Mar 03 2024 52 mins
Suzanne Leal discusses the craft and process behind her novel The Watchful Wife.
Suzanne talks about balancing external and internal dialogue and how you can create a really vivid scene in the mind of the reader without too much description, literally just with what the characters are saying, plus dialogue tags and actions. Suzanne reads a section of the novel that perfectly demonstrates this technique so listen out for that. We discussed how she balances difficult content and serious subject matter with humour. Suzanne also talked about the importance of rhythm and pacing in her work, and how she uses her own emotional state at any given time, in her writing.
You’ll find links to buy both paperback and ebook versions of The Watchful Wife by Suzanne Leal here.
ABOUT SUZANNE LEAL
Suzanne is the author of novels The Watchful Wife, The Deceptions, The Teacher’s Secret and Border Street. Her debut children’s novel is Running With Ivan, a story of time travel and adventure. A regular presenter at literary, corporate, community and school events, she is the former chair of the fiction and poetry panel for the Prime Minister's Literary Awards and is a board member of BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival. From 2017 to 2019, she was the senior judge for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards. A keen traveller, she is a fluent French and German speaker.
Suzanne’s third novel, The Deceptions, was inspired by a story told to her by her former landlords and neighbours, Fred and Eva Perger, Czech-Australians who had survived the Holocaust. The wartime experiences of Fred Perger also inspired Suzanne’s debut children’s novel, Running With Ivan. A fascination for the intrigues of the schoolyard inspired Suzanne’s second novel, The Teacher’s Secret, which follows the joys and tribulations of the beachside village of Brindle and the local school at the centre of this close-knit community.
A lawyer experienced in child protection, criminal law and refugee law, Suzanne is a senior member of the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal and former member of the Refugee Review Tribunal. She lives in Sydney with her husband, David, her four children, Alex, Dominic, Xavier and Miranda and their Japanese Spitz, Milly.
Website: https://www.suzanneleal.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzannelealauthor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suzanne.author
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbn2ZRHNnXTF4JDuycDeNSQ
To enter this month’s competition, head to Writers Book Club Instagram or Facebook and look for the giveaway post.
Buy The Watchful Wife by Suzanne Leal here.
Buy The Search Party by Hannah Richell here.
This podcast is recorded on the beautiful, unceded lands of the Garigal people of the Eora nation.
Full show notes available at writersbookclubpodcast.com