“I would probably never go to the bathroom or eat food when I’m writing because I love it so much,” said Rodgers, who lives in Summerside. “So when I wrote that first 10,000 words I knew I had the first three books in my head and that was in Aug. 2012.”
She was a finalist in the 2011 Atlantic Writing Awards that kick started her career.
Literary fans were eager to discuss Rodgers books, hear about the inspiration that shaped the loveable and sometimes frustrating side of her characters, ask questions and learn what’s next in the 12-book series, “Drifters.”
“I would probably never go to the bathroom or eat food when I’m writing because I love it so much,” said Rodgers, who lives in Summerside. “So when I wrote that first 10,000 words I knew I had the first three books in my head and that was in Aug. 2012.”
She was a finalist in the 2011 Atlantic Writing Awards that kick started her career.
Literary fans were eager to discuss Rodgers books, hear about the inspiration that shaped the loveable and sometimes frustrating side of her characters, ask questions and learn what’s next in the 12-book series, “Drifters.”
Rodgers, whose background as a cinematographer informs her writing, said she is constantly making visual stories in her head and then penning them down to life.
“I was living in my head a lot because that was a nice safe place to be and a place where you could feel no one was judging you and you could create the ultimate ‘you’ instead of the you the public sees every day. You could be someone who plays the guitar and sings - it’s great.”
Characters in the romance series are often based on real people, dreams and experiences.
“Be careful what you say to a writer,” smiles Rodgers. “You may be killed off in their next book.”
Inspiration behind the latest book comes from P.E.I.
“I just finished three more Drifters books - inspiration behind those is just that I love writing about the Drifters gang, and I had to resolve a storyline I started in book 11. I had to save Josh, and I also started a new series about a country singer.
Rodgers continued, “I was inspired by volunteering at Cavendish Beach Music Festival. I loved the music, and thought it would be fun to explore what might happen if one of those artists decided to hide out in P.E.I. for a summer.”
The “Drifters” novels include: “A Song For Josh,” “Promises,” “No Greater Love,” “Riptide,” “Whispers of Home,” “And Then There Was Silence,” “Let the Music Cry,” “If I Could Sing You Home,” “After the Rain,” “Into the Blue,” “A Sacred Peace,” and “Watch Over Me.”
Advice to anyone wanting to write a book is “just do it,” said Rodgers. “Don’t worry about what others think. Write for yourself and what is meaningful to you. If you love it, you will be passionate about it and others will respond to the passion in your work.”
On hearing positive feedback Rodgers said, “It’s a surreal feeling. Hearing readers thoughts on how they see the characters, how emotionally invested they are, etc. It amazes me how a little story that's been running around in my head has become so meaningful to so many people.”
More information is available at Susan Rodgers author website: www.susanrodgersauthor.com
