Suzy Vadori Interview - Wall of Wishes ~ JeanBookNerd

Photo Content from Suzy Vadori

Suzy Vadori is a Book Coach, Editor, Public Speaker and the Calgary Bestselling Author of The Fountain Series (The Fountain, The West Woods, Wall of Wishes). This fantastical Young Adult Series has received two Aurora Nominations for Best Young Adult Novel, as well as Five Stars and a bronze medallion from Readers’ Favorite Book Awards. She is represented by Naomi Davis of Bookends Literary Agency.

Tell us your latest news.
Certainly! 2020 has been the year that none of us expected, but I managed to launch Wall of Wishes, complete another YA fantasy novel that is currently on submission, and grow my Book Coaching business. There have definitely been some positive aspects to slowing down a bit during the pandemic.

Who or what has influenced your writing, and in what way?
Lisa Cron’s approach to story has had a huge impact on my writing. I love to read bestselling books in any genre, to try to pinpoint what it is about the writing or the book marketing that makes readers love them so much. I love learning about the craft of writing. But when I read Lisa Cron’s Story Genius, it was like being given the keys to a treasure chest I’d been lugging around. A lightbulb went off and I found a whole new way to figure out what’s working in a book and what isn’t. I’ve since become a huge fan of her approach to story, which has everything to do with how readers’ brains are wired, which I find fascinating and share often with my Book Coaching and Editing clients.

Are there any tips you would give a book club to better navigate their discussion of your book?
The books in The Fountain Series (The Fountain, The West Woods and Wall of Wishes) are really about figuring out how you want to show up in this life, and dealing with the consequences of getting what you want. In Wall of Wishes, rivals Courtney and Ava have to dig deep to work together. It was a lot of fun to have them work together when their goals were completely different.

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
Publishing The Fountain in 2015 completely changed my life. At the time, I was a business executive, working full time. By the time The West Woods was published, I was spending all of my spare time touring and speaking to readers and writers. There was a tipping point where I had to leap or give up. I chose writing.

I’m so unbelievably lucky to make a living doing all things writing. I’m thankful for the community of readers and writers who lifted me up along the way, and the most rewarding thing for me is to be able to give back to writers trying to find their own path.

What do you hope for readers to be thinking when they read your novel?
I hope readers put themselves in Ava and Courtney’s shoes. Both girls face some impossible choices in the series, and readers tell me all the time that they have no idea what they would do. Sometimes there’s no easy path and we need to have compassion for the decisions people make.

In your newest book; WALL OF WISHES, can you tell my Book Nerd community a little about it.
Hidden deep in the woods is a fountain that has granted St. Augustus students' wishes for nearly a century, including the wish responsible for Ava's very existence. When she learns that the woods will soon be destroyed to make way for a new road, Ava must do whatever it takes to save the fountain, or risk her own life being erased.

New girl Courtney knows more about the school's magic than she's letting on and has something to gain from the fountain's destruction. Joining forces with Courtney seems the only way to stop the road, but Ava and Coutney share a thorny past. Trusting her is impossible, but if she doesn't, Ava could disappear forever.

What was the single worst distraction that kept you from writing this book?
Thinking about my readers’ expectations for this book! The Fountain and The West Woods have such an amazing group of readers, and I know how much they were looking forward to Wall of Wishes. I wanted to make sure this book answered everything they hoped for and more. I had to remind myself that not getting this book written would disappoint them the most, so I should keep going…

If you could introduce one of your characters to any character from another book, who would it be and why?
I would love Ava to meet Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games. I think they both try to do the right thing, and they’d get along.

What part of Ava and Courtney did you enjoy writing the most?
Definitely the girls’ approaches to romance. They each are confident in their own way, but still new to dealing with relationships, so it was lots of fun to have them react.

TEN WAYS YOU GET INSPIRED TO WRITE

1. Dream up cool magic systems
2. Go for a swim or a walk and plot book in my head
3. Set a deadline to get it done. I work well under pressure!
4. Get comfy and make snacks!
5. Imagine readers reading the book I’m planning
6. Tell people I’m writing! (Once I say it out loud, it has to happen)
7. Set scenes in cool locations I want to be in. Especially in 2020 when there’s no travel.
8. Bring my laptop outside
9. Go somewhere public with lots of ambient noise (park, coffeeshop in non-pandemic times)
10. READ!

What’s the most ridiculous fact you know?
I recently learned that I’m a pluviophile, which is a person who loves the rain!

What's the most memorable summer job you've ever had?
I worked on the Pepsi Taste Patrol, which travelled around to events and had people try Pepsi and Coke to see which one they liked better. To this day, I can tell Pepsi and Coke apart just by looking at them. I also met my husband that summer. He had a similar job working for Hubba Bubba. He was at all the same events, teaching kids to blow bubbles with gum!

Best date you've ever had?
The night my now husband proposed. I was living in Toronto and he’d burned his proposal into the grass with weed killer at the dog park 28 stories below my apartment balcony. He also made steak on my George Foreman Grill (my building didn’t allow Barbeques) and we went to see The Lion King musical after I said yes.

Last Halloween Costume you wore and when?
I dress up every Halloween! Last year I went as 80’s Madonna. I’ve loved Madonna since I was eight, and have travelled to see her perform many times (she’s never performed in Calgary, where I live).

What event in your life would make a good movie?
I worked on Wall Street early in my career and had some amazing times in Manhattan with friends. There’s definitely a movie in there somewhere.

Which incident in your life that totally changed the way you think today?
September 11th. I worked in the World Trade Center in 2001. I wasn’t there that day by a string of fortunate coincidences, but many of my coworkers were. It was a moment in time that highlighted what was important to me. It taught me that life is short and I need to pursue my dreams.

What is one unique thing are you afraid of?
Mechanical failure. Think planes, ferris wheels… I’m not afraid of heights or being in moving vehicles. I’m just afraid the darned things will break.

What was the best memory you ever had as a writer?
Being nominated for my first Aurora Award with The Fountain. I was traveling in China at the time for work and got up in the wee hours of the morning when I got the call.

Hidden deep in the woods is a fountain that has granted St. Augustus students' wishes for nearly a century, including the wish responsible for Ava's very existence. When she learns that the woods will soon be destroyed to make way for a new road, Ava must do whatever it takes to save the fountain, or risk her own life being erased.

New girl Courtney knows more about the school's magic than she's letting on and has something to gain from the fountain's destruction. Joining forces with Courtney seems the only way to stop the road, but Ava and Coutney share a thorny past. Trusting her is impossible, but if she doesn't, Ava could disappear forever.

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