Writing allows us to develop the parts of ourselves that we don’t always get to show to the world. This is especially true of people who have a dark side but don’t want to be mistaken for a psychopath. Author Sue Rovens has written several books with dark themes. Below is my interview with Rovens where you can get to know her better and check out her arsenal of dark books!
About Sue Rovens and her books
Author links (links will open in a new tab)
Book titles:
Badfish (novel)
Track 9 (novel)
Buried (novel)
In a Corner Darkly: Volumes 1 & 2 (short horror stories)
Genre: Suspense
Book summaries
Buried
Priscilla Wyatt is a single, middle-aged nursing assistant who lives behind Sommerville Funeral Home. When her dachshund, Weenie, returns home with a ghastly find, Pris’s life starts to spiral out of control, plummeting her headfirst into the macabre. Gerald Zenith, proprietor of Sommerville, is busy running scams and keeping a necrophiliac subordinate in check. He hasn’t the time nor the interest to be concerned with what is happening in the cemetery during the wee hours of the mornings…until all hell breaks loose. Some secrets are too big to stay buried.
Track 9
After a catastrophic railway accident leaves a trail of carnage and devastation in its wake, the small train station in Rain, Germany is shuttered. Six months later, Gary and Grace Wolf, returning home after their belated honeymoon, find themselves trapped inside the now defunct terminal. What they discover within its walls leads them to make harrowing decisions. What they learn about each other pushes them to the brink of disaster.
Back in Bloomington, Illinois, their best friends, Mike and Sarah Waverly, await their return. Mike becomes tormented by troubling premonitions concerning Gary and Grace. Driven to find out the truth, Mike finds himself battling mysterious and inexplicable obstacles that plunge him into his own personal hell. Everyone’s fate hangs in a precarious balance as the clock runs out.
Badfish
Misogynist motel owner Karl Demetris has an insatiable desire for money and power. In order to line his pockets, he leads an underground drug ring, but soon discovers a cheaper substance to peddle. The effects on its victims are ghastly and horrifying.
Strip club owner and public masturbator extraordinaire, Donald Bickley, is the only person in a position to stop this atrocity. Though he has his own demons to battle, the future of Badfish rests in his sticky hands. Donald will need to pull himself together long enough to save the town.
Talking Shop
What do you want readers to take away from your books?
I want them to be entertained, certainly, but I also want to make them think about the plotlines and characters after they’ve finished. I want them to find the situations and characters real and believable (in most cases)
What’s the best review/compliment that you’ve received about your book?
I had a young woman cry when she met me (in a good way!). She was so excited to meet a real author of the books she had read; she literally shook and cried. I’ll never forget that, even if I never write another word.
What is a fun or strange source of inspiration that ended up in your book?
Badfish was based on a REAL motel that we almost stayed at years ago. It was SO horrific and scummy, I knew it had to be part of a story someday.
If you don’t make a living exclusively writing, what is your day job? How, in any way, does it relate to your life as a writer?
I wish I could make a living at writing, but I think those folks are few and far between. I worked at Illinois State University (in the library!) for 30 years and JUST retired a week ago (as I type this).
What were your expectations for writing and publishing your first book? Have they changed since then?
I, along with most every other new writer, thought that MY book was going to be a BEST SELLER and that I’d get on Oprah’s Book Club. Well, that didn’t happen…
I’ve come to learn that if an author sells a few hundred copies of their book, they’re actually doing rather well. I still want people to read what I write – that’s kind of the point – but I’m no longer holding my breath for the “big break.” I just want people to enjoy my work.
How well do you handle criticism, either while writing, editing, or reviews? Do you ever use that criticism to change your story?
I know my books are not for everyone, but if someone doesn’t like it, I would rather they state why and leave some credible critique instead of just saying “this sucks.” I do NOT engage with any reviews – that’s not professional and will only lead to an ugly rabbit hole of trying to defend your work.
What is your most stereotypical writer trait? Your least stereotypical?
Most stereotypical? Probably the fact that I’ll use tidbits of real life in my stories.
Least? I’m VERY particular about the books I read for pleasure.
“What If” Scenarios
If you could have one person that you admire, living or dead, read your book, who would it be?
Jack Ketchum. I have tried to emulate his style of writing – clear, direct, and riveting.
You’re given $10,000 to spend on marketing for your book. How do you spend it?
Hire a great Publicity Team. They assuredly know more about marketing then I do.
Your book becomes a best seller. What do you do next?
Hope that a movie would follow 🙂 And probably not even believe that it’s happening.
You have the means to hire a full-time assistant to help you with your writing. What tasks do you give them to do?
Marketing/Publicity. I have my blog, and I try to follow some others, but I honestly don’t want to spend 5 hours a day “doing social media.”
Your story gets picked up by a streaming service to make into a series. What service would you want it to be, and would you want them to follow your story closely, or would you rather see what directions they take it in?
Netflix? And – pretty much, free reign to do what they will. Just to have my story concept be a jumping off point would be amazing.
Just for Fun
One bucket list item you’ve completed and one that’s still on your list.
I stood in a Barnes and Noble and sold my books (years ago). That was huge.
Something still to do? Hard to say – I don’t really have a “bucket list.” I guess traveling again, when it’s safe. I’d love to see Sweden, the Redwoods of California, and go to Maine again.
A movie or a piece of music that changed your life.
Sweeney Todd (the movie) – SO INTENSE. I loved it. I saw it three times in two days (in a theater).
Your favorite podcast.
Stuff You Should Know
Your most unrealistic dream job.
Drummer for a band. I DID play drums but was never in a paying band.
When time travel is achieved, do you go forward or backward?
Backward. I believe it’s possible.
Buy it!
Buy a copy of Badfish here, and help support local bookstores! This is an affiliate link, and I will earn a commisison on any sales.
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Thank you SO MUCH, Laura! It was great fun! I now have a brand NEW book out too, called Rage. Folks interested can find it on Amazon.