Susan
and her husband, Sid, live in Spring, Texas with their rescue dog, Buster, a
120 pound black lab of advanced age. They have two children and four
grandchildren. They love to travel and have been fortunate to see much of the
world. Her favorite places include Kenya, New Zealand, and the Galapagos
Islands. When not writing, she can be found doing volunteer work at a local
hospital. She loves to read, travel, snorkel and take long walks.
Website: http://susancmuller.com/
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR
How did you decide to have the
victim who is brutally murdered a powerful psychic? Do you have psychic
abilities or did you research psychics for the book?
I heard a speaker from Homeland
Security talking about smuggling along the Texas/Mexico border. He said that
many of the drivers are superstitious and went to psychics to learn the most
auspicious date to cross the border. Of course, many of the psychics turned
around and sold that information to the Border Patrol, but that gave me the gem
of an idea for the book.
I myself have no psychic
abilities whatsoever. I have been to one a couple of times and was always told
that everything would turn out alright. So far, it has, so I guess I believe. I
did learn that many psychics are witches.
That led me to research about
witches and the Wiccan religion. All Wiccans are witches, but not all witches
follow the Wiccan religion. Wicca is one of the fastest growing religions in
the U.S. I was surprised to find, that when practiced the way it is intended,
it is a very benign religion.
Wiccans follow the Rede, or poem, of
eight words: If it harm none, do what you will.
But there’s a catch called the rule of three. Whatever you do, good or
bad, comes back to you three fold. In The
Witch on Twisted Oak, I described it as a cross between The Golden Rule and
karma is a bitch.
How did you decide to make the
daughter of the victim a witch? What abilities does she possess?
Tessa was taken from her mother at
an early age, so she never realized she was a witch until she was grown. She
always did have powers though, she just didn’t understand them. When she
touched someone, or held their hand, she could see the color of their soul, and
discover secrets about their past. She
soon learned to avoid shaking hands, an easy feat in this germaphobic society.
It wasn’t until she met Ruben
Marquez that she first worried about the color of her own soul.
Did you need to research
detective investigative procedures?
People often think that
writers only need to do research if they write historical novels. That is
definitely untrue. If I make a mistake on police procedures, I will hear about
it. I have called the police department to ask questions, stopped officers on
the street, and I use every opportunity to go to workshops or take classes on
this subject.
I attended the RWA National
Convention in Atlanta this July. While some of my writer friends learned about
Indie Publishing, or attended chats on Inspirational Romance, I was learning
how different jurisdictions overlap and about the different types of serial
killers.
When I got home from Atlanta, my
eight-year-old grandson came over to visit. He wanted me to play with him. I
set down my notes on profiling the difference between Psychopaths and
Sociopaths and got down on the floor to play Legos. You have to remember what’s
most important in life.
Tell us about the relationship that
develops between Detective Ruben Marquez and the Witch on Twisted Oak.
Ruben is attracted to Tessa the
first time he sees her, but that’s as far as it goes. He’s trying to solve a
case that has put his mother in danger.
Tessa remembers Ruben from their
childhood and doesn’t care for him at all. In fact, she believes he’s
responsible for her mother’s death.
It isn’t until the two are forced to
spend time together hiding out in a cabin that they realize how much they have
in common and that they enjoy each other’s company.
Just as he’s ready to admit how much
he cares for her, she reveals that she’s a witch and their relationship comes
to a screeching halt.
What are you working on next?
I’m just finishing the third book in
the trilogy. The first book, The Secrets on Forest Bend, was Ruben’s
partner, Adam Campbell’s story. Ruben’s
story, The Witch on Twisted Oak, is
the second book. The third book is Voodoo
on Bayou Lafonte and is Remy Steinberg’s story. Remy is another detective
in their squad. It will be out in
January of 2014.
I have left the series open for one more book.
It’s possible the cursing, Bible-thumping detective know alternately as Tenequa
the Terrible and Tenequa the Kid Whisperer will appear in her own story.
ABOUT THE BOOK
A powerful psychic is brutally murdered. Secrets are revealed. An old enemy is out for revenge.
Detective Ruben Marquez is thrust back into his childhood memories
when he investigates a gruesome murder that occurs only feet from his mother's
home. Is the killer somehow connected to
his own past? Is the beautiful,
mysterious daughter of the victim, someone he can trust? Or is her revelation that she’s a witch a
sign he should stay clear. But how can
he, when it appears she’s next on the murderer’s to-do list.
In the ultimate test of courage, he uses himself as bait to
protect all he holds dear . . . his career, his family, and the Witch on
Twisted Oak.
AN EXCERPT
“Did your mother have any dealings with him?” Sure
she did. As soon as Ruben asked, he knew the answer. The guy had cut in line in
front of him when the boys went to see the infamous fortuneteller.
“Not just her. I saw his soul, and it was pitch
black. I was in charge of taking the tickets and I tested each customer as they
came in and told her their color. He burned my hand when I touched him. I
warned her, but the money was flowing in that night and she wouldn’t turn
anyone away.”
What the hell was Tessa talking about? She saw his
soul and it burned her hand? He knew her mother was bat-shit crazy, but did she
have to be crazy too?
As is on cue, his
hands began to tingle, exactly as they had last night when he’d helped her to
her feet and she held on so tight. He’d seen snippets of her life pass by and
everything had been shaded a soft pink.
Ridiculous. He’d already explained that
to his own satisfaction.
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