Authors Helping Authors

Interview with Susan Drew

We are in for a treat as we speak with the lovely Susan Drew and her amazing children’s book journey. Enjoy, friends!

What drew you to children’s books?

I’ve always loved children’s books – the combination of a whimsical story and illustrations. Sometimes it’s a race to say which one I like the best.

How long have you been writing?

I’ve been seriously writing for about six years. I’ve always made up stories for myself and my kids, or the kids I babysat for, but I started writing them down relatively recently. A friend of mine quit his job to devote the time to his first novel and that gave me the umph I needed to get going.

It looks like you are currently working on a middle grade fiction book. Can you tell us a little about that project?

I’m currently editing two middle grade stories. One is about Kat, a girl feeling alone when she’s visiting her grandparents for the summer. She didn’t have a good first year of middle school – she struggles to make friends and relies too much on social media. Her summer turns magical when she meets a real live talking lake monster, and the new girl across the street from her grandparents. Together, the two girls make a float to enter the town parade at the end of the summer that the lake monster can ride on so that he can join the fun, too. But it’s not easy to take a monster, who has to stay wet, and who can’t be noticed by the townspeople, to a parade. Ira Junior has suspense, friendships, magical realism, the dangers of social media, and lots of summer fun.

The second book is about Nola, a girl missing her best friend, Addie, who moved away during the summer. To make matters worse, the school bully is on her bus and has decided that she is the perfect target. But then something weird happens. He disappears and no notices. Except Addie. Addie convinces Nola that there really was a bully and that Nola has to find out what happened to him. Nola can’t believe Addie’s insistence that she investigate the school librarian. The librarian who befriended Nola and made her feel at home at middle school. Those weird symbols all over the library aren’t suspicious, are they? And why does the library cat seem to know everything? Burning incense in a library isn’t that weird, is it? Nola and the Banned Books is for magical realism fans, those who like mysteries, and anyone who likes a come-from-behind win.

From where did the idea originate for SADIE DOES NOT LIKE SORRIES?

I wrote Sadie during the pandemic when social emotional learning books were in high demand. This is the first book I’ve tried writing to a theme. Usually I write silly, goofy books, or main characters who are little animals. This time I looked at a list of concepts young kids seemed to be struggling with and worked on what I could say that might help.

Did you solicit any beta reading from children?

I didn’t use child beta readers for Sadie Does Not Like Sorries. One of my cousins is a third-grade teacher and her class has read and made comments on some of my other manuscripts. It’s always fun to hear their comments. Their brains go to places I would not have thought of! I need to remember to think like they do.

Where can we find you on the web and social media to make sure we follow your journey?

www.susandrewwrites.com

Twitter: Susan Drew (@_susandrew) / X

Instagram: Susan Drew (@_susandrew) • Instagram photos and videos

Substack:   www.substack.com/@susandrew

 

Thank you, Susan, for sharing your time and your talents!