Summer Splash Book Blog Tour: Meet Susan Farrell!

S.D. Ferrell is a writer, self-published author, and creative artist. She grew up on a small hobby farm just outside of Simcoe in Windham Centre, with her parents, six sisters and one brother.

Her fondest memories of childhood was on the farm and the time she spent outside with her siblings. They had grand adventures in the forest that curved around the property. She remembers a majestic willow tree with long flowing branches that grew beside the laneway – they swung from those branches until they were giddy with laughter. There were also cherry trees in the front yard that she climbed, and sat on the branches for what seemed like hours on end. Among the leaves she was free to allow her mind to
take flights of fancy.
Nature was a wonderful playground for a little girl with a vivid imagination who would one day grow-up to be a writer. "Is it any wonder," Ms. Ferrell says, "that my debut novel
starts in a forest and one of the main characters throughout the series is a tree?"
S.D. is a proud mother to five daughters and a grandmother to fourteen wonderful grandchildren. She presently resides in Simcoe Ontario and is working on the third book in the series, The Long Road Home. She is also working with an artist, Evee Fex-Chriszt, on the 4th and final book in the series, The Keeper’s Guide.

Author’s Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elsbrier.ink/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/justmesuzied
WordPress: https://elsbrierink.wordpress.com/
Amazon: amazon.com/author/sdferrell

1. What is your most recent book?

I am currently working on the third installment of the Whipple Wash Chronicles – The Long Road Home. The Valley Time Forgot, the first book in this fantasy adventure series, for readers of all ages, was published in 2012. The Shadow of Erebos the second book in the series was published in 2014.

2. Why do you think people would want to read it? What is its most compelling quality?

When I talk about the story I am very passionate about it. I think people can see how much I enjoyed writing it. They also find it intriguing when I tell them that I wrote the story for my five daughters, who are the heroines of the story.

3. Who is your favorite character that you’ve written and why?

Considering that my daughters are the heroines of the story, and most of my family have characters as well, I would have to say I don’t have a favorite character. I do have a fondness though for Jasper, one of the main characters, and Zeander a secondary character. I really enjoy writing his dialogue. Neither are based on anyone that personally know.

4. What is the hardest thing you have to do when you create a character and what’s the easiest?

I think the hardest thing is to be consistent with their personality and how they interact with the other characters. The easiest part is picking out their names.

5. How do you deal with writer's block?

I haven’t found a surefire way to deal with it yet. Hence the reason why the third book in the series is nowhere near being completed.

6. What is the one book that changed the way you write?

I haven’t read a book that influenced me so much that I changed the way I write. I have read books however, like J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit that gave me confidence to continue with my writing style.

7. What is the craziest thing you've ever done?

The craziest thing I have ever done was give up my job, pack all my things into a storage unit, and take a trip to Little Cayman on a six month work permit. It was my first time away from home, and my first time on an airplane. I lasted only three weeks, before I quit that job and came back home. There is no place like home.

8. What is one item on your Bucket List that you haven't completed yet?

Visiting Ireland which is at the top of my list for reasons that I can’t really explain, other than I have ancestors from Ireland. But I think it is much more deeply rooted than that. Hopefully one day I will find out the reason why.

9. If you could spend one week anywhere in the world, where would you go?


Easy, Ireland. But I would want to stay for much longer than a week.

10. What is your most prized possession?

My laptop. It was gifted to me by my children the night before the launch of The Valley Time Forgot. It was a show of their support of my creative endeavor, and it has given me the opportunity to follow my dreams.

11. What is the best piece of advice you have been given in regards to your writing?

Just to write and don’t worry about the editing part of it. Get all of your ideas down first, there will be time to edit afterward.

12. What is one piece of advice you would give to someone who wants to write but doesn't know where to start?

Put pen to paper or in my case fingertips to key board and just write. Don’t worry that it is not going to make sense. Just write all your thoughts down. There will be time enough to correct and rearrange in the editing and re-writing stage.

Did you enjoy this interview? Do you have any other questions for Susan? Comment with your question and I will pass it on! Meanwhile, check out my interview with C. A. King on the Portal Prophecies blog!