Guest post - Suzan Battah

My Journey So Far

by Suzan Battah

Mad about the boy won this award last year!

From a young age and all through my teens, I was certain there were faeries, dragons and I had been born on the wrong planet or in the wrong time because I really wanted to be Mr Darcy’s wife or run off with a gorgeous Prince somewhere. Jane Austen is a favourite author of mine and Pride and Prejudice a classic read that I adore.  Libraries, Bookstores and now Online Bookstores are my favourite place to be.

Since I was a fourteen, ideas of characters and new worlds began to evolve in my mind. The collection of notes, drawings, mind maps and characterizations all scribbled down frantically since I decided I would become an author. And I still do this in some form when creating new ideas. Writing is my passion and I can’t ignore it. It’s a fire in me that I unleash on my computer.

The inspiration behind Mad About the Boy came from my heart and love of romance, believing in moving on and loving again. The idea originated when I was completing a Diploma of Professional Romance Writing with the Australian College of Journalism. Some great writers that inspire me are Stephanie Laurens, Johanna Lindsey, Sophie Kinsella and Sandra Brown plus many more.

Writing isn’t easy, it’s an art form. Not everyone will connect with my art but many will. If in some way, my writing makes you laugh, cry, giggle or want to grab your loved one close and whisper sweet nothings – I’ve done my job in entertaining you. Every writer has a different voice, style in the way they present a story. For Mad About the Boy, the original script was dramatic and sad until my writer’s voice set free bringing out the fun as well.

Every author is different and for me, I am inspired and moved by music. Especially in certain scenes, I’ll replay a particular song until the chapter is done. For Mad About the Boy, I have a complete playlist that goes with the novel. But Dinah Washington’s soulful voice with the song Mad About the Boy was a definite inspiration. I see Julia and Christophe, swaying together when I hear this song. Another great inspiration for my novel was the great song I’ll Be Your Lover Too, by Van Morrison – this song always melts straight to my heart.

Every author has a journey and this is where I have landed so far. Mad About the Boy released as an Ebook available on Smashwords and the Paperback due for release on the 30^th of October 2011, my 31^st Birthday.

Working together with Cover artists, Web designers, Book trailer producers and networking with fellow twittering tweeters, Facebook friends and Book Bloggers like the lovely Mist, Nicole, Jenny and Ninfa is a whole heap of fun.

I hope Mad About the Boy brings you as much joy, laughter and there maybe a few tears when you read it because that’s what I did when I wrote it.

I love being a writer!

Mad about the boy
Julia Mendoza is driven by the success of her business. Since her husband Carlos passed away at such a young age, her business By Design is her number one priority. In her late twenties she works too hard and doesn’t take time out for fun. Annoyance with a pesky ex-friend has her begging one of the local surfer’s with a cheeky smile in the grocery store to pretend he’s her boyfriend. Suddenly, life takes a sudden detour from her business plan; much to the delight of her boisterous Latin American family.
Christophe Augustine is groomed to take over his father’s successful chain of luxurious hotels. With a wealthy French-American background, Chris has been given privileges that not many have. He works hard, plays harder but seeks approval and recognition above all else. Family is a top priority for him as he fights for custody of his young brother. His parent’s divorce has not diminished his faith in romance. When a gorgeous Latino woman changes one boring morning into an interesting game of role play, though reluctant to help at first, he soon realises she’s not like the string of other women he’s known.
A romantic first date ending dramatically doesn’t stop Chris from wanting to know Julia more. And for Julia, she’s all for a bit of fun but when things get too serious she’s running the other way. Too alike, in some ways and complete opposites, in others ways, Julia and Chris fumble through fun moments, annoying confrontations, passionate times and heartbreaking revelations.
Love has no boundaries when soul-mates meet but when one is ready to love and the other one isn’t...