Interview with Susan Lyttek

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO START WRITING?

I always told stories. Perhaps that comes from having an editor for a father and a librarian for a mother. I wrote my first poem at five and my first story at six. I kept writing during all my growing up years. After I came to Christ, I sacrificed all my earlier writing to the Lord and waited on him. After three years, he gave writing back to me and my aim since has been to write to glorify him.

WHAT AUTHORS HAVE INFLUENCED YOUR WRITING STYLE?

I don't know. I read quite a bit. As far as the mysteries go, I adored the Finny's Nose series by Dana Mentink. I also love C.S. Lewis' works and the depth of Dostoevsky. I will read just about anything that Bryan Davis or Stephen Lawhead write, too.  

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR LATEST RELEASE.

  

Army wife and homeschooling mom, Jeanine Talbott finds herself in an impossible situation—she would rather ignore her husband’s transfer orders and stay put.  So she lets James pick out the new house and move their goods while she slowly wraps up the life she’s come to love. 

As she pulls up to their new residence, she discovers her darling bought a charming fixer-upper with rather unexpected neighbors—a Civil War graveyard full of them.

As the family, including kids Justin and Josie, gets settled in Gentle Springs, strange noises come from the cemetery.  Then, James goes TDY (temporary duty assignment) to California.  While he’s gone, their dog, Jelly, escapes the yard and finds a fresh body in the cemetery.  Suddenly, the Talbotts have two mysteries on their hands: who killed the treasure hunter, and what secret was he trying to unearth at the tomb of town hero, Captain Cooperton?

HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU SPEND IN RESEARCH BEFORE YOU WRITE A STORY?

Because of the historical mystery, about a month. I also did research as I wrote to confirm whatever details I was using.

With a fantasy novel that I'm currently working on, I've already done about six months of research because it starts in Italy in the 15th century and I knew only the basics about the time and place when I started. Not now!

HOW DO YOU LIKE TO SPEND YOUR TIME WHEN YOU'RE NOT WRITING?

I read a lot. I like puzzle videogames way too much. I attend tae kwon do classes with my teenage sons--both to be with them and to stay fit. We always find new audiobooks to listen to on the drive to/from classes. I enjoy tinkering in the kitchen with new recipes and/or ingredients. When I want to work with my hands, I do crewel embroidery.

HOW CAN READERS CONTACT YOU AND/OR LEARN MORE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR WRITING?

They can go to my website: sajlyttek.com. They can also keep in touch with me on my Facebook author page: Susan A. J. Lyttek