Note
from Suz: INTERVIEW DAY!Countdown to
12/16/04
12 days (and counting to Hot Target, in stores on December 28th)
Note
from Suz: INTERVIEW DAY!
But first, something really cool! Ballantine has created a HOT TARGET e-postcard that you can send! Click here for the link!
It's interview day! You got to ask the questions! Here they are, with my answers!
Actually, I'm going to ask the first question: Hey, Suz -- What the heck is that bizarre picture over there to the left, with you and Ed in the funny hats and clothes?
Suz: Ed and I are wearing theatrical costumes from ONCE UPON A MATTRESS. We were both in the ensemble of this show, which played for five weeks at Turtle Lane Playhouse, in Newton, Massachusetts. Our son, Jason, was also in the show, as was Eric. This was my first time on stage in decades -- it was a blast!
Amy asks: "I was wondering if SEAL Team Ten and SEAL Team Sixteen are ever going to work together?"
Suz: The two series are published by two different publishers which makes that tricky for many reasons. But I have a "never say never" policy! LOL!
Edwina asks: "Will we get a visit with Sam & Alyssa in this or are they on the back burner now? Do you think you'll do spinoff series with them as the lead characters?"
Persephani from California asked "Will Sam & Alyssa be in HOT TARGET, or featured in any future books?"
Cece also wanted to know "...will they be in Max and Gina's book?"
and Cmarie's focus was on the short stories: "I read the little story snippet of Sam and Alyssa in the little booklet that came out for FLASHPOINT. It was gruesome. Are we going to find out what is going on with that soon? Are they on the track of a serial killer?"
Suz: Much to Jules Cassidy's dismay, his friends Sam and Alyssa are OUTCONUS (out of the country) on another Troubleshooters assignment during Hot Target. However, they put in an appearance in another special original short story that comes as a "extra." (The first short story was published in the back of Flashpoint, as well as in a special "Chapter Sampler Booklet.") The short stories are sort of connected. My intention is for them to stand alone, but for them to make a certain kind of sense when read one after the other. How many will there be? Are they leading to a full-length book, or novella? I don't really know yet. I can tell you that you haven't seen the last of Sam & Alyssa. They will be back...
And Cece, I usually don't give away info about the book I'm currently writing (Max & Gina's book, BREAKING POINT), but I'll make an exception here and tell you that I'm pretty sure at this point that Sam & Alyssa aren't involved in Max's story. <g>
Lisa R from Louisiana asked the same questions about Sam & Alyssa, adding "will any of the others still in Team Sixteen be a part of this or future books?"
Suz: Hot Target starts with an action prologue. You'll see some of the Team Sixteen gang there! As for future books, yes, definitely! I have plans for most of the guys -- including Jazz, Gilligan, Izzy, Lopez, Jenk...
Tov in Colarado says: "I was really into the characters Sophia and Decker in Flashpoint, do you plan on them having a story at any point?"
And Alexandra Sugarman had the same question on her mind: "I love Sophia and Decker... Will we see more of them? Please!!! Will they get a book of their own? Please, please!!!!"
Suz: Sophia and Decker both appear in Hot Target. Decker is actually a "POV Character" -- I tell some of the story through his point of view: his words, his eyes, his thoughts. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I'm going to have to say that my current plan is for you to see more of both of these characters in future books! But will they end up together? After you read Hot Target, let me know what you think! <g>
Cate, Princess of the Cosmos asks: "In the glimpses we've seen of HOT TARGET, the talk of Jane's carefully constructed party-girl persona has made me realize that one of the major running themes throughout most of your books is these public facades we all put on to some degree or another and how they're broken down in extreme situations and in the face of true love, and the revealing of the true self as part of the journey to HEA. (Happy Ever After.) And so I was wondering -- how much of that is a conscious decision on your part, as you build these characters and these stories and take us, the readers, on these incredible journeys (!), and how much is unconscious, or resultant from your own life experiences and observations? (Clear as mud?) I think all good romances cover this theme to some degree, but it seems to be a real focus in your stories and I'm curious about how it fits into your own story-telling process."
Suz: Yes. To all of it -- yes. <GGG>
No, actually, Cate, you really did hit it right on the head. I think the ultimate human story is that of finding a true connection with another person -- finding real, honest love. The thing about that is, in order to find such a real connection, you've got to be willing to reveal yourself completely, which takes true courage.
One of my favorite scenes in a movie is in Bridget Jones' Diary, where the Colin Firth character (I'm blanking on his name...) says to Bridget, "I like you just the way you are." What an incredible moment!
We come from a society that infuses us with dissatisfaction and fear. Not only are we taught to believe that we're not good enough, but we're taught that we better pretend to be something better or we will be made fun of or worse -- ignored.
We also, as a society, are quick to label. We feel more comfortable putting people into categories -- defining people in easy to understand ways. She's a lawyer. He's a science teacher. She's Jewish. He's Latino. She's the mother of three. He's a grandfather. But the labels we give also judge. He's an ex-con -- he's dangerous. She's well-endowed -- she's a slut. She's blond -- she's a ditz... Etc. Etc.
Of course, not all labels and judgments are negative. He's a Harvard grad -- he's a good job candidate. She's a nun -- she's kind and forgiving. Just like negative assumptions, it may or may not be true!
Everyone who lives and breaths and walks the earth (and I'll include my characters in with that group, since I try my best to breathe life into them!) has to deal with the labels that the others in our society puts on them. They also have to deal with the labels that they put onto other people. And they have to try to see the truth behind the labels that the rest of the world puts on other people.
AND they themselves can take advantage of others' needs to label and define -- by playing into others' expectations. For example -- Cosmo is a Navy SEAL. He's tall and muscular with exotic-colored eyes and striking features. He looks dangerous, and he's quiet -- he doesn't talk much. He also keeps what he's feeling to himself -- he's very private. People look at him and see his lack of reaction and think, "Yikes -- he doesn't feel a thing -- he's like a dangerous robot." And he lets them think that -- he finds it's easier to go through life protected by that shield -- people keep their distance.
All of these are conscious things I think about when I create characters. But it's unconscious, too -- it's part of my life, your life, all of our lives.
But what happens when Cosmo finds someone to whom he'd like to get close? It's this unpeeling of layers that truly fascinates me -- because no two people unpeel the same way! Some reveal themselves voluntarily and hopefully -- others resist, kicking and screaming. Some never really unpeel all the way (like Nash in FLASHPOINT!) -- but they try. And sometimes that's enough for the people who love them -- just knowing that they're trying.
Kristy writes: Gay 101 is very interesting. Which 36 states are so discriminatory? Would you please list them? Granted, I probably live in one, Arkansas being Arkansas, but I would also like to know the other 35. If I ever got around to taking a vacation, I would be willing to spend my money someplace other than one of these infamous 36.
Suz: Interesting question, Kristy. The Human Rights Campaign website has a section that lists state by state policies and laws. You can check it out at http://www.hrc.org/Template.cfm?Section=Your_Community
It's not quite so cut and dried, though. For example, Massachusetts doesn't have a law prohibiting discrimination against state employees based on sexual orientation, but that's probably because there hasn't been a lawsuit here in regard to that. And THAT'S probably because Massachusetts is a pretty safe place to live and work if you're gay. It is, after all, the only state that allows same sex marriage. (Cape Cod's beaches are great for vacations, by the way! <g>)
The Human Rights Campaign, however, has another list that can allow you to spend your money well. They have established something called the Corporate Equality Index -- they rate American businesses according to their treatment of gay employees. (I think there are some other gay-friendly criteria, too.) In 2004, a total of 56 companies received a perfect 100% score -- these are the companies we straight allies should make a point to support. For example, Borders Group (which includes Waldenbooks, Borders and B. Dalton) is on the list. As is Dell, PepsiCo., Levi Strauss & Co, Best Buy, American Express, Kraft foods... Some companies have scored 100% since this list was first started three years ago in 2002, such as Nike, Eastman Kodak, Apple Computers, Aetna Inc., and JP Morgan Chase & Co. You can access the complete list by clicking HERE.
Brenda "the PISPPA FAN" asks: I was wondering how much "flack" you had to take to get Jules a spotlight in this book? On December 1st you seemed to go out of your way to explain why you wrote about him. I was curious if you had to do that for the readers or for the publisher?
Suz: I've had Ballantine's support right from the start with HOT TARGET. My editors have been wonderful.
It was my choice to go big, so to speak, with the whole Jules-has-a-subplot-in-this-book thing here in the countdown. I saw this book and this story -- written and intended as entertainment -- as an opportunity to shine a little light on a subject that there is still a great deal of ignorance about. Hello! There are people who live in MY COUNTRY who want to hurt my child because he's gay -- people who think it's funny or fun to go "fag hunting," and beat up other American citizens because of their sexual orientation.
You know, there was recently an incident in California where two gay men were beaten up while a crowd of people stood by. And those people did nothing. NOTHING.
Nobody so much as dialed 911.
I try very hard not to preach in my books. My goal is to create characters that readers will fall in love with -- characters they will consider friends. My goal is to tell stories that will make you laugh a little and maybe cry a little, maybe keep you up a little too late at night as you read that last chapter. And if I make you think a little, at the same time, I see that as a good thing.
But here on the countdown -- here's where I'll let it rip, where I'll allow myself to preach. Although I prefer the word "teach." <g> Because maybe someday one of you will be in a similar crowd. If you are, I want you to think of me, of Jules, of Jason. I want you to find a phone and dial 911.
Thanks to everyone who sent in questions -- I'm sorry I didn't have time to answer more of them. I'll try to get to a few more later in the countdown!
Gay 101: Tolerance is a Fabulous Value!
"If you removed all of the homosexuals and homosexual influence from what is generally regarded as American culture, you would pretty much be left with Let's Make a Deal." -- Fran Lebowitz
"The more people have the experience of knowing and loving gay people -- and their families -- the more the world is changed. And your kids benefit. Sometimes there are unexpected perks as well. Bunny relates this story:
We have PFLAG cards that say "Your business has just been supported by the loving family of a gay or lesbian person." When we go to a restaurant or we do business and we buy goods, we give those cards out. Or when I pay bills, I stick it in with my checks. It's advocacy and it's educational.
A couple weeks ago I flew to LA. And I rushed to the gate because we were late. I get in line at the check-in, and there I'm facing this nice-looking young man. I handed him my ticket and I gave him a card. He looked at it and he put it down next to my ticket and he says, "Would you like an aisle or a window seat?" And I said, "Well, I believe my travel agent has already secured my seat." And he doesn't hesitate and he doesn't miss a beat. He says, "I've upgraded you to first class." And I said to him, "Thank you." And he said, "No, thank you."
Note from Suz: Both of the above are excerpted from a wonderful book called Free Your Mind: The Book for Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Youth -- and Their Allies by Ellen Bass and Kate Kaufman. (ISBN: 0-06-095104-4, published by Harper Perennial) This is not only a great book for parents and families, but also for teachers and school administrators!
Incidentally, I so liked the idea of those PFLAG cards, that I made some of my own that say: "Your business has just been supported by the loving family of a gay person."
It's easy to make 'em -- any Staples or Office Max sells packs of Avery # 8871 "Matte White Clean Edge Business Cards." There are ten 2"x3½" cards per sheet. All you need to do is use Microsoft Word label template # 5371 or # 8371 and follow the instructions to print multiple copies of the same "label."
I carry the cards with me in my wallet. I've even given sheets of them to my mom and dad. Together, we're changing the world, one little step at a time!
That's all for now! Be sure to come back for tomorrow's installment in the Countdown to HOT TARGET!
See you tomorrow!