Susan Walerstein
Contemporary Author

Contemporary Author Susan Walerstein, Interview with Queenie D

What made you want to write about a hit-and-run?

The premise first came to me while I was driving along the coast in New London, Connecticut where I was born. Years later while my family and I were traveling from Boston to catch a ferry to Martha's Vineyard I thought more about the plot. I became intrigued with how defining moments can alter the course of our lives. This was the case for the novel's protagonist. Wealthy Bostonian Jack "Scooter" McCalister has it all - money, charm and the devotion of two different women: Sherry, his high society wife and Erica, his island-born mistress. But while driving recklessly to catch a ferry one rainy morning, Jack strikes a young girl and leaves the scene of the accident, not even bothering to see if she is alive or dead. With this one fateful decision, Jack's perfect world shatters. Soon a dangerous witness to the accident begins blackmailing him, threatening to expose the truth.

Contemporary Author Susan Walerstein, Interview with Queenie D

Contemporary Author Susan Walerstein, Interview with Queenie D

I like Jack. He seems like a good guy. I actually had to keep reminding myself that he hit and killed a teenage girl and was having a passionate love affair with another woman while married. Is he a good guy? Or is he a victim of circumstance?

Like most people, Jack is flawed. He is a good person, who did a bad thing, perhaps more than one bad thing. He compounds his problems by making a poor decision that has tragic consequences. I have always maintained that heroes in novels should have faults and villains should have a few good qualities to be believable. Good or bad, evil or just, characters have to pique the readers' interest. Or else why would they finish the book? Most of us will recall a vivid character long after the details of the story begin to blur. However, whether a character is good or bad doesn't matter as much as whether the character is original, compelling and unique.

Contemporary Author Susan Walerstein, Interview with Queenie D

Contemporary Author Susan Walerstein, Interview with Queenie D

Why does Erica choose to stay with Jack for so long? I know she had a school girl crush from long ago but she is so intelligent, attractive, and thoughtful. Does the heart just want what it wants?

Through the ages women's desires have always remained a mystery. Erica is captivated by her love for Jack, and can't, or won't let go. While she has many appealing traits, her feelings for Jack are like a bad habit she is unable to break. We wonder when, or if, she will change her mind about him. We also want to find out how - and to what extent - her love for Jack will become destructive to her.

Contemporary Author Susan Walerstein, Interview with Queenie D

Contemporary Author Susan Walerstein, Interview with Queenie D

It felt to me like Jack and Sherry were much older than they actually were. Is this just how people who come from "old" money behave or was it particular to their personalities?

This is an interesting comment, and one that I have not heard before. Jack and Sherry are in their thirties, but might appear older because they are both dealing with so much psychological pain. Sherry is grappling with the loss of a beloved brother as well as marital discord. Her stoicism in the face of adversity may indeed be a carryover from her old money background. Jack is struggling with a faltering business, a hidden love affair and blackmail. How Sherry and Jack choose to deal with the broken pieces of their lives, and their many inner conflicts no doubt make them seem older than their actual ages.

Contemporary Author Susan Walerstein, Interview with Queenie D

Contemporary Author Susan Walerstein, Interview with Queenie D

One of the underlying themes I found interesting was the extreme difference between the "haves" and the "have-nots." Every character fell into one category and behaved in a manner befitting their situation. Erica was the only one who seemed able to find peace with her background. Every other character, whether it's Sherry and her determined attempt to keep up appearances or Joe and his desire to rise above his meager upbringings, seemed motivated by their "status." Is this intentional?

The great social divide between rich and poor is a fascinating part of American culture and one I chose to explore in my novel. I enjoyed writing about the juxtaposition of Jack and Erica's contrasting life styles and how their lives eventually intersected. Their differences were most apparent in the wealthy island enclave of Clary's Cove where the well-to-do summer elite (Jack) did not socialize with the "townies" (Erica.)

Contemporary Author Susan Walerstein, Interview with Queenie D

Another theme that stood out to me was money. I felt like you were trying to make a point that even when you have lots of it you can lose it at a moment's notice and that the best thing a person can possibly do is be happy with themselves and their lives. Is money a driving factor for many of these characters?

While financial success may be important to these characters, I don't think it is their sole motivation. In particular, Jack and Sherry already possess all of the trappings of the rich, yet they are not happy. On the other hand, Erica has little material wealth, but is more capable of joy. While she works hard, she prefers to search for shells on the beach, notice the frost on a pumpkin and enjoy life's simpler pleasures then pursue financial gain.

Contemporary Author Susan Walerstein, Interview with Queenie D

Without giving any plot points away, I like how you had many side stories going on, especially Erica's stalker. How did you come up with the idea to revolve so many little dramas around this one main event?

I like the idea of how one event can affect the lives of many in both subtle and not so subtle ways. I thought it would be fun to weave together the strands of several different stories, and then have them come together by the end.

Contemporary Author Susan Walerstein, Interview with Queenie D

Who is your favorite secondary character?

This question is a little like asking somebody to name his favorite child! To be fair, I will say that I layered the stories of the secondary characters to bolster the suspense in the novel and to maintain its intensity.

Contemporary Author Susan Walerstein, Interview with Queenie D

Have you laid these characters to rest or might we see any of them again? The ending of the novel certainly left room for a "to be continued..."?

At the moment, I have no plans to continue this story, but I will admit I left the door open.

Contemporary Author Susan Walerstein, Interview with Queenie D

Are you working on anything else right now you care to share with us?

I have started my next novel, but since it's a suspense story that's all I can tell you at this time. I don't want to spoil any of the surprises for you!