Meet Sue Mydliak, an author with eight books so far, and a private life that is productive, meaningful and super busy. We met online years ago and have remained friends since, following each other around the Internet. We don’t write the same stories. She writes some vampire and witch stories, among others.
Please introduce yourself. Tell us about your personal life, family, education. I am originally from Flint, Michigan, but I now reside in Joliet, Illinois. I have three grown children and two grandchildren. Presently, I am a full-time Special Education Paraprofessional at our local High School and soon to be retired at the end of 2021. I have an Associate degree in Liberal Arts, I also have four certifications in Computers for Educators, Crucial Steps to Better Fiction Writing, Advanced Photoshop Technique, and Fundamentals in Illustrator.
What do you like doing in your spare time? I usually write, but as of late, I’ve been catching up on my art. I am a member on Sketchbook Revival and every day they teach you a new technique. Currently, I am creating a sketchbook journal of my latest book, Elspeth.
If you are active in career fields other than writing, what do you hope for the future of that business? Describe your work or business activities in which you are presently active. Right now, things are sketchy. Since March 17th we’ve been teaching through remote learning. We still do not know what the fall will bring. So, with that in mind, I pray there is another way to teach other than remotely. Not all of our students have been logging on, but I know all 3,200 students, plus, faculty cannot be together at one time. It is wall to wall people during passing periods. I don’t worry so much in our special education classes. The most we have are 12 to a room. I co-taught Geometry, Advanced Algebra, American Government and OVE (Orientation Vocational Education).
Do you have hobbies? How did you get started in them? My hobbies, when I have the time are drawing, journaling and reading.
If you are a writer, are you an avid reader? Yes! I have a library downstairs in my basement and I haven’t even made a dent yet. I mostly read what I write. Vampires and witches, although I have read a lot of Young Adult novels.
What is your ultimate writing goal as you see it today? I think any writer dreams of becoming the next JK Rowling. I know I did when I first started to write, but then I became more realistic. I do hope that being under contract with Next Chapter that my books will take flight and reach bigger heights. Movie perhaps? Kidding, but I do hope that they will be best seller maybe.
What inspired you to write your first book? I read Twilight. I like how Stephanie Meyer made you feel what her characters were going through. It was at a time when the Vampire genre was at an all-time high, so I thought…why not? So, that’s when I wrote Birthright.
How do you decide on the title of a book? Not really sure. It just comes to me.
Have you developed a specific writing style and why? I like writing in first person and as for style, depends on what I’m writing. I found that if I read a lot of Shakespeare, my writing will tend to lean toward that style.
How much of your books is realistic and experiences based on someone you know, or events in your life? Elspeth is mostly fiction with a touch of historical fiction to it. It’s based on the last witch trial held in Dornoch, Scotland in 1726. A Janet Horne and her daughter were imprisoned in the tollbooth in Dornoch for witchcraft. They say that her daughter’s hands and feet were deformed and so they said she tried changing her daughter into a horse to escape. Her daughter escaped, but by then her mother had dementia and wasn’t aware of what was going on. In fact, when they set the wood under her feet on fire, she claimed it to be such a bonnie fire.
Who is your favorite writer, and what is it about their work that really strikes you? I have many favorites. Charlaine Harris, her Sookie Stackhouse series is hysterical and I base my southern short stories in her style. Deborah Harkness. I’ve read her book, A Discovery of Witches, at least 10 times and I read it every year. I love the history in it. The author is a professor of history and teaches European history and the history of science at the University of Southern California. I’ve read all her books. Lastly, Mary Deal. I compare her writing as floating on a boat, going down a lazy river and soaking in the sun. It’s tranquil. The story line in all her books flow and connect very well and you can vividly picture yourself being there as you read.
Do you remember the first book you read? Helen Keller. I believe I was in the 4th grade. I don’t know why I loved that book, perhaps fate. You see, even in grade school, though I wasn’t deaf at the time, would sign to my girlfriend, but we spelled all the words and waved our hand to signal the end of that word. A bit tedious, but it worked. I loved sign language. Now, that I am older, I am hard of hearing in both ears and have worked for 6 years with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing program at our grade school. Starting from Preschool up to 5th grade. I still to this day keep in touch with them.
Is there an author, past or present, you would love to meet? Why? I’ve met many so far. Cornelia Funke, Sarwat Chadda, and Scott Westerfield. I guess, Charlaine Harris. Like I said, her Sookie Stackhouse series is a hoot.
If you could not write, how would you express what you wish to convey through any stories? I have Dragon Speak, because at one time in my life I couldn’t sit at my desk without my neck going into spasms. That’s all fixed . . . to a point, I just know how to correct it.
When you see new authors struggling, what single piece of advice could you give them on a moment’s notice? Show, not tell, and less is best. So many writers have sentences as long as 51 words with countless comas. I show them an example of one of their long sentences, then show them using fewer words. They get it! I am mentoring two new writers now.
How do you want others to see you or remember you? Is it important to you? As being helpful in many ways. If it is a writer starting out, tell them everything that I know, because someone else has done that for me and continues to do so. I wouldn’t say it’s important to me. I mean, they can learn from what I have told them or they continue without. Makes no difference to me, but I hope that I see one of their books being best seller. That to me is worth its weight in gold.
Do you have a blog or website viewers can visit for updates, events and special offers?
My author website: https://suemydliak.wordpress.com
My blog: https://theunbeatenheart.blogspot.com
My Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/ThoseWhoLoveTheNight
My Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Sue-Mydliak/e/B008ADS99I%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share