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.
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