Charleston Author Debuts New Novel By Bringing Lust To The Lowcountry – Exclusive Interview

By Monica Pepe

Sitting down with Suzie Webster is like hanging out with a close girlfriend you’ve known for years. Suzie instantly makes you feel comfortable with her “no holds barred” personality and by opening up with lively and humorous recounts of her daily life. “A Charlestonian by choice”, Suzie Webster is released her debut novel, Revival on King Street, on April 10th nationwide, where all books and e-books are sold. Revival on King Street is the first book in a five-book series titled Lowcountry Liaisons.

This contemporary romance novel takes place in Charleston, South Carolina. Highlighting some of the beloved local hotspots and paying homage to traditional architecture and design, Webster’s book is a fantastic tribute to Lowcountry living. Author Suzie Webster shares the ups and downs of a group of friends as they pursue their dreams by day and their passions by night. Revival on King Street zeroes in on Charlotte “Charlie” Finley as she pieces her life back together after her husband unexpectedly breaks her heart. At the debut of her latest project, Charlie finds herself in the arms of a captivating stranger. This chance encounter spins Charlie’s life, which she thought was back on track, out of control in unexpected ways.

MP:  What inspired you to become an author?

SW: “I have lived to read for as long as I can remember. I would climb the tree in our front yard and sit in the branches and read for hours. I started writing for fun in middle school. I would write short stories and in eighth grade, I wrote a book that was a hundred pages. It was a fantasy story based on the stories I would tell my little sister before bed at night. I continued to write in high school and I was even the editor of our literary magazine. Life got in the way and I stopped writing after high school, but I always talked about writing a romance novel. Finally last year after taking a sabbatical from event planning, I decided it was time to sit down and just do it.”

MP:  Why did you choose Charleston as a base for your book series?

SW:  “We moved to Charleston from Northern Virginia in 2006. From the moment we got here, Charleston felt like home. The City itself can be a character in most any story and the people here in the South are one of a kind. I love to travel and we spent nine months traveling across the United States with our two younger daughters and I can tell you there is no city quite like Charleston. It makes for a wonderful backdrop.”

MP:  Where did you draw inspiration from for the characters of Charlie and Luke?

SW:  “Charlie has a lot in common with me as far as her interests and her love of fashion and interior design. I also spent the early part of my career selling real estate. As a fictional character she has far fewer flaws than I do, but I like to believe that a small part of her exists in me. I take qualities from many people I admire and infuse them in the characters in my books. Luke definitely has many traits that are similar to my husband, certainly, there are differences too but I will leave it to the reader’s imagination in regards to which are real and which are fictional.”

MP:  Where is your favorite place to write?

SW:  “I usually write in my bedroom or my living room which can get chaotic. We are moving soon and I am looking forward to having a separate area where I can write without disturbing the family (or being disturbed). I will say that I often mentally plot out scenes for the book late at night as I am trying to fall asleep. I usually remember most of the details in the morning.”

MP:  What is your favorite part of Revival on King Street?

“Revival just starts to touch on the friendship between Charlie, Everleigh, and Chase. I really loved that aspect of the book and I’m expanding those relationships in the second book in the series, which will be about Everleigh. I also enjoy reading about the characters’ interests and passions. I hope that translates to readers of Revival in my descriptions of the work Charlie and Luke do and what an important aspect it is in their lives.”

Charleston Fast Five:

• Bar: Mex 1
• Brunch: Obstinate Daughter
• Beach: Sullivan’s Island
• Brewery: Tradesman
• Bites: Halls and Smoke BBQ

Click Here to Purchase the Book Today

About Author

Monica is the Founder & Owner of Ideability Marketing Group located in Mount Pleasant. She has worked in the marketing field for over 10 years with companies of all sizes both in the U.S. and internationally. Monica founded the “Boss Ladies of Mount Pleasant” group, which currently has over 150 members, to promote local female-owned businesses and support and connect career-minded women. Originally from Connecticut, Monica, her husband, Alessandro – a Real Estate Agent from Italy – and their Lhasa-Poo, Massimo – Chief BARKeting Officer of Ideability – moved to Charleston for better weather and a higher quality of life.