Name: Susan Kosinski

Hometown: Hays, Kansas

Book Title: Battingham Castle

Genre: Romance/Mystery

Dorrance Publishing (DP): Describe your book in 10 words or less.

Susan Kosinski (SK): A young man becomes a man from lessons of life.

DP: What made you want to write your book?

SK: For many years I have had stories in my mind. One day I started writing and I couldn’t stop. My husband was amazed that I could spend every day writing almost continuously.

DP: How long did it take you to write your book?

SK: It took me two to three months to write this book.

DP: How do you choose the names of your characters?

SK: I would just think of names and hope I didn’t name someone who is an actual person.

DP: What do you do when you have writer’s block?   

SK: I have an extra addition to every book I write. I call it Characters of (name of book). There I write down all the characters in the book especially if I use the character just a few times so I can remember all the names. I also write what I want the book to have in it or where I want my book to go. I write any and all thoughts down so I can figure out what I want to say or what direction I want to go in. I must say even if I have a certain direction I think I want to go in, many times my characters get a mind of their own and go in a totally different direction than I thought I wanted to go.

DP: What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

SK: I loved Troy always being told he was upsetting to women. I also loved his innocence and boyishness and then him becoming a real, gentle, and caring man.

DP: If you were stuck on an island and had to have one person from each category with you, who would they be and why:

a. One character from your book:

SK: I would like to be stuck on an island with the main character Lord Troy Bowling, Earl of Battingham because he is a caring person who has the desire to accomplish things in his life. I feel he would be someone who would want to help me find a way off the island.

b. One fictional character:

SK: Leroy Jethro Gibbs from NCIS. I always admired the character. He was all business but there was a hint of humor to his ways. He was demanding of his underlings only because he knew they could do the work and he wouldn’t let them slack in their duties to solve the crimes.

c. One famous person (living or dead):

SK: I would like to be stuck on an island with JF Kennedy. I was in high school when he was President. I thought he was not only good looking but he seemed brilliant to my young mind. It was truly my first encounter with politics and I admired him because of his stamina and policies. I would have liked to learn more about his ways of how he saw the US and the world.

DP: Besides writing, what are your other interests?

SK: I like to crochet and read lots of books (almost one a day). I like to volunteer and I also teach third grade Sunday School.

DP: Do you keep a journal?

SK: Not really. I have looked up other authors and one, Jeff Goins, made a comment that stuck with me. He said, “Write something every day,” and I try to but sometimes don’t get the chance.

DP: How did you celebrate the publishing of your book?

SK: I was very happy to see it in print. However, it was overshadowed by my daughter being very ill from cancer. She just recently passed away.

DP: If your book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters?

SK: I’m not into actors and actresses of today. I am very disappointed in the Hollywood of today who are so political.

However, I do like Cameron Mathison from the Hallmark Channels. I think he would make a wonderful Lord Troy Bowling. Cameron never gets any older, he has stayed young forever. Sally Fields would make a pretty good Aspen. Betty White would make a good Lady Matilda Bowling. All three of the first ones named keep their young looks. Last but not least, Jennifer Aniston would make a nice Penny.

DP: What did you enjoy most about working with Dorrance Publishing?

SK: I liked working with Dorrance because they seemed attuned to my desires. They let me be involved in the process of publishing my book.

DP: Five favorite books of all time?

SK: Exodus by Leon Uris, Battle Cry by Leon Uris, The Angry Hills by Leon Uris, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin, War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy.

DP: One sentence of advice for other writers:

SK: Let your book flow, go with it and let the characters take you wherever they want to go.

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