IN AN INSTANT by author, SUZANNE REDFEARN

Here's a note about this book: I think it's a must-read for everyone! My biggest takeaway from the story is, how do we act when we think nobody is watching? It was important when I read the story months ago. Even more important now in this worldwide crisis.  Jill

A deeply moving story of carrying on even when it seems impossible.

Life is over in an instant for sixteen-year-old Finn Miller when a devastating car accident tumbles her and ten others over the side of a mountain. Suspended between worlds, she watches helplessly as those she loves struggle to survive.

Impossible choices are made, decisions that leave the survivors tormented with grief and regret. Unable to let go, Finn keeps vigil as they struggle to reclaim their shattered lives. Jack, her father, who seeks vengeance against the one person he can blame other than himself; her best friend, Mo, who bravely searches for the truth as the story of their survival is rewritten; her sister Chloe, who knows Finn lingers and yearns to join her; and her mother, Ann, who saved them all but is haunted by her decisions. Finn needs to move on, but how can she with her family still in pieces?

Heartrending yet ultimately redemptive, In an Instant is a story about the power of love, the meaning of family, and carrying on… even when it seems impossible.

Reviews:

“The characters are sensitively portrayed, as is their recovery, and the hopeful ending is realistic. Readers of domestic dramas will be enthralled.” —Booklist

“Suzanne Redfearn’s latest is a wonder. A thoughtful exploration of life, death, and the world in between, In an Instant is a powerful and poignant read.” —Mary Kubica, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

“In an Instant begins as an action-packed tale of survival that is positively addictive; then it digs deep into an emotional and thought-provoking exploration of our humanity and what it means to make difficult moral choices in the most harrowing of circumstances. Redfearn tackles it all brilliantly and compassionately in this mesmerizing and wondrous novel. It’s a triumph on every level, and I absolutely loved it.” —USA Today bestselling author Julianne MacLean

Some Q & A with Suzanne ~

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you started writing.

Prior to becoming an author, I was an architect specializing in residential and commercial design. When the economy slumped and my architectural practice slowed down, I turned my creative energy toward writing. It started as a bucket-list endeavor. I wanted to see if I could write a novel. I discovered a love for storytelling, and I was hooked. I continued to write and to study the craft and finally wrote a novel that made it through the publishing gauntlet and into the world.

What are some things you enjoy when not writing?

When not writing, I enjoy doing anything and everything with my family—skiing, golf, tennis, pickleball, hiking, board games, and reality TV. I am an avid baseball fan. My team is the Angels. 

Do you have a ‘day job’ as well?

Not anymore. Prior to IN AN INSTANT getting published, I still did architecture part-time. But now, my plate is full with writing. I have a new novel that is scheduled to release next January, and I’m writing a new story to be published after that.

Where do you get your ideas?

Everywhere. I always tell people to be careful what they say around me or it might end up in a book. I’ve been lucky as far as ideas go. So far, each time I’ve sent the intention into the universe that I’m looking for inspiration, some wonderful idea is gifted to me. I’m curious by nature, so almost always my stories start with some sort of question I’m interested in exploring.

Is there a particular author or book that influenced or inspired your writing or decision to write?

THE POWER OF ONE by Bryce Courtney. It was the first book I read that made me realize how powerful and inspirational a story could be.

If you had to go back and do it all over, is there any aspect of your novel or getting it published that you’d change?

Nope. This journey has been difficult and yet remarkable, and it led me to this wonderful place where my story is in the world and being appreciated by others. Each day I marvel at that, the idea that characters and ideas that started in my head are now being read and considered by strangers. It’s astounding.

How do you market your work?

I am part of a remarkable team and I feel a great responsibility to do my part. My approach is to have a positive attitude and say yes to whatever marketing opportunities come my way. Because I’m with Lake Union Publishing, which is an Amazon imprint, the responsibility to market myself is a lot less than it was with my previous two books, which is wonderful. It allows me a lot more time to write.

What are you working on now?

My next novel, Hadley & Grace, is scheduled to be released January 21, 2021. I’m very excited about this book. It started as a modern retelling of Thelma & Louise, but turned into another thing altogether. It’s the story of two remarkable women on the run with their kids. Here is the description:

Desperate to escape her abusive marriage, Hadley flees with her two kids knowing it might be her only chance. A woman who can’t even kill a spider, Hadley soon finds herself pushed to the limits as she fights to protect her family.

Grace, new mother of baby Miles, desperately wants to put her rough past behind her for good, but finds it impossible when her path crosses with Hadley’s and her quest for a new start quickly spirals out of control and turns into a terrifying flight for survival.

Stronger together than apart, the two find their fates inextricably entwined, and as the danger closes in, each much decide how much they are willing to risk for the other.

A powerful story of self-discovery, Hadley & Grace is the heart-pounding tale of two women facing insurmountable odds, racing to stay one step ahead of the trouble that is chasing them, and discovering new kinds of love and family along the way.

Is anything in your book based on real-life experiences?

The idea for the story was inspired by something that happened to me as a little girl. But in addition to some of the big ideas being based on real-life, there are always small things as well. For example, when my daughter returned from her first driving lesson, the instructor told me she had “pedal dyslexia;” repeatedly she mixed up the brake and the gas—terrifying! That made it into the opening pages of IN AN INSTANT.

Do you have a favorite chapter or scene?

I really like the chapter with Chloe and Ann when they go to the symphony. I feel like there’s so much healing in that chapter.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Write. And when you’re done, start again. Writing is hard and it hurts, but it’s the only way there is to get it done. So sit your butt in the chair and do the work. Don’t worry about whether it will get published or whether anyone will like it. If you have something worth saying, figure out the best way to say it and get it done, and if you do that often enough, eventually people will take notice and will want to hear what you have to say.

What are the downfalls of your writing career? The best parts?

Writing is hard, and rejection hurts. Having my stories out in the world and appreciated by readers is the most amazing feeling in the world.

Place you’d like to travel?

The next place on my list is Australia. I’d like to visit with my kids and see the Sydney Opera House and hike in the amazing outback.

Is there anything you’d like to say to your readers and fans?

Thank you. “We read to know we are not alone,” C.S. Lewis said that. A writer writes for the same reason, for that magical connection that’s felt when a reader picks up a book and travels a journey of an author’s imagination with them.

To connect with Suzanne ~

Website: www.SuzanneRedfearn.com

Facebook: @SuzanneRedfearnAuthor

Twitter: @SuzanneRedfearn

Instagram: SuzanneRedfearn