Sue A. Stewart is the author of several children’s books. These include the Otto’s Epic Adventure series, Bannie Bear Repeats a Grade: The Gift of Time, Bannie el Oso Repite un Grado: El Regalo del Tiempo,and Save the Seagull. Yuletide Murder at Sea is her debut adult mystery novel. It is the first book in the Vintage Quest Mysteries series.
Sue has a background in technical writing. She enjoys traveling and exploring unique destinations. She likes observing people and uncovering details that bring places to life. Her stories come from real experiences, family adventures, and the idea that ordinary people can face extraordinary circumstances.
When not writing, Sue enjoys walking, puzzles, traveling, and time with her family in Southport, Connecticut.
Visit www.suestewart.org to learn more about Sue and her books.
Connect with her on social media at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suestewartauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sue_stewart_author/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22519020.Sue_A_Stewart
Where did you grow up?
I was born and raised in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and still
live near Long Island Sound, within easy reach of New York City by train. I’m
married, and we have one adult son. My professional background is in technical
writing and instructional design, and I’ve always enjoyed learning new
software.
Outside of writing, I love going for walks and
traveling—especially when there’s something a little unexpected to discover.
This summer, we visited a bunny farm, and on another trip, we attended a crab
race in Florida. I enjoy those offbeat experiences that give you a story to
tell afterward.
When did you begin writing?
I’ve needed a creative outlet for as long as I can
remember. I started drawing when I was around ten, and writing eventually
became another way to express myself. As a child, I had a stutter and a lisp,
so putting my thoughts on paper gave me a different way to find my voice.
My interest in writing later found a practical home in
information technology and technical writing. I began writing fiction after my
son was born, and over the years, the ideas have kept coming. Some have become
books, while others are still waiting their turn!
Do you feel your hometown influenced your writing?
Yes! One of my favorite things about New England is the
charm of its small towns. They have such a wonderful sense of character, and
they inspired Hartwell, the fictional town where Molly and James live in my
book. It’s been a pleasure to bring a little of that New England atmosphere
into their world.
Do you write every day or when you can sneak in time?
I don’t write fiction every day. Sometimes I go months
without working on a story, especially when I’m busy writing or editing manuals
as a technical writer. After spending the day working with words, my creative
side sometimes needs a little breathing room!
I write fiction for pleasure, so I don’t want it to become
a chore. When I have a story I’m excited about, however, I can spend hours
immersed in it. Last winter, my husband and I rented a condo in Florida, and I
took advantage of the quiet to finish the first draft of Yuletide Murder at Sea.
Even when I’m not at my computer, the story has a way of
following me. I’ll be out walking or driving when a scene or a solution
suddenly pops into my head. As soon as I can safely stop, I capture it in
TickTick or the Notes app on my phone.
For me, writing happens in stretches rather than on a
strict daily schedule, and that approach seems to work best for my creative
process.
What is your best advice for creating the time and space to
write?
My advice is to find a time and place where you can focus
without distractions, even if it's only for fifteen or twenty minutes. You
don't need the perfect writing environment, but it helps to recognize when
you're most creative and make room for it.
For me, having a goal is important. When I was working on Yuletide
Murder at Sea, I knew I wanted to publish before the Christmas season, so I
worked backward from that deadline. Having a timeline helped keep me motivated
without turning writing into a chore.
I also believe it's important to give yourself permission
to step away when something isn't working. Some of my best ideas arrive when
I'm doing something completely unrelated to writing. Sometimes a little
distance is exactly what a story needs.
What is this book about?
Yuletide Murder at Sea: The Lost Treasure Mystery is the first book in my Vintage Quest Mysteries series. It
brings together friendship, maritime history, hidden treasure, and a Christmas
getaway that doesn’t go quite as planned.
Retired librarian Molly St. Clair would rather spend
Christmas on the couch watching It’s a Wonderful Life with a bowl of popcorn
than set sail on a holiday cruise. Her friend Martha has other plans. No one
spends the holidays alone on Martha’s watch, and she won’t take no for an
answer. When Molly learns the Caribbean cruise includes an author panel
featuring her favorite mystery writer, the invitation becomes harder to resist.
Aboard the Emerald Star, garlands glitter, steel
drums play Christmas carols, and Molly’s close-knit circle of friends settles
in for sun, champagne, and a welcome escape from a New England winter. Then a
maritime chart in the ship’s exhibit stops her cold. Its crest—a crowned eagle
framed by laurel leaves—matches the heirloom pendant her late husband, Henry,
left her.
The chart comes from the San Cristóbal, a Spanish galleon
lost in 1715 near one of their ports of call. Its navigator was Sebastian St.
Clair, a man whose secrets have remained buried for centuries.
When a fellow passenger turns up dead, Molly and her
friends are drawn into an investigation involving a disguised chart, a cipher,
and rivals willing to kill for the treasure.
Solving the mystery will take all their combined
talents—from a librarian’s eye for detail to a detective’s caution. Their
Christmas getaway has become a dangerous adventure, and the secret behind
Molly’s pendant may be the key to it all.
What inspired you to write it?
When I first had the idea for Yuletide Murder at Sea,
I didn’t know it would become a book, let alone a series. The first Christmas
after my father passed away, my mother didn’t want to celebrate at home, so our
family decided to take a Caribbean cruise. The cruise line catered primarily to
older adults, which gave me plenty of opportunities to people-watch.
That’s when I began to wonder: Wouldn’t it be fun to set a
murder mystery on a Christmas cruise, featuring a group of mostly widowed
seniors as unlikely sleuths? That question became the seed for the story.
Writing it also helped me move forward through a time of
profound loss. My father was an excellent chess player and a natural
problem-solver. He loved building things, figuring out how they worked, and
finding ways to improve them. The mystery’s clues and puzzles are a tribute to
him.
I also wanted to create characters who challenge
assumptions about aging and disabilities. Older adults and people with
disabilities are sometimes underestimated, and I wanted their knowledge,
experience, and abilities to take center stage. I loved the idea of giving them
a new adventure in which the talents they’d developed over a lifetime become
essential to solving a centuries-old mystery.
By the time I finished the book, the characters felt so
real to me that I wasn’t ready to say goodbye. I already had an idea for their
next adventure, and that’s when I realized I hadn’t just written a book—I’d
found a group of characters I wanted to follow into a series.
Was the road to publication smooth sailing or a bumpy ride?
Oh, it was far beyond bumpy! At one point, I remember
thinking, “What have I gotten myself into?”
I started with an idea I felt strongly about, and I wanted
to give it room to develop in my own voice rather than trying to fit it into a
formula. But getting the story out of my head and onto the page wasn’t always
easy. My technical-writing instincts would kick in, and I’d overthink and
overexplain. Toward the end, the last few chapters simply weren’t flowing.
What finally helped was a change of scenery. During our
winter stay in Florida, I finally had the peace and quiet I needed to finish
the draft. There were still more than six months of editing ahead, but at least
the whole story was on the page!
Finishing the manuscript was only the beginning. I went
through several rounds of developmental revisions and three rounds of editing.
I also listened to an audio read-through of the entire book to catch awkward
phrasing and dialogue that didn’t sound natural.
The cover was another adventure. After working with two
designers, I still didn’t feel the artwork was quite right. Eventually, I
requested the source files and spent months revising it myself. I also ordered
eight printed proofs before I felt ready to publish. Apparently, “just one more
adjustment” became part of my publishing process!
The whole experience was a crash course in writing,
editing, design, and independent publishing. I learned an enormous amount,
including when to trust my instincts and when to ask for help. I’m proud that I
stayed with it, but next time, I’d be happy with a little less adventure behind
the scenes!
If you knew then what you know now, is there anything you
would have done differently?
Yes! For my next book, I would be more deliberate about
what I take on myself and what I leave to the professionals. I’d work with a
cover designer until we had a finished cover I was happy with, rather than
taking over the revisions myself. I’d also hire help with the book’s interior
design and the upload process. Being technically savvy doesn’t mean I have to
do every technical task!
I’d approach beta-reader feedback differently, too. Having
three readers review the book at the same time gave me a lot to work through at
once. Next time, I’d stagger those reviews so I could consider the feedback and
make revisions in stages.
There’s plenty I would change, but without those
challenges, I wouldn’t have gained the knowledge I have now. I’m persistent,
and I don’t give up easily. Self-publishing certainly tested that persistence,
but I’m glad I did it. I enjoy being hands-on; now I have a better sense of
where my time is best spent—and when to hand something over to someone
else.
What is up next for you?
I’m planning the second book in the Vintage Quest Mysteries
series, which will take Molly and her friends to Rome.
While reading her late husband’s research notes, Molly
discovers that Henry may have been investigating something far more dangerous
than she ever imagined. His unfinished work leaves tantalizing clues—and
questions she can’t ignore.
Following that trail through Rome draws the friends into
another centuries-old mystery. When the investigation takes an unexpected turn,
they may need help from Kai, their young, tech-savvy friend from the cruise.
I’m looking forward to exploring how their friendships
develop now that they’ve been through one adventure together. Of course,
knowing this group, they’ll have no trouble finding trouble again!
Is there anything you would like to add?
You don’t have to feel completely ready to try something
that matters to you. Whether it’s writing a book, painting, learning a new
skill, or returning to an interest you put aside years ago, you’re allowed to
begin with uncertainty.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned through publishing
is that being brave doesn’t mean you aren’t afraid. It means doing something
that scares you and doing it anyway. Writing is my creative outlet, but
publishing means sharing something deeply personal and accepting that not
everyone will respond to it in the same way. That can be intimidating!
During the writing process, I often turned to my family for
reassurance. At one point, my son said something that stayed with me: “How will
you ever become a better writer if you don’t get negative feedback?”
He was right. I’m learning to welcome constructive
criticism, trust my instincts, and recognize that a book doesn’t have to be
perfect to be worth sharing.
To everyone who gives my debut novel a place in their
reading life: thank you. I hope you enjoy spending time with Molly and her
friends as much as I’ve enjoyed getting to know them.
