**GIVEAWAY** Interview Suzanne Redfearn-Hush Little Baby

I'm happy to welcome to The Reading Frenzy today debut author Suzanne Redfearn talking about her novel Hush Little Baby. The premise of the novel is a difficult subject. When I asked Suzanne what led her to write the book she says––"...
I got to thinking how easy it is to sabotage a life, that if my husband set out to destroy me, to preemptively strike before I realized what was going on, he could do it. He knows my weaknesses, my failings, my vulnerabilities...."
Enjoy the rest of our conversation below then stick around and enter to win a copy of the novel US only sponsored by Suzanne's publisher Grand Central Publishing

• ISBN-13: 9781455573202
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
• Publication date: 10/8/2013
• Pages: 368

GIVEAWAY US ONLY
ONE COPY HUSH LITTLE BABY
SPONSORED BY GRAND CENTRAL PUBLISHING
USE RAFFLECOPTER FORM BELOW TO ENTER
THANKS SUZANNE AND GRAND CENTRAL!

Overview:
If I stay, he will kill me. If I leave, he'll destroy Addie and Drew.
Jillian Kane appears to have it all - a successful career, a gorgeous home, a loving husband, and two wonderful children. The reality behind closed doors is something else entirely. For nine years, she has hid the bruises and the truth of her abusive marriage in order to protect Addie and Drew, knowing, if she left, Gordon would destroy her-destroy them.

Kirkus Review:
 Redfearn's debut ratchets up the tension page by page, as husband and wife try to inflict the most damage on each other without harming the kids. Every character hides something, and each surprising revelation torques the plot further. The emotional and physical injuries mount, driving inexorably toward a surprising climax. A compelling tale of the deceit, violation and anguish that undergird the myth of suburbia.

Publishers Weekly:
This snappily paced, cinematic novel about the dysfunctional modern American family from architect and first-time author Redfearn contains heavy doses of violence, danger, and fear. Jill 

RT Book Reviews:
"Top Pick! 4 1/2 Stars! With clear, efficient dialogue and authentic scenes, this story rings universal. Equal parts suspenseful and moving, Redfearn's skillfully told, candid story flows easily within a well-defined plot, making this novel a stunning and captivating read."

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Suzanne welcome to The Reading Frenzy, tell us about Hush Little Baby.

Thank you for inviting me. HUSH LITTLE BABY is the story about how far a mother will go to protect her children, it is also the story about the evil and good in each of us and what it takes to turn us from who we believe we are into a person we never thought we could be.

The premise of Hush Little Baby is not an easy subject but one that should never be avoided if known about.
What precipitated your writing the book?

A friend of mine was going through a divorce.  Until she separated from her husband, the two seemed like the picture of happiness.  But the story she told over drinks one night of the abuse and cruelty she endured behind closed doors was so frightening it made me wonder how many other marriages are not what they appear.

The curveball came about a month later when we went out again and my friend’s story had changed, the tale altered and now with glaring inconsistencies from the earlier version that caused an alarm to blare in my brain. What if she was making it up? Custody of the kids was at stake. Could she be setting her husband up? For over ten years, I’d known her husband as a stand-up guy, the baseball coach who never yelled, the neighbor who happily carted your Christmas tree home in his truck, the kind of guy who always showed up and did his part. Yet, how quickly I dismissed all that based on a story over drinks; how quickly everyone dismissed it, so easily accepting that he was abusive and dangerous.

So I got to thinking how easy it is to sabotage a life, that if my husband set out to destroy me, to preemptively strike before I realized what was going on, he could do it. He knows my weaknesses, my failings, my vulnerabilities. If he had the inclination, he could easily undermine my reputation and portray me as unstable or a bad mother, ensuring that if we divorced, he’d get custody of the kids.

My friend loves her children above all else, three beautiful boys. At the time they were four, nine, and twelve, and their futures, as well as her own, hung in the balance. To this day, nearly three years later, I don’t know if she was telling the truth or manufacturing lies. Either way, her story was a captivating cautionary tale that made me wonder how far someone might go to keep their spouse from getting custody of their kids, and then, if the kids were in danger, real danger, how far the other spouse might go to get them back.

Suzanne the early reviews for your debut are amazing and exciting. Congratulations!!
What were your first reactions to them?

As exciting as it was knowing my book was going to be out in the world, it was also nerve wracking.  I had no idea how it was going to be received.  Fortunately, so far the reviews have been amazing.  What is interesting is each perspective, what each reviewer picks up on and what they don't.  One of the most rewarding parts of this journey has been the reactions to the book, whether it is from a reviewer or a reader.  Some just enjoy it for the ride, others really contemplate the deeper meaning behind it.  Either way, as long as they enjoyed it, I'm thrilled.

Some may say that you’re an accidental author, someone who never had specific aspirations of writing.
Can you tell us what exactly led you on this path?

I love that term, "accidental author," and I might use that from now on.  That's exactly what I am.  I sat down one day, started writing, and didn't stop.  It began as a whim, sort of a bucket list endeavor, I had an idea that I thought would make a good story and decided to write it.  It sucked!  I was a terrible writer, I didn't know how to use commas, loved the diabolical adverb, and hated contractions.  But amazingly, beneath the clumsy craft and atrocious grammar was the story, the story I had set out to tell, and I was hooked.  That's where the accident ended and the work began – lots and lots and lots of hard work.

Now it’s time for a little personal information.
According to your website, you write in your car.
Is this true?
Why?

I do write in my car. It started because I happened to be in my car a lot because I have kids.  It's amazing how much writing you can get done sitting in the pickup line at school.  And now, I find it's the best place for me to focus; there are no distractions.  It is confined, just me and the paper, nothing else. Obviously I spend a lot of time at my computer as well, but the first draft is long hand in a Mead notebook sitting in my car, usually with the ocean or the mountains in front of me.

You’re also an avid baseball fan and root for The Angels and one of your bucket list goals is to visit every MLB stadium with your daughter.
That sounds like fun. Who and why came up with this idea.
ps. When you come to St. Louis, let me know Go Cardinals!!! :)

I love the Cardinals! Next to Buster Posey, Yadier is my favorite catcher. My daughter came up with the idea to visit every stadium. Her principal challenged every kid to come up with a "napkin dream," a goal to complete before they're fifty. She said if you write it down, you'll do it. So my daughter, an avid baseball fan, came up with the idea, and I  liked it so much, I asked if I could jump on her napkin dream with her, and so now we're doing it together. So far we've been to five stadiums. Twenty-five to go!

What are you working on now?

I am working on an exciting new story about another mother protecting her kids.  Though the mother-bear theme is similar to HUSH LITTLE BABY, the story is entirely new and the protagonist wonderfully different from Jillian.  She is more of an every-woman – a young, single mom, bumbling her way through life who finds herself in an extraordinary circumstance that quickly spins out of control. One kid thrives while the other two struggle, and difficult choices need to be made, this mild-mannered mom faced with the daunting challenge of taking the reins of the her runaway life before they all go over the edge.

Suzanne thanks for stopping by and letting us get to know you a bit better.
Will there be a signing tour for this release?

Thank you for inviting me. I am doing some signings, but at the moment, they are all in California. I will let you know if I'm ever out near St. Louis.  

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