SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AUTHOR SUSIE BLACK
Welcome back author, Susie Black!
For those who haven’t met Susie yet, she writes hilarious mysteries which are based around the fashion world. Susie never pulls punches, she tells it like it is. Now she has a new release from Holly Swimsuit mysteries which I am so looking forward to reading. So let’s get on with it and check out the blurb.
BLURB:
Mermaid Swimwear President Holly Schlivnik attends an industry Hanukkah party to honor Rapido Swimwear CEO Leni Waxman as the Mount Cedars Hospital Woman of the Year. The guest of honor collapses and dies in the middle of the event. An autopsy confirms that Leni expired as a result of poisoning by coming in contact with a purposely contaminated dreidel. There is no shortage of suspects—Leni had no problem destroying anyone who threatened her top-dog swimwear industry position. When Holly’s business partner is wrongly arrested for Leni’s murder, the irreverent sales exec can’t mind her own beeswax. The wise-cracking snoop sticks her nose everywhere it doesn’t belong to flesh out the real killer. But the trail has more twists and turns than a rollercoaster and nothing turns out how Holly thinks it will as she takes on a ruthless killer hellbent on revenge.
I love trying to work out the twists and turns you lay out in your mystery swimsuit series, Susie. There’s nothing more satisfying if I eventually manage to get it right, but even if I don’t I have great fun trying to figure it out.
There’s a question I don’t think I’ve ever really asked you, but how did you become a cozy mystery writer in the first place?
Great question, Lynn. Thanks for asking.
As a newbie author, I was advised by those far more experienced than me that the best way to build a following is to develop a relationship with readers by sharing personal things about myself with them and letting them get to know me. The marketing webinars all preached, “Show your vulnerability, your humanity, who you are, and the readers will lap it up.” Truthfully, I didn’t see why anyone would be all that interested in my bio. Trust me, other than the possible exception of my mother who was compelled to find my life story fascinating or risk admitting she had been a failure by having raised a bore, even I didn’t find it particularly riveting. But enough colleagues I respect all suggested I do the same thing, so when people began asking how I became a writer, I realized I’d been wrong. I would be foolish not to put myself out there, right? What’s the worst that could happen? Ok, maybe we won’t go down that rabbit hole. Throwing caution to the wind, this is it, for better or worse. Like most of my journeys, this one’s a bit convoluted. Think going to Cleveland by way of Cairo. That said, I hope you enjoy the ride.
With its ups and downs, hills, valleys, and unexpected curves, life itself is the ultimate story. However, what makes us all storytellers stirring the stew in the cauldron, is a point of view. Life is all around us. Sit in the food court at the mall and pay attention to the crowd. In the time it takes to order and consume a burger and soda, an observant people watcher will have enough subject matter to write a full-length series.
Like the protagonist in my Holly Swimsuit Mystery series, I was a ladies’ apparel sales exec. From the beginning of my career, I have kept a daily journal that chronicles the quirky, interesting, and often challenging people I’ve encountered and the crazy situations I’ve gotten myself into and out of. The journal entries are the foundation of all my writing. The most critically important skill a sales exec must have to succeed is to be a good storyteller. Fortunately, I’ve been telling stories since I learned how to talk. Since I’d never written a novel before, the only thing I knew to do was to apply the same story-telling skills I’d successfully used hawking bikinis to writing a tale.
One thing I’d been told over and over as a sales exec was to know your product inside out. I heard the same thing when I started writing cozy mysteries: write what you know. If you don’t know it, either do the research and learn it or don’t dare to write it. Whether you’re an author or a sales exec, you’re selling yourself, and readers, like buyers, can sniff out a phony in a heartbeat, and then you and your story are toast. So, where did my story ideas come from? I paid attention to the mantra. Write what you know. With a dollop of imagination, a pinch of angst, and a decades-long career chocked to the gills with juicy characters, I had more stories in my daily journal than time to write them.
I came to write in the cozy mystery genre because I love solving puzzles. My parents would certainly confirm I have always asked questions, and I am naturally curious (some narrow-minded people say I am nosy…go figure…LOL). So, writing mysteries was the natural next step for me to take. Who could push a sales exec to dream of murder and mayhem? Who else but a buyer? After completing a rather challenging conversation with an important, but difficult customer, I silently wished her a slow and painful death as I imagined how good it would feel with my hands around her scrawny neck, squeezing the life out of her. While knocking off annoying customers was wildly appealing, a horizontally striped prison uniform would make my petite body look like it was the product of a barbershop pole and a fire hydrant having a child. What is the viable alternative? Writing humorous murder mysteries set in the Los Angeles garment center. Brilliant and cathartic! In one fell swoop, eliminate a pain-in-the-patootie buyer, avoid life in prison, and still get the order. It doesn’t get any better than that
OOhh. Remind me not to get on your bad side, Susie! No seriously. I totally agree, writing is cathartic. Get the coffee on the go and I’ll tell you more about my characters, which, like yours are always mixed in with the good, the bad, and the ugly, just like life itself.
For me, this is where the magic takes place. I take my bullies into a corner and bash them metaphorically around the head, or bump them off. Either way it’s pretty satisfying, and the brilliant thing about it is I don’t actually harm a hair on their nasty heads. Though, should they should read themselves in my stories, then maybe, just maybe they might learn a valuable lesson.
Well, Susie, it’s been wonderful having you back on my blog, and I am thrilled you have another new release from your Holly Swimsuit mysteries! Congratulations.
But that’s not all folks. If you want to keep in touch with Susie, please find below her socials and buying links.
We would love it if you have time to write a comment, all things writerly of course, and I know like myself, Susie will be happy to reach out if you have any burning questions.
Social Media Links: 6/7/25
Blue Sky: @hollysusiewrites.bsky.social
Facebook: Susie Black, author of The Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series | Facebook
Facebook: https://facebook.com/TheHollySwimsuitMysterySeries
Instagram: Susie Black (@hollyswimsuit) • Instagram photos and videos
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/authorsusieblack-61941011
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hollysusie1/
X: Susie Black (@hollyswimsuit) / X
Death by Dreidel Buy Links
https://books2read.com/u/m2jl7d
I am sure you enjoyed reading about Susie Black and her upcoming novel, so please scroll through my blog as there are more posts here about her previous releases, along with many more wonderful authors, each sharing their own journey to publication and more.
Also, somewhere in between those posts I have shared what I consider to be helpful information from my wonderful editor Nan Swanson, and other information that may be helpful for budding writers.
PLUS: if you like historical romance you could also check out mybook.to/twentyone
Thank you so much for joining us today.
Comments (11)
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Susie Black
Thank you for the kind words, Kim. I am submitting Death by Coconut to my editor in a few days and fingers crossed, she likes it. Susie Black
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Brian Anderson
I loved Death by Dreidel. Here is my review: In this, the sixth installment in Susie Black’s wonderfully entertaining Holly Swimsuit mystery series, our heroine—swimwear executive and amateur sleuth Holly Schlivnik—employs her considerable talents, tenacity, and quirky sense of humor toward proving the innocence of one her partners—a man arrested for the murder of the head of a rival swimwear company. The murder itself was highly inventive. Death by poisoned Hanukkah dreidel. Along the way, Holly must deal with sabotage, an attempt on her life, another murder, too many suspects, too many boyfriends, and two ghosts that show up at the most inopportune moments. Luckily, she can rely on both her best friend, the local medical examiner, and her sounding board, the coffee klatch Holly refers to as “the Yentas”, to provide support and frequently ignored cautionary advice. Author Black has crafted believable, engaging characters and masterfully weaves menace and merriment into a delightful tale you will not want to put down. I cannot recommend this one highly enough. Brian Anderson
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Meryl Brown Tobin
Congrats on an entertaining interview, Lynn and Susie. Can't say I'm exactly a fan of metaphorical violence, but I understand the cathartic power of writing, and I certainly agree write what you know. As I have read 'Death by Dreidel, I would expect Susie's fans to rate it 5 out of 5, as I did. Again a 5 out of the 5 for another stunning cover that introduces/helps set/complements the tone of this book and the series.
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Susie Black
Thank you, Meryl, for all your support. I am so thrilled you enjoyed my story. I am submitting Death by Coconut to my editor and will let you know if it is contracted. Susie.
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Susie Black
Lorii Matsourani lorimatsourani.com [email protected] 2601:2c1:8a00:3ba0:bc99:5a77:c5e5:3554 Looks like a fun book to read! One for my TBR list! Thank you, Lorii! I hope you will read my book. Susie.
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Susie Black
Bian Anderson brianandersonmysteries.com [email protected] 2607:fb90:b281:4c44:1873:195e:f432:7714 Brian, thank you again for the wonderful review. I am thrilled that you enjoyed the story. Susie Black.
Kim Janine Ligon
Can't wait to read this next one Susie!