An Interview with Susy Smith, Author of ‘Asylum’ Series
Susy Smith is a celebrated dystopian storyteller, author, and curriculum specialist for the Kanza Tribe in Oklahoma. Armed with a deep understanding of language, the resilience of the human spirit, and a bachelor’s degree in English, she weaves captivating, award-winning stories that leave readers wanting more.
Smith’s literary journey commenced with “Asylum,” a gripping novel that clinched the 2020 Writer Con contest in the novel category. She continues to engage audiences with “Ascendant,” the second installment in the “Asylum” series, further probing the intricacies of survival, freedom, and the dark side of human nature.
In addition to her novels, Smith occasionally crafts poetry, adding a unique dimension to her diverse repertoire. Her authentic writing style echoes her experiences living in a small Oklahoma town with her husband, four grown children, and two furry dog-children.
You can visit the site: www.susysmith.com
HELLO SUSY SMITH, WELCOME TO WORLDAUTHORS.ORG TELL US WHAT DRIVES YOU TO WRITE? YOUR MOTIVATION AND THE PURPOSE OF YOUR BOOK(S)?
There’s something internal, something intrinsically designed inside me that drives me to write. I’m more mentally stable, I’m a better person when I write. It balances me out like nothing else and I think that’s my main motivation when I write. I think a secondary motivation would be the desire to contribute to The Great Conversation. The main purpose of the Asylum series is to get people to think for themselves. It bothers me that so many young people today take whatever social media says on its face. They don’t research or determine if what’s being said is actually true. So, the Asylum series will hopefully raise questions that people must answer for themselves. What would you do if everything you have is suddenly ripped away from you? Could you live without electricity? The internet? Think about The Walking Dead without zombies.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GET OUT OF YOUR BOOKS? HOW WILL THEY FEEL OR BE DIFFERENT AFTER READING IT?
I hope they see that thinking for themselves is important. Maybe after reading Asylum and Ascendant, they’ll not take for granted things like instant information, grocery stores, the ability to be mobile and travel. Also, I hope to raise awareness on certain social issues that plague society today. All in all, I hope reading the Asylum series will change the way they view their world.
WHAT BOOKS DID YOU READ AS A KID/YOUNG ADULT? WHAT ARE YOU READING TODAY? HOW HAVE OTHER AUTHORS INSPIRED YOUR WRITING?
I devoured books when I was younger. I still do when I have time. Growing up in small-town America doesn’t leave a kid or teenager with much to do, so I turned to books. I read everything from Little House on the Prairie, Nancy Drew, LM Montgomery’s Emily of New Moon series, to Jim Kjelgaard’s books about dogs, Walter Farley’s the Black Stallion series. I could go on and on. The writer who inspired me to think about writing myself when I was younger was Madeline L’Engle. I loved her Wrinkle in Time series and others she wrote. When I was a teen I loved historical fiction and read a lot of Jannette Oke’s books.
WHAT IS ONE THING IN YOUR BOOK THAT WILL SURPRISE READERS? (NO SPOILERS THOUGH!)
There is a huge, life-shattering reveal at the end of the book. That’s about all I can say without giving it away! It really is a mind-blowing event.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON NEXT? MORE BOOKS?
Currently, I’m working on the third book and probably the last book in the Asylum series. After, I intend to continue working on a YA Paranormal series! Readers of all ages who enjoy Percy Jackson and Harry Potter will love this new series.