Celebrate Susan K. Beatty’s New Release,
The Fragrance of Violets
Read Nancy’s blog interview with Author Susan K. Beatty
I’m pleased to share Susy’s latest writing with you today. Over the past five years, this talented author and I have spent many hours together. As members of Serious Scribblers (our critique group), we four writers are sounding boards for each other. That’s where Susy began sharing chapters of her latest novel, The Fragrance of Violets, which was just released on May 17. Her writing is contemporary and faith-based. Her well-written stories will draw you into a world of believable characters grappling with difficult issues, and you’ll want to read more. She’s a prolific writer who is not afraid to delve into personal connections to create stories that will draw readers in. Well done, Susy!
My Interview with Susan K. Beatty
Q: (Nancy): What is your novel, The Fragrance of Violets, about?
A: (Susan): Life crushes us with its weight sometimes. Fiona’s father abandoned her when she was twelve. So when she learns that he’s the groom’s father in the wedding she’s been assigned to manage, all the old hurts resurface. Maybe if he’d just explain himself and ask forgiveness, she’d get over the pain he left her with—pain she obviously hadn’t left behind after all. And as if life weren’t complicated enough, Fiona meets Trevor, which sparks a possible romance. New faith, an overdose, and revelations combine with Trevor’s discipleship to show her how forgiveness really works.
Q: What kind of research did you do for this novel?
A: Most of my research centered on how attorneys work, law firms, and legal ramifications. Fortunately, I have a good attorney friend with whom I had many conversations, and she read all the scenes pertaining to Nason, the lawyer. Because I’ve worked with catering and sales in hotels for many years, I didn’t have to do much there. The rest of my research had to do with settings, which involved geographical locations, restaurants, and other businesses.
Q: What are some of the locations in your novel?
A: The Fragrance of Violets takes place in Orange County, California, where I live. Most settings mentioned are real or inspired by real locations: a Southern California beach town, the hangars at the former Marine base in Tustin, a resort by the beach, seaside restaurants, and more. Check out my website for seven days of “behind the scenes” blogs, Day 4, which includes insider information about settings (including the hangars at the former Marine base in Tustin); search the “blog” tab there to read the other fun background facts!
Q: I love your title. How did you choose it?
A: It may (or may not have been!) penned by Mark Twain, but it fit the main theme of my book perfectly: “Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.”
Q: Are you at work on a new novel? Tell us a little about it?
A: Yes! I’m currently working on a women’s fiction/suspense novel, Relinquished. Here’s the plot in a nutshell: Teagan is fed up with relinquishing what’s important to her. A child, guilt (after all, it’s defined her for a long time), and the need to be in charge of a desperate situation she cannot control. Will she discover Ellen is really Gemma? Can she rescue the child from kidnappers? Can she, at last, become the mother she should be? Or will she finally relinquish all to the Lord? This novel is due for release in May 2023.
Q: Tell us a little bit about what you do when you’re not writing.
A: In my spare time, I love to read, watch British TV, and try new restaurants (and am happy the pandemic is lessening and places are opening back up). Our family participates in cancer fundraisers and loves classic cars and motorsports, and we also enjoy our annual family camping trip. I love my family and have four children, six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren, plus one on the way, and a former foster son and his wife and two children.
Meet Susan K. Beatty, author
About Susan Beatty
Susan K. Beatty is in her third career—from journalist to homeschool tech writer to her life-long dream as a novelist. After thirty-five years of serving as a leader in statewide and national homeschooling, she retired to focus on writing fiction. She is proof you can start a new writing career later in life. Susan released her first published fiction in September 2019 and is continuing to release novels, novelettes, devotionals, and articles for Because Fiction Magazine. Susan is the author of the California Homeschool Manual; during her second career, she was the assistant director of the SoCal Christian Writers’ Conference; and, now, she is the president of her local ACFW-OC Chapter.
Where can readers find you online?
Author Website – https://www.susankbeatty.com/
Facebook Author Page – https://www.facebook.com/
Facebook Readers Group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/1169775503218317/
Amazon Author Page – https://www.amazon.com/author/
Goodreads Author – https://www.goodreads.com/
BookBub – https://www.bookbub.com/
Instagram – Susan K. Beatty https://www.instagram.com/susankbeattyauthor/
Susan – Where can readers purchase your writing?
Click to purchase Susan’s latest novel:
- The Fragrance of Violets (Amazon, eBook)
- The Fragrance of Violets (Amazon, print)
- The Fragrance of Violets (Barnes and Noble)
Susan’s previously published works are available, too:
- Faces of Courage (the novel)
- Isobel’s Mission of Courage: A Faces of Courage Novelette
- House of Courage: A Faces of Courage Novelette
- Courage for Your Everyday Life: A Faces of Courage Flash Fiction Devotional
Thanks for joining us, Susan. Congratulations on the release of your latest novel, The Fragrance of Violets. Come visit again when you publish your next book! — Talk to you later! Nancy (sign up for Nancy’s blogs, newsletters, and a free short story at Nancy’s website.
Note: This blog may use affiliate links that contribute to my writing time.
Now, back to you, the wise reader! (Yes, you!)
Leave a comment below for Susy. And if you have advice for how you’ve faced the issue of forgiveness (for others or yourself), sometimes a hard issue in today’s times, please share it with us, too.–thanks, Nancy
Susy – I’m excited to read your book entirely through, from beginning to end. I’ve found that it’s easier, sometimes, to forgive in a general sense than to forgive a specific person in my life (e.g., that mean co-worker or an evil – lol – ex-relative at my Thanksgiving dinner!). It takes a leap of faith for me to forgive when my heart may judge that they don’t deserve it. However, not forgiving only hurts myself. “Love one another” is what I try to do.