to feature your novel.
Do ideas for plot or characters appear first?
I usually get a partial plot idea first with one character. As I dig into both, a story and a personality start to appear, and then I make some kind of timeline to guide me when I sit down to write. I find if I can write a 1-2 sentence logline for the book in the beginning of the process, everything flows easier.
Have you ever traveled when researching information for a book?
Yes. Last summer I fulfilled a bucket list item by going to the UK, but I also was writing a book that entailed my hero living and working there. I was able to take pictures of homes and places that would be in my novel. It made writing about my settings so much easier.
What has been your biggest challenge?
I think the biggest challenge for me is the marketing of my books. I have dived into social media, taken many workshops on marketing, and network with other writers, but it’s not easy finding new readers when you don’t have the support of a large publishing house. The publishing world requires tenacity and perseverance.
Which writers inspire you?
I love historical fiction writers like Kristin Hannah and Soraya Lane, romance writers Rebecca Yarros, Abby Jimenez, and women’s fiction writers Jojo Moyes and Elizabeth Gilbert.
What project are you currently working on?
I am presently working on a sweet, small-town contemporary romance novel for The Wild Rose Press, entitled, Forever Kind of Love.
AUTHOR BIO:
Author Susan Bagby is a retired speech and language pathologist and full-time writer of romance novels. Living in her hometown of Akron, Ohio, her life-long dream to write romance books came true when she found a home with Sands Press Publishing in 2021. Her debut novel, Christmas Wish Upon a Star, was published in 2022 and was a semi-finalist for the 2023 CIBA Chatelaine Book Awards for Romance Fiction. Her second book, Home for Love, was released in October of 2023 and was a second-place winner in the Romance-Wholesome category at the 2024 Spring Book Fest Awards. The third book, Sweet Ridge Hearts, in the Maple Ridge series, was published in the fall of 2024 by SheRisesStudios.
Susan belongs to the Great Lakes Fiction Writers Organization and Romance Writers of America (RWA). Susan is currently working on a new small-town romance series for The Wild Rose Press and loves seeing new characters come to life. When not writing, she loves reading, walking in the woods, yoga, Pilates, and playing the piano. She’s a firm believer that dreams do come true.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Jill Piscitello 