Q: Would you tell us about your current book release “Battered Justice?|
Linda J. White interview with Susan Sleeman
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June 01, 2015
Q: Let me start with asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself. A: Thanks, Susan! I’m a former stay-at-home mom, a former journalist, and a current novelist. I love God, books, the beach, and dogs, in any combination. I have three grown kids and three grandchildren, and live with my husband in rural Virginia. He was a video producer/director for the FBI Academy for 27 years. That’s where I get a lot of information for my books! Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? A: In Fourth Grade I wrote a poem about searching for a Christmas tree that made quite a splash. In college, once I discovered that English majors got to read books all the time, I switched from International Relations to English. But it wasn’t until 1992, when I had the idea for a story, that being a novelist first dawned on me. Q: Could you give us the highlights of your professional writing career including how you got your first writing break? A: As a mom, I wrote for preschool newsletters, community publications, and church. As I gained confidence, I sold some articles to Sunday School take-home papers, and even wrote for the Baptist Sunday School Board. Then in 1992, I had an idea for a story. My husband (bless him!) said, “You ought to write that!” and began taking me over to the FBI Academy and introducing me to people. The agents were so kind, and their input helped me write with authenticity. In 1993, I went to my first conference, in Philadelphia, where Marlene Bagnull very kindly encouraged me. I persisted, and persisted, but didn’t land a contract until 2004! “Bloody Point” my first book, was published by Cook in 2005; two more followed from Abingdon Press: “Seeds of Evidence,” and “Words of Conviction.” My niche is FBI thrillers, and I absolutely love writing them.
A: “Battered Justice” is the sequel to “Bloody Point,” which I released as an ebook in November 2013, after getting the rights back. After all those years, people were still asking me, “What happened to Jake and Cass?” Now they can find out. In “Battered Justice,” Jake and Cass pursue an investigation that suggests criminal activity at a casino. The problem? The powerful state senator who pushed the casino, Chase Westfield, is married to Jake’s ex-wife, Tam. The two men are already butting heads, but when Tam is found beaten to death, they find themselves on a collision course from which only one can emerge whole. Q: Where did you get your inspiration for “Battered Justice”? A: Many, many years ago, I had a friend, Shirley, whose grown daughter (about my age at that time) was murdered by the daughter’s ex-husband. I tried my best to comfort Shirley, but I think I did so clumsily—I was young in my faith. So I wanted to write about domestic violence, to understand more about it. And I wanted to deal also with terrible injustice. How do you cope with that? Q: What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story? A: I pray that anyone facing an impossible situation will be encouraged by this book. God doesn’t always relieve our pain, but he is always, always faithful. Q: What is your favorite scene/chapter from the book? A: Cass is interviewing the Westfields’ maid when a man with a tattoo walks into the room. I didn’t plan that—it just happened while I was writing it. It was one of those fun moments for a writer when the story takes over and you suddenly find yourself headed a whole new direction. Q: What inspires you to write? A: I think that stories allow us to express transcendent truth in ways argumentation cannot. Stories penetrate the defenses our mind puts up, and before we know it, we’re learning something new, experiencing life through the eyes of a character. I write stories that share the truth of the Gospel in an entertaining way, and I hope people are encouraged by them. Q: How has being a published novelist differed from your expectations of the profession? A: There is a LOT of “non-writing” work. I have spent hours and hours today dealing with a thorny website issue. The nitty-gritty of marketing also eats up hours. But the joy of sharing a story with readers makes it all worth it. Q: What advice or tips do you have for writers who are just getting started? A: Pray and persevere. If you are gifted to write, and feel that’s your calling, then persist until you get new orders. Don’t give up. Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now? A: My next project will be to take that very first book (which I wrote in 1992-93) and update that story. Twenty years later, friends are still asking me when that book will come out! Q: When you’re not writing what do you like to do? A: I walk a lot. I teach Bible studies and mentor a small group. I love playing with my grandchildren, and I love the beach, and working with dogs. Right now I’m working with my four-year-old Sheltie in a fun “tricks” class. Q: Where can readers find you on the internet? A: On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindaJWhiteBooks?ref=hl or my website, lindajwhite.com Q: Anything else you’d like to tell or share with us? A: Someone asked me how I can justify writing mystery/suspense fiction. We live in a violent, fallen world. Just watch the news! How do you cope with that? I make my characters figure that out, in the hopes that I, and others, can learn from them. |
Linda J. White writes FBI thrillers from her home in rural Virginia. Her husband, Larry, was a video producer/director at the FBI Academy for over 27 years. She has received much help from current and former FBI agents in researching her books.
A “hybrid” author of five novels, Linda’s books have won the HOLT Medallion, HOLT Award of Merit, and have twice been finalists for the RWA National Readers Choice Award. She loves exploring the deep issues of faith—Where is God? Why did he allow this? How can I find hope?—through the mystery/suspense genre.
Mother of three grown children, Linda is also a national-award winning journalist, a Bible study teacher, and a speaker. When she’s not writing, she can be found playing with Keira, her Sheltie, reading a book, or dreaming of the beach. She is represented by Janet Grant of Books & Such Literary Management.
