Celebrating The New Romance Café Anniversary Anthology with Author Chats

I’d like to welcome a fellow romance author and member of the New Romance Café writers’ group to my Creekside Café Chat, Suki McMinn who is known in real life as Susan McNabb. Actually, Suki McMinn is Susan’s penname for her fiction works and she writes a variety of fiction, not just romance, but she also writes non-fiction under Susan McNabb.

A quick bio on Suki:

Suki McMinn grew up in Asheville, North Carolina, grabbed her English lit degree from the University of Tennessee, and strutted out to Hollywood to chase her modeling dream.

She spent a quick twenty-nine years in front of the camera, a fun seventeen years working for Elvira, and an interesting eight years dating Jerry Seinfeld before retiring to a quiet writer’s life.

Now she lives in Phoenix with her husband and too many pets and spends her summers in Tryon, North Carolina.

Sherri: Welcome Suki and happy anniversary! It is hard to believe it has been five years since our first anthology. I was trying to remember what I wrote for that first anthology, and it all runs together. Do you remember what you wrote for that first book?

Suki: Yes! It was a steamy paranormal romance called “The Iris.” I set it in my fictional small town full of dark secrets that I’d created for a cozy mystery series. It was such fun to revisit that world but this time to go deeper into a romantic pairing. After the anthology’s run, I put it on my short story bookshelf on Amazon.

Sherri: Yes, I think I remember that story. It had a mountain town and an art gallery if I’m not mistaken. Five years and many books ago, the memory isn’t what it used to be.

How did you learn about and become a member of the New Romance Café?

Suki: A friend invited me to join. As a writer and fan of romance, I’d joined quite a few groups on Facebook, but I quickly realized this one was different. There was no drama, no conflict, nothing negative. Just an appreciation of romance, and that felt great.

Sherri: Yes, that is one of the reasons I have stayed with the group even when social media started to weigh me down with all of the negativity. TNRC is definitely not a place for negativity. They are a kind and helpful group of writers who share their knowledge. I’m so glad we have a place like this on Facebook.

What made you want to participate in that first anthology?

Suki: I’d been a fanfiction writer in my early writing days and loved it. I was in a super supportive and fun fandom, but once I moved on to publishing my books and stories in the real world, I missed the camaraderie of my fanfiction group. I’d stayed in touch with quite a few friends from fanfiction (and some are in the cafe), but I was looking for that group dynamic again. When the idea of an anthology came up, I wanted to jump in and participate—to offer my contribution of a story.

Sherri: How many anthologies have you participated in?

Suki: Ten

Sherri: Wow, that’s awesome. I don’t think I’ve participated in that many.

Are you involved in any others this year?

Suki: Yes! Flowers for You in May: a collection of microfiction stories for Mother’s Day. and Shifting Love in September: all shifter/reality show romcoms. And as Susan McNabb, I have a story in Journeys for Authorship, a nonfiction collection of essays from a Phoenix writers’ group. It will probably be out by the time this chat is posted.

Sherri: And I thought I was busy. What else have you written?

Suki: I have seven books of fiction as Suki McMinn and three of nonfiction as Susan McNabb.

Sherri: How do you feel TNRC has affected your writing career?

Suki: It’s kept me on my toes, creating stories for the anthologies, and thanks to the support of the other writers, I’ve been able to improve my writing and marketing skills. These women are so helpful and encouraging. It’s really hard to express how much I’ve learned and grown as an author.

Sherri: Can you give us a little insight into the story you’ve written for the anthology? What was the inspiration?

Suki: It’s called “After the Meet Cute” and is about a cocky standup comedian in Los Angeles in the eighties whose career has just taken a tumble and a rising comedic actress who’s had the hots for him since they played a couple in a sitcom pilot. I had just published a romantic comedy set in Hollywood called The Screenwriter Next Door, and these two side characters begged me to write their love story. How could I say no?

Sherri: Ooo, I bet I know who it is. I can’ t wait to read it. If you haven’t read The Screenwriter Next Door, you don’t know what your missing. It was a lot of fun. So, this story similar to your other stories?

Suki: It’s certainly similar to my Hollywood romcom, The Screenwriter Next Door, and after I wrote it, I also wrote another story, “Heartfelt,” set in the same world but with a female comic, and I’ve published it as my reader magnet (meaning it’s free if you subscribe to my newsletter on my website).

Sherri: Well, I’ll have to do that. So readers can sign up for your newsletter at https://sukimcminn.com

Do you have plans to continue this story after it’s released from the anthology?

Suki: I’ll likely publish it as a short story like I did my story in the first anthology.

Sherri: What are you working on now?

Suki: I just sent my shifter romcom/romantasy, “Ankle Biter,” to my editor (and it will soon be headed for the cafe’s anthology, Shifting Love, in September). Once that one’s edited, I’ll get back to my latest two works in progress, both Hollywood romances.

Sherri: Oh, that sounds like so much fun. Thank you for sharing your writing journey with me and my readers. I look forward to reading your story in the anthology. I’ve already pre-ordered my copy.

If you all liked this interview with the almost famous Susan McNabb/Suki McNinn then check out her hilariously delightful stories. Her links are below.

Thanks again Suki, it’s always a pleasure visiting with you.

Check out Suki’s books and sign up for her newsletter at sukimcminn.com. And if you want the real scoop, her Hollywood memoir, The Opposite of Famous by Susan McNabb (her nonfiction name) spills all the beans. She loves to write what she knows.

Social media links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Suki-McMinn-167521896754455

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sukimcminn/

Twitter or X: https://twitter.com/sukimcminn

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sukimcminnauthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7500601.Suki_McMinn

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Suki-McMinn/e/B00HM6W04E

Website: https://sukimcminn.com/

Book links

The Screenwriter Next Door, A Hollywood Rom-Com: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CCSKFWRR

Heartfelt, A Hollywood Rom-Com: https://www.sukimcminn.com/free-book/

Smitten with Kittens in the Desert, A Seasoned Contemporary Romance: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W3Q95CW

The Iris, A Small Town Paranormal Romance: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082H5BS8L

The Vampire of Waller County, A Halloween Paranormal Cozy Mystery (Hogback Series Book 1):

Christmas in Waller County, A Holiday Paranormal Cozy Mystery (Hogback Series Book 2):

Drop Dead Gorgeous, A Hollywood Vampire Romance: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HORWK28

As Susan McNabb:

The Opposite of Famous, A Hollywood Memoir: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08T9XRQW5

The Complete Tryon Diary: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01016WPU0

Tryon Diary, Tales from the Friendliest Town in the South: