I am so pleased to welcome Susan Gregg Gilmore to the blog today. Susan’s second novel, The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove, is now out in paperback! If you haven’t picked it up, here is what you need to know: Coming of age in a house darkened by the remnants of the Old South as well as by her family’s own sordid secrets, Bezellia struggles to find a way to live in her world where the only genuine and steadfast love comes from the people who are paid to care for her.
This is an enchanting book from a talented writer I am so lucky to call my friend. When you read her answers below, you’ll want to be her friend too. Welcome, Susan!
What is your favorite quality in a person?
Courage. Courage to do what’s not popular. Courage to realize a dream. (And then couple that with empathy and somebody who loves to clean, and you’ve got just about the perfect person!)
What is your least favorite?
Selfishness!
What is your greatest fear?
I have a few of these and some are more emotional and mental than others. Some are more political and environmental. But hands down, my number-one fear would be to find myself stuck in a parking garage elevator on a hot, humid Southern day with no water and no cell phone. From there my mind would take over and I would imagine that the shaft was on fire (yes, yes, I could smell the smoke), the emergency call was not heard, my heart was beating irregularly, and my air supply was running out.
Who is your greatest love?
My precious husband. We just celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary and even our oldest daughter commented recently that she really needed to start a support group for “children of affectionate parents.”
What is your idea of a perfect day?
Starting the day with a latte, a long walk with my husband (8 to 10 miles), time with my girls (possibly including a raucous game of Bananagrams) and then a dinner at home with everybody pitching in.
What place do you love?
To choose one place is almost impossible for me. But I think I feel most comfortable in the hills and mountains of my native Tennessee.
If you weren’t a writer, what would you be?
Again, hard to say. I love to do so many things. (I once thought of being a chef, museum curator, and park ranger, and that was all probably in one year.) Honestly, I’ve often thought I would have made a great funeral home director. I think it is such a male-dominated profession and really needs a more womanly perspective and touch. I’m sure this comes from being the granddaughter of a revival-bred preacher. In our family, funerals were big events.
Which person, living or dead, do you most admire?
My sisters. We’ve all lived our lives differently but we have always admired one another, supported one another, and valued one another.
What are the words you live by?
Simply put, the Golden Rule.
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