Susan Baker

Tell us a little bit about yourself, your hobbies and interests.

When I was a young girl, I wanted to be a writer but was discouraged by almost everyone. Over the years, I would keep notebooks and little pieces of paper, jotting down ideas, poems, and short pieces. I grew up, got married, had kids, dropped in and out of college 5 times until I got my B.S. then a couple of years later, lawschool. I submitted pieces and was soundly rejected. Right around the time I decided to stand for election for a district court seat, I sold MY FIRST MURDER, No. 1 in the Mavis Davis Mystery series to St. Martin's Press, Inc. Now that's ancient history, my primary career was as a lawyer and a judge. What happened over the years as I continued to write and submit makes great stories to tell when I'm a guest speaker for groups. I have fun telling about my rocky publishing history and enjoy the inspiration I give others when they see that not giving up is the key to getting what you want, most of the time. I'm an independent author now and continuing to learn the ever-changing publishing business. I finally decided learning how to market my books might be beneficial to me, rather than putting them out there and going on to the next one. As I write this, I'm 73 years "young" and studying marketing. I can remember when I'd have book signings I'd think "If only I could sell books without having to travel around to bookstores and other venues." Then when the Internet came along and publishers wanted authors to do their own marketing, I'd think "If only I could sell books without having to do all this stuff on the Internet." My interests now are mostly learning, learning, learning and swallowing my frustration as just when I figure out how to do something, it changes. I also love to travel. I went to Australia a couple of months ago (Sept. 2022) for a tour and to visit a cousin. I'm hoping to drive Route 66 next year. Both trips had to be postponed due to Covid 19. I'd like to go to England in '24 to the London Book Fair and afterward to Hadrian's Wall, among other sites I've heretofore been unable to fit into previous trips, as well as visit another cousin. There are other countries on my bucket list as well as sites in the U.S. So, travel is one of my greatest interests. Fixing up my house is another. When I moved back to Galveston in 2016, I bought an aged house with lots of problems which knew about, but the main thing was that it's situated in a neighborhood that has never flooded--not even in the worst hurricanes. Every time I save up a few dollars, I hire someone to upgrade this place I love so much (and intend to die in, though not anytime soon).

When and why did you start writing books?

I first thought seriously about writing a novel when I was lying about watching TV one day and read an article in TV Guide about a romance writer and how much she was receiving for each book. I'd written a few short pieces and submitted occasionally, and been rejected, and thought I could do that! So I started bringing my Kaypro 4 computer home on the weekends from my law office and writing on Saturdays and Sundays. After my first one was rejected several times including a really rude rejection letter from one editor, I began to consider that romance might not be my genre (though I'd certainly read my share of them). I had been a fan of mystery and suspense, and as a kid used to check out books from the adult section of the library, so I decided to write a suspense novel. (Still bringing my Kaypro 4 home and submitting my manuscript which was printed by then on my daisy wheel printer [those ribbons cost $7.00 each and could only be used once]). While querying about the suspense novel, I included a one liner at the end of the query letter about My First Murder, which I kind of wrote tongue-in-cheek, for fun. (of course only sending that version of the letter to agents, not editors who I'd read only wanted to consider one project at a time). My First Murder came out in 1989, just as I was beginning my campaign for judge. The book was warmly received as a donation at community events around our county and caused me to get additional recognition which I'm sure helped in winning the election. (I was the first woman in our county to run for and get elected to the bench.)

What made you decide to tackle writing as a career?

I couldn't not write. Finally when I retired, I was able to focus and, though busy with many other things, spend more time on it. So writing is a second career, basically, though one I don't have to rely on for income.

Which one of your books or characters is your favourite?

That's not a nice thing to ask! I could hurt the feelings of some of them. I do love my book Ledbetter Street. But I love Death of a Rancher's Daughter. And then there's Mavis and ...

Which one of your books was the hardest to write and stretched you the most as a writer?

Hardest as opposed to longest... Both Ledbetter Street and Death of a Rancher's Daughter took me a while because there are intricate details about trial practice which I had to be sure to get right, as well as a lot of characters I wanted to delve into. I'll be doing more with those characters in the future.

Who is your favourite author and book?

Really? This is impossible. I loved The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society novel (and visited Guernsey as a result). And, hmmm--off the top of my head...when I was little, I read Mike Shayne mysteries. Patricia Highsmith was an inspiration (she's deceased now). Mary Higgins Clark's suspense novels have been fun (she's deceased, too). I loved Rosamund Pilcher and Maeve Binchy (both of whom are now deceased). I like John Sandford's series. Charles Todd's Inspector Rutledge series (one of the Charles Todd authors is deceased, I believe). I read most everything, (including the writing on packaged foods) so I can't really choose.

What book are you reading right now?

A Stephanie Plum.

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

I worked a lot of s*** jobs over the years from the time I was a teenager until I became a probation officer and was exposed to a myriad of characters. I practiced law for 9 years. I sat on a district court bench doing mostly family law and some criminal (like juvenile murder) for 12 years. I sat as a visiting judge around Texas on and off for 12 years. I've traveled extensively, lived in Okinawa with my first husband and new baby (who is now 51 and the mother of 5), in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and several cities in Texas (but always return to Galveston, TX). My second daughter has 3 kids, so I have a total of 8 grandkids who are a lovely inspiration. I've had two husbands, a number of pets, and friends and relatives in and around the globe. The question really is where don't I get my inspiration. Thanks for asking, tho.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I ride my bicycle. Watch TV, mostly Youtube but also like movies though I don't watch scary stuff at night (even though I can write scary stuff). I'm still involved a bit with politics. I volunteer a bit around town. I dabble at pulling weeds in my yard. And, of course, READ everything I can get my hands on.

Do you have any new books in the works?

Yes. I just finished the 5th Mavis Davis book which comes out December 20, 2022. I'm considering a spin-off of the Mavis Books, a YA with the character Candy Finklestein. I'm working on the third in The Lady Lawyer Mysteries. I have 8 chapters toward a thriller. A plot of a cozy based on my novel Ledbetter Street is trying to find real estate in my head. Those are the ones foremost in my brain.