Healer by Susan Miura
Young Adult Christian paranormal
Releasing January 31, 2018
330 pp
Print $16.99
Ebook $2.99
Read Lisa's review after this interview with our new John 316 Marketing Network friend.
Welcome
to John 316 marketing network. Tell us about yourself Susan.
I’m cursed or blessed with wanderlust – not
sure which, but I always long to be anywhere but here. Beaches, mountains,
deserts, caves, and canyons…I love them all! When wandering isn’t an option, I
work at the Schaumburg Library (public relations) and have a side business
giving presentations on travel, writing, and human trafficking. Born in Chicago,
I grew up in Berwyn, Illinois and graduated from Northern Illinois University
with a degree in journalism and a determination to become a reporter. From a
newsroom in Berwyn to a television station in Albuquerque, New Mexico, my dream
became a reality. Eventually, I found my way back home and ended up in
Schaumburg, IL. I’m a member of Willow Creek Community Church, vice president
of the ACFW’s Chicago Chapter, and a new member of SCBWI. On the homefront, I’m
happily married to a police sergeant and the proud mom of a daughter, son,
stepdaughter, and one incredibly adorable Cleo cat.
How
long have you been writing and what’s your biggest reward?
I won
the Arbor Day poetry contest at school in fourth grade, so I guess I’ve been writing
awhile. I loved being a reporter for my high school and college newspapers, and
was so excited to see my first byline after getting hired by my hometown
newspaper. From there I went into television, then public relations, but always
had a longing to write fiction. Healer was my first attempt. It began as an
opening scene, which was based on a childhood memory of seeing a dog get hit by
a car. I couldn’t help that dog, but the dog in my book has a much better
ending to his story. Biggest reward? Getting my first book published (Show Me a
Sign) and having a high school teacher tell me she had some reluctant readers
who loved it and hoped I’d write more books.
What
kind of material do you write?
My
published works include two young adult novels, Healer and Show Me a Sign, and
three short stories in anthologies (two nonfiction, one fiction). Last spring,
I indie-published a children’s animal poetry book which I co-wrote with my
sister, Patt Nicholls. It includes full page wildlife photos that were taken by
me and nature photographer Robert Kramer.
I see
that you work in a library. How does that come alongside your journey as an
author?
It’s
been a great asset. I’ve had the opportunity to meet many authors who visited
the library, which has facilitated some good connections. Two of the guys I
work with are great with technology, so one helps with my website, and the
other with book trailers. My office-mate is the library’s graphic designer and
has provided great assistance with posters, flyers, bookmarks, etc. My
librarian co-workers have helped with all kinds of things, from research to
social media to helping me understand what teens want in a book. And they’ve
been wonderfully supportive. Additionally, I work in public relations, which
means I have many local media contacts. That comes in handy when it’s time to
market a book. The library job has been a blessing, no doubt about it.
Tell
us about Healer.
Hovering
just below the surface of Shilo Giannelli’s average existence lays an amazing
spiritual power. Late one night, her world erupts with the revelation that,
like her great-grandmother, she has The Gift. But the power to heal isn’t
something she can share with the soccer team, her genius little sister, or her
boyfriend, Kenji. Definitely not Kenji.
Deep
beneath Misty Morning’s tough façade is a lifetime of abandonment, foster homes
and broken dreams. When her two-year-old son is abused by her boyfriend, her
fragile world shatters…until Shilo prays for Tyler, and he is healed, leaving
Misty grateful but incredibly curious.
Shilo
can’t give Misty the answers she needs; she only knows she has a God-given
destiny, and despite facing strained relationships, impossible decisions, and
the threat of being hounded day and night for her abilities, she will fulfill
it.
The
journey Misty and Shilo take together unites them as friends but invites danger
into their lives. And it will take a miracle for these unlikely friends to
elude a gang bent on revenge, keep The Gift a secret, trust God in
extraordinary circumstances, and hold on to the people they love.
What
would you like readers to tell others when they’ve finished reading?
Well
I’d love for them to say “Read this amazing book and write a review,” but I’m
pretty sure every author wants that. In truth, I hope readers will say they
were drawn to the characters, gripped by the plot, and touched by the messages
of faith, forgiveness, and using whatever God gives you to make a difference in
this world.
Who’s
been your biggest influence on your writing?
Some
awesome dead people: John Steinbeck, Michael Crichton and Marguerite Henry (my favorite childhood author), to name a few. And
some who are still alive and well: Lisa Samson and Patti Lacy, both of whom
helped enormously when Healer was in its infancy – not only with excellent
critiques, but also by example. You learn a lot by reading great writing. Since
I’m a fan of The Hunger Games and Harry Potter, I have to include Suzanne
Collins and J.K. Rowling, who provided good examples of how to keep teens
captivated and wanting more.
What
are you reading now?
This
Invitational Life, by Steve Carter, and whatever The Book Report sends me to
review. (I’ve been a reviewer for them for about eight years or so.) The last
one was Debbie Macomber’s Merry and Bright.
What’s
coming up for you?
Healer,
Book 2…I hope! But I’m also writing my first young adult sci/fi and I have a
women’s fiction manuscript that is near and dear to my heart. It’s about a
woman who accidentally kills her best friend’s five-year-old daughter, so it
starts out with a pretty hard tug on the reader’s heart.
Can
you share your favorite marketing tool?
Twitter.
A few years ago, I would never have believed I’d say that, but I’ve really
gotten into it for marketing and sharing nature and wildlife photos.
Thanks for sharing, Susan.
****************************
Lisa's Review of Healer, by Susan Miura
A young lady on the verge of adulthood is thrust into a lifestyle of
secrets at a vulnerable time. Just when she can see an inviting future filled
with college, music, faith, and especially a wonderful, almost
too-good-to-be-true boyfriend, Kenji, Shilo learns of a fearsome and awe-inspiring
family secret that’s been passed down through the generations. Under dire
warning from her mother, Shilo must never, ever tell anyone. But it’s a secret
Shilo can’t hide.
Sixteen, ready for the best summer of her life, Shilo experiences
her second use of a God-given Gift when she accidentally heals a child. She
learns early on, though, that the Gift cannot be taken lightly or for granted.
Despite her mother’s warnings of becoming a media frenzy or even delusional
with power, Shilo is put in an uncompromising position when her boyfriend’s
life is at stake. Under the influence of enormous family stress, Shilo has
pushed Kenji away, something that’s tearing her apart. Their reunion and subsequent
revelations may not result in all that she or her family wish, but the words
and actions cannot be undone.
Miura’s story is a nicely shaped and paced young adult story that’s
well defined. The real angst of teenagers and tweens is lovingly created with a
cast of characters that will leave a mark on the reader. Told through multiple
first-person viewpoints, Shilo’s appeal as a young lady in love, mature, yet
vulnerable, is a great story to share with young people. This is a lengthy book
for young adult, so although I recommend for seventh grade and up, younger
readers should be good readers. Younger readers should have parental
supervision regarding some mature situations (teenage pregnancy, abuse, drug
running, some violence, and serious injury).
The theme of obedience running through the story, speaking to
trust, conscience, responsibility, obedience to authority figures such as teachers
and pastor, parents, and especially to faith in God and acting on that faith,
is wonderfully illustrated.
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