Walnut Springs Press March Madness Sweet 16 Questions--Susan Dayley


From the Southern bracket, comes the skilled Susan Dayley


If you could be a character from any book, who would you be and why?
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." I’m going to assume that most women would choose Elizabeth—and for good reasons. 
But not me. I choose Heidi—mountains, sky, cheese, flowers, yep, I’m part hippi at heart. Though Robin Hood has his appeal—maybe Marian?


If you could co-write a book with any author who would you co-write it with? 
J.R.R TolkienNeal A. Maxwell, Mark Twain. I guess I have a thing for creative, intelligent and clever dead guys. 

How many hours do you spend on writing a day? 
2-5—but that includes blogging at susandayley.wordpress.com (shameless plug).

What advice would you give an aspiring writer? 
Never stop learning your craft, but never stop enjoying it either. And get a cat—he’ll pull you back to reality occasionally.

How have your personal experiences affected your writing?  
As in my next book is set in my home-town, on the street I grew up on, and one scene is in the cemetery I played night games in? I guess a little. But also, having cried over a teenager, yearned for clean energy sources, and suffered a broken heart—yep, that all comes through too.

How long did it take you to publish your first book after you started trying? 
I think a year—but I’m not sure. Now days, it takes just short of forever.

Is there a movie (gasp) that you prefer over the book version? 
Sound of Music. The book falls short of the scene where the Austrians join in singing Edelweiss. I bawl every time. However, it still bothers me that just when the captain is about to kiss Maria, in a very romantic setting, she stops him while she sings about her wicked childhood. Really?


Do you write in your PJ's? 
Sometimes. But I don’t go to the door so you’ll never see.

Do you use a laptop or a desktop for writing?
Lap top until two weeks ago when my DH got me the most romantic valentine gift ever for a writer—a new computer. Now I just have to move all my files over and learn to use the latest Word. Wow, big changes in the last seven years.

What is your favorite quotation?
“Climb every mountain, ford every stream. . .”  I’m sorry I’ve got a former question stuck in my head. How about: “To be cheerful when others are in despair, to keep the faith when others falter, to be true even when we feel forsaken—all of these are deeply desired outcomes during the deliberate, divine tutorials which God gives to us—because He loves us. These learning experiences must not be misread as divine indifference. Instead, such tutorials are a part of the divine unfolding,” (Neal A. Maxwell). Or else, “Travelling through hyperspace ain’t like dusting crops, boy,” (Hans Solo). (But next week there will be others.)


What is your favorite cereal? 
Green Smoothie with frozen peaches. . . .What? 

If you were a crayon what color would you be? 
Hot Pink

Do you prefer summer or winter? 
October. What do you mean somebody is not cooperating?

What is one thing you hope to accomplish this year?
Write 2-3 books, get good grades in my school classes, teach in a classroom, and heck, while I’m at it I ought to learn to fly. Seriously, the first three, I mean one.

The world would be a better place if . . .? 
We all read /studied Atlas Shrugged, were vegans, and planted bulbs.

What is something you've always wanted to try? 
Hang gliding. But lately I’ve changed it to: sky-walking through a rain forest canopy, like this one: 



Hiking the Narrow in Zion with her family

Hiking Timp with her Daughter

Sassy Susan

Susan's adorable granddaughter.





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