JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Suzetta Perkins, author of Betrayed
(Strebor Books Int’l/Simon & Schuster)
Setrina “Mimi” Bailey is carrying a nineteen-year-old secret that she’d like to remain hidden forever. She was raped by Victor Christianson, her best friend Brenda’s fiance. Mimi makes a desperate attempt to protect her secret when an event she’s unable to control brings her back to the town and the scene of the crime.
Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the inspiration to write Betrayed?
Suzetta Perkins: I’ve written about a number of social issues, but I hadn’t touched the issue of rape. As an administrator on a college campus, I’ve seen a lot of things and the story I tell deals with the issue of rape at a university. But what one doesn’t always see is how a crime such as this impacts family and friends, especially when the victim hasn’t told a soul, to include the police.
JP: What sets Betrayed apart from other books in the same genre?
SP: I believe in realism, and as a suspense writer, I want you to believe that this story could be true. This is a story of rape on a college campus, although it was nineteen years ago. I bring you on Mimi’s emotional journey as she stops at nothing to protect her secret and the ones she loves. When you’ve finished reading, you’ll have to catch your breath because you were there for every sharp turn she had to make. I give you a good helping of intrigue, mystery, and suspense.
JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to Betrayed getting out to the public?
SP: Betrayed is my sixth novel. In the beginning, I read and studied the book industry since I was a serious writer. I went to literary events, writing workshops, and took several courses in creative writing.
In the end, I was able to obtain an agent who has brokered all of my book deals. Upon getting the book deals, the single most important aspect of getting my work out in the public is marketing – FB, book signings, and book clubs. Connecting with readers is a must.
JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish Betrayed?
SP: With a full-time job, my writing takes place in the evening after work. When I begin a book, I usually have a theme and premise for the story, and from that I develop my main characters.
I complete a profile sheet and upon completion know what that character thinks, what they’ll do, how they’ll act. Once I’ve completed my profiles, research, and have a framework written for the story, I begin to write. It took me six months to write Betrayed, but that was also due to working on another story at the same time.
JP: What’s next for Suzetta Perkins?
SP: I have a new novel coming out in May 2012 entitled, At the End of the Day. It is the third book in my Ex-Terminator series and the sequel to Nothing Stays the Same. I’m looking forward to the release of this book as much as my readers. I also have a 2013 release, In My Rearview Mirror, that is part of my Behind the Veil series.
http://facebook.com/suzetta.perkins
[include file=current-advertisers.html]