The Art of Juggling by Susan Anne Mason

I never realized that being an author would mean learning to juggle. Not that I hadn’t been prepared by my ‘pre-publication’ life. After all, I juggled being a wife, a mother, a daughter, and a church secretary. Plus, I wrote in my spare time.

And you’d think that with my twelfth published novel coming out on October 13th, I’d have this writer’s job down pat. But these last few weeks have proven me wrong.

The Power of an Epilogue By Susan Anne Mason

Susan Anne Mason

Angie, here: if you think the covers on Susan Anne Mason's novels are beautiful, you'll love the stories. Today, she shares why she uses a somewhat controversial device, the epilogue, to add depth to her stories and to her characters.

Before I ever started writing with the intent of becoming a published author, I had already formed a passionate opinion on the necessity of an Epilogue in the stories I read. If the book didn’t have one, I felt almost…CHEATED! What do you mean I don’t get to peek into the character’s future lives? I NEED to see how things turned out—how happy they are! (OK, maybe I get a little too involved in the books I read!)

As writers, we learn about showing the Hero’s Journey, the Noble Quest, The Black Moment and the Epiphany, yet little time is spent on the Climax and the Happily Ever After. But isn’t that the moment we’ve all been waiting for? We journey with our characters, laugh with them, cry with them, face their trials alongside them, and cheer them on toward their goal. To slap a one-page wrap-up at the end sometimes feels unsatisfying. Unfulfilled. Many times I found myself thinking: “Wait a minute. I went through 400 pages of angst for this? I need to live in the world of ‘happily ever after’ a while longer!”

That’s where a well-done Epilogue comes in. SHOW the characters enjoying the fruits of their labor, the reward for their arduous journey. Let them rejoice in the love they’ve yearned for! We want to share that happiness! Epilogues provide a greater sense of satisfaction for the reader and gives us (the writers) a chance to be a bit sappy, showing the couple getting married or having their first child. These are the moments we have waited the entire book for!

In my newest release, Love’s Faithful Promise, I had to make the epilogue really count. Not only was I tying up Deirdre and Matthew’s love story, but I was writing the finale for the whole O’Leary saga. This one had to be GOOD! So I chose to do something a little different. I made a 2-part epilogue with different Points of View and ended with the musings of the patriarch, James O’Leary (whose voice we had never heard directly before). At a big family gathering, I showed him reminiscing about the past, thinking back to his immigrant parents and how far his family had come since then. I felt it was a fitting conclusion to the O’Leary saga to have James and his wife look around at all their children and grandchildren and give thanks to God for their many blessings. 

Epilogues can be very powerful! They can plant seeds for future books or simply add a deeper level of emotional gratification for the reader. Use this tool wisely and you just might create fans for life. At the very least, your reader will close the book with a satisfied sigh and, hopefully, add your book to their Keeper Shelf.

Tell me what you think of epilogues.

About the Author

Susan Anne Mason describes her writing style as “romance sprinkled with faith.” She loves incorporating inspirational messages of God’s unconditional love and forgiveness into her characters’ journeys. Love’s Faithful Promise is her third historical novel in the Courage to Dream series. Irish Meadows won the Fiction from the Heartland contest sponsored by the Mid-American Romance Authors chapter of RWA. 
Susan lives outside Toronto, Ontario, with her husband, two children, and their cat. She loves red wine and chocolate, is not partial to snow even though she’s Canadian, and is ecstatic on the rare occasions she has the house to herself. Learn more about Susan and her books at www.susanannemason.com.

Connect with Susan:
Website: www.susanannemason.net 
Blog: http://suemasonsblog.blogspot.ca/ (my blog will be incorporated into the new website)
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susan.anne.mason.333 
Twitter: @samason
Pinterest : https://www.pinterest.com/susanannemason/ 

Love's Faithful Promise

Widower Dr. Matthew Clayborne is devoted to two things: his work with wounded soldiers and his four-year-old daughter, Phoebe. When Deirdre O’Leary, a feisty New Yorker, arrives requesting he use his skills to help her stricken mother, he won’t abandon either of these priorities to care for one older woman. However, when his daughter suffers a health scare and needs a respite, Deirdre offers a trade—they can escape to the peace of her family’s farm, if he will care for Mrs. O’Leary. Matthew agrees for his daughter’s sake, but is intent on staying as short a time as necessary. The sojourn at Irish Meadows does wonders for Phoebe, and as she begins to flourish, Matthew finds himself drawn to the O’Learys, especially to the captivating Deirdre. But since he has no intention of leaving his life up north forever, and Deirdre has sworn off marriage in favor of her career, how will they deal with the undeniable attraction between them?

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/hjq8loo
Bethany House: http://tinyurl.com/zn8oqcs
Barnes & Noble: http://tinyurl.com/zffxbvh

Why You Should Attend a Writing Conference by Susan Anne Mason

Susan Anne Mason

In light of the opening of registration for this year’s ACFW Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, I thought I’d share my views on the benefits of attending a writing conference.

Before I ever attended one, I was fascinated by all the pictures posted on Facebook of writers having what looked like a fabulous time at the annual conference! But the thought of facing such a large event felt too big, too scary. Thank goodness in 2011, I overcame my fears, and with the right motivation (meeting my favorite authors), finally took a leap of faith and booked my flight to Missouri. This year will be my 4th conference and each one has been a unique experience. 

Here are some of the advantages I’ve found:

• Being able to meet with editors and agents to pitch your book! This is a huge and likely the most important advantage gained by attending a conference—the opportunity to get your work in front of experts and receive valuable input from someone in the industry. Granted it takes a lot of courage to make that appointment, but there’s comfort in the fact that you are not alone!
• Paid critiques! For a very reasonable price, you can have your work critiqued by a seasoned author. Pick someone from the list that you like, someone who perhaps writes the same genre as you, and be open to their suggestions. I will always be so grateful to Karen Witemeyer for the wonderful advice she gave me on the opening pages of “Irish Meadows”.
• Meeting other writers and feeling like somebody really understands you! It was such a blast meeting other aspiring writers like myself, people who understood the struggles of trying to write while juggling the responsibilities of a part-time job, a home, and a family. It was also a huge thrill to meet my favorite authors and to find they were all so gracious and approachable!
• The great workshops! No matter what stage of your writing career you’re at, you can learn something new, and there’s a great selection of workshops to choose from.
• The worship. I must admit I was a little afraid of what this might entail. I pictured loud, evangelical-type gatherings, and for this reserved, private person, it seemed very intimidating. I’m happy to say that even if I didn’t know the songs, or the words to certain prayers, I never felt out of place. Only wonderfully blessed! And the music is fantastic! (Thanks Rachel Hauck and team!)
• Last, but not least—THE FOOD! Yes, prepare to go on a diet after the conference. The food is so good, you won’t be able to resist temptation! Especially the desserts!

A Worthy Heart
by Susan Anne Mason

If you’ve ever wondered if spending the money to attend a conference is worthwhile, I urge you to set aside your fears, save your pennies and plan to attend. You won’t regret it! You’ll probably make a new friend or two, and who knows, you might even sell your story! Hope to see you in Nashville!

About the Author

Susan Anne Mason describes her writing style as “romance sprinkled with faith.” She loves incorporating inspirational messages of God’s unconditional love and forgiveness into her characters’ journeys. A Worthy Heart is her second historical novel in the Courage to Dream series. Irish Meadows won the Fiction from the Heartland contest sponsored by the Mid-American Romance Authors chapter of RWA.

Susan lives outside Toronto, Ontario, with her husband, two children, and two cats. She loves red wine and chocolate, and is not partial to snow even though she’s Canadian. Learn more about Susan and her books at www.susanannemason.com.

A Worthy Heart
Maggie Montgomery’s dream of seeing America has finally come true. While visiting Irish Meadows, Maggie meets an intriguing man whom she thinks is a stable hand. Only when her brother, Rylan, demands she stay away from Adam O’Leary does she learn he is Rylan’s brother-in-law, recently released from prison. Nonetheless, Maggie can’t seem to make her stubborn heart conform to her brother’s request. Adam O’Leary has never felt worthy of his place in the family. Now a free man, Adam’s only desire is to earn back his family’s trust. Falling in love with the newly arrived Maggie, however, was never in his plans. Despite everyone’s effort to keep them apart, the two develop a bond it seems nothing can break—but they soon discover the past isn’t easy to overcome.

Dream Big! by Susan Anne Mason

Susan Anne Mason

I think I know how actors feel when they finally get that breakout movie that thrusts them into the spotlight. Suddenly they have ‘made it’, and people call them an overnight success — even if they’ve been acting for years. Like them, I had been writing for years, getting rejection after rejection, when suddenly everything seemed to happen at once.

In August 2013, I entered my historical romance, Irish Meadows, in a contest and prepared my pitch for the September ACFW Conference. Sadly, my appointments seemed a waste of time. I found no interest for my book, and in fact, received a lot of negative comments and advice. Yet I wasn’t discouraged. I had confidence that when the time was right, God would give me the desire of my heart.

Meanwhile in October 2013, I got the wonderful news that two of my contemporary stories would be published by a small publisher called White Rose. During the following excitement, all thoughts of Irish Meadows got pushed to the background while I concentrated on revisions and galleys for these two books scheduled for release in August and December, 2014.

Then in early 2014, I found out that Irish Meadows had won the contest I entered, and an editor from Bethany House asked to see my manuscript! He loved it!! And in March 2014, I received an offer from BETHANY HOUSE for 3 historical romances! This book of my heart had now expanded to a three-book series! I could not believe it!

Imagine my shock when within a week of this astounding news, I learned that Harlequin’s Love Inspired line wanted to buy one of my contemporary romances! Now I had THREE contracts with 3 different publishers!

I hope my story gives hope and encouragement to other aspiring authors out there!! Keep trying, keep sowing the seeds that will eventually reap the harvest. It only takes one person to love your writing!

Persistence, hard work, and faith! Three key elements for anything you wish to achieve! And remember that God can dream a bigger dream for us than we can ever imagine! So don’t give up!

About the Author

Susan Anne Mason describes her writing style as “romance sprinkled with faith.” She particularly enjoys exploring the themes of forgiveness and redemption in her stories. Irish Meadows is her first historical novel and won the Fiction from the Heartland contest sponsored by the Mid-American Romance Author chapter of RWA.

Susan lives outside of Toronto, Ontario, with her husband, two children, and two cats. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Romance Writers of America (RWA). Learn more about Susan and her books at www.susanannemason.com.

Irish Meadows
by Susan Anne Mason

Irish Meadows
Irish immigrant, James O’Leary, has spent his life building Irish Meadows into a thriving horse farm and is not about to let hard economic times threaten its success. He intends for his daughters to marry prosperous men—ones who will secure the family’s rightful place in society, and at the same time, guarantee the future of Irish Meadows. Both girls, however, have different visions for their futures.

Brianna and Colleen O’Leary know their father expects them to marry well. Yet despite his wishes, Brianna, the quieter sister, dreams of attending college. Vivacious Colleen, meanwhile, is happy to marry—as long as her father’s choice meets her exacting standards. When stable hand Gilbert Whelan returns from college and distant family member Rylan Montgomery stops in on his way to the seminary in Boston, the two men quickly complicate everyone’s plans. It will take every ounce of courage for both sisters to follow their hearts. And even if they do, will they inevitably find their dreams too distant to reach?

Links:
Webpage: www.susanannemason.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susan.mason.127
FB Author page: https://www.facebook.com/susan.anne.mason.333
Amazon :
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_10?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=susan+anne+mason&sprefix=susan+anne%2Cstripbooks%2C352