Could you tell us about yourself?  

Wow, lol, where to start!  I am an author of four books, a psychic medium, reverend, energy reader, speaker. 

What made you write your books(s)? 

When I was little, I loved books and as my mom read to me one night, I asked her if I could do that.  She asked me what I meant and I said make that and pointed to the book.  She smiled and said yes. She then said, hon you can do anything you want!  I kept that in the back of my mind always.  As my life went on, I had things happen to me that I knew I would never be able to tell anyone, so I started to journal.  I was twelve years old when I started. What had happened was I saw a demon in my room, he was ugly, and overly charming. He offered me everything in life I could ever want.  My father used to tell us, there is no such thing as a free lunch.  This sounded like an offer of a free lunch. No thank you.  I used these journals much later in life to write my books.  

What is the first book you remember reading?

The first book I remember being read to me was the one I mention above. It was a book of poems written by a very good friend of my grandmothers.  “From Magic Mirrors to Mud Puddles, by Elizabeth Laughton Claxton. My favorite was The Garden Court ship. A tomato proposes to a potato, so sweet.  

The first book I read was “Charlottes Web”. I loved it but hated the end and cried very hard!  The book was full of valuable life lessons.  

What’s your favorite book? 

Pride and Prejudice. The Garden of Good and Evil. Charlottes Web. 

What is your favorite author and why? 

This is tough, I love to read and am not an author follower, any more. I used to love Nora Roberts but her style has changed so much, that she has lost me as a LOVER of her work.  I do still read her.  Her Irish series was my ultimate favorite.  She has grown and I honor that but have moved on. 

Other than that I loved Jackie Collins, David Baldacci, James Patterson and Harlan Corben.

How many hours a day do you write?  

Now, a few days a week.  When I am on a book, I write daily in the morning, for at least 3 hours. 

What one thing would you give up to become a better writer? 

Nothing! The person I am is what has made my books what they need to be. Were meant to be.

What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?

Punctation! 

If you could spend a day with another popular author, whom would you choose and why?

Jackie Collins! I loved her energy. Her stories were funny, intriguing, sexy, adult, and flowed.  

James Patterson would be another author I would love to talk with.  He is so smart, well versed, intelligent and funny!

What do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?

Classical music, natural light, my lap top, good pens and a lot of paper. And no one at home! 

Favorite writing snack or drink?  

Used to cheese fish but read the ingredients lol. Maybe taco chips.  Other than that cold water in a glass!

How do you celebrate when you finish your book?  

A long (no rushing) hot shower, a glass of wine and a fabulous dinner!

Do you listen to music while you wrote your books? 

Only classical.  Anything else and I start to pay attention to it and not my writing. 

Where do you get your idea(s) for your book(s)

They come from real life.  My journals and then from what life has been dealing me.  

What is/was your writing process like?

I purchase dollar store college rule paper and jell pens. The reason being, I hand write, without fixes, the entire book. After that is finished, I type it in word on my laptop. That also starts the edit process. I do a coupe rounds of editing. Once I am mostly happy it goes to my editor. 

Do you try more to original or rather give readers what they want?

Original is the best for me.  Ultimately, I do hope it is what they want. 

How did publishing your (first) book?  

I assume you mean; how did it go?  I tried to get a publisher, thought that was what I needed to do.  They I hired a firm that took it press for me.  I left them and went Create Space/Amazon.  It is easy and I make more money this way.  I like the print on demand feature. 

What kind of research do you do and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book? 

My journals and then the current happenings give me my info.  Then I research. Sometime something I have seen, a ghost needs explaining.  There are names for entities that I don’t know about. In the same vein, if something weird happens I need to know if that has a name or title.  I search for answers for those things. I used to watch ghost hunting type shows and sometime would get answers for things from those.

What do you develop your plot and characters?

My nonfiction writing sort of fits this question but not really.  I do make sure to crate a plot but not change the truth.  I want it to be captivating, spooky, but true to the happening.  Characters are real so that is easy.  I do not use names of people but they know who they are lol!

What’s your favorite and least favorite part of publishing your book(s)?

Least part was the rejections!  Then I switched up my thinking and went to print on demand with Amazon. My favorite is designing the jacket of the book.  I have had three different artists for the four books.  Each is my idea.  Each jacket has light in it somewhere.  Reason being, light is thing to look for.  There is always light at the end of the tunnel. I like choosing the title too.  That takes time. I sit and write ideas on paper, brain storming, titles.  

What part of the book was the most fun to write?

I love the dedications.  These to me are honors to be bestowed toward someone. They come from love and respect.  I also love to title chapters.  Although in my fourth book it was tough for some reason, so not so enjoyable!  I think I didn’t want to repeat from the other books. Also didn’t want them too long.  

How did you come up with the title for your book(s)? 

They took some brainstorming. I know how all important a title and jacket are. You have a very short amount of time to catch a reader’s attention, keep it, and have them buy it.  The first one, “Welcome to my Paranormal Life” came to me after I wrote the opening.  It begged me to welcome you.  My second book, as I wrote it, the stories were all of ghosts and spirits appearing for me, no matter where I was. So it is titled, “When the Dead Comes Calling.” The third book, “The Essence of Death”, is titled after my father.  When he passed, I watch his DNA helix rise up out of his face into the air. It was his essence. And my fourth book, “Dialog with the Dead,” is exactly what it says.  I talk daily (a lot) with the dead. 

Would you and your main character get alone?

I am my mine character and no not always!  

What is a significant way your book has changed since the first draft?

Great question.  It has not aged but it has changed. I intentionally wrote it pretty simply, the wording, the structure.  Over the last seven or so years, it is now 9 years old, I have changed up some of the words.  Changed them to higher level words.  I didn’t need it as simple as I had it.  However, It was important to me that the book be easy for all to read, to understand. I am talking about some complex things.  Plus, not everyone who reads my books believes in what I am writing! 

How would you describe your book’s ideal reader?

My ideal reader at first was the person who like me had paranormal experiences and need help with that.  Then it became a book that sold all the way around the world, through Amazon, and the reasons for reading changed.  My readers were now reading for entertainment, they wanted to learn more, are interested in the paranormal and have questions about some or all!

What did you edit out of your books?

Names of people who were in events with me. Several reasons for this.  When I wrote the first book in 2012, it was just the right time to start talking about ghosts and spirits out in public.  Hard to believe but true. So, not to cause them embarrassment and me possible issues I chose to leave them out.

How long did it take for you to write a book?

The first book took three years!  I didn’t want to let it go, I was scared. I used the excuse of it needing more editing. My husband and editor told me stop and turn it over. The other books were about a year and a half each. 

What do you hope your readers take away from your book(s)?

That spirit is all around us.  That they do exist.  That is okay to not believe but understand that others do and let me believe. 

What was the hardest part of writing your book(s)?

Getting started. Not believing that others would find it interesting.  Then it was trying to find an editor.  My first was a college LA professor. I paid her half up front; rest was due when she was done.  She called me and said she couldn’t edit the book it scared her too badly. I went to her home to get the manuscript from her, she also gave me my money back! I ended up with a fabulous editor who has edited all but one of my books.

Did you get some negative feedback on your book? And if so, how do you deal with that?

I did get some for editing needing some work.  You can edit your brains out and never catch all.  Then there were people who didn’t believe in ghosts or spirits.  But then would tell me a story of a ghost that came to them!  That was all in the beginning.  Now that the paranormal is wide open, tons of tv shows, I really don’t hear much down talk any more. I am happy people are opening up on the topic. 

How did you feel when you first published your book(s)? 

I was over the moon happy and very proud.  It is a major accomplishment to write a book.  Then after it started to sell and like I said, sold around the world, I flipped out with nerves.  I didn’t anticipate the fact that I had started a business! 

Where can people who are interested in your book, buy your book?

My books are on Amazon, Kindle and paperback, under Exie Susanne Smith.

Do you have any advice for people who wants to become authors?

My advice to others that would like to be authors.

Write and do it daily.  Writing is a muscle and it has to be exercised to get strong and stay strong.  To trust their instincts about their abilities and their interests/topics.  And thicken your skin!  What some people have to say can be hard, harsh.  People don’t understand how hard it is to write a book, the amount of time and effort it takes. 

Do you read the reviews?

I do read them yes.  If I can make myself better from their thoughts why not read them.  I ignore the rude people, lucky, only had one or two of those.  They have no idea what it takes to do this, to have a dream and follow it all the way through. 

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