Wednesday, October 19, 2011

5 Easy Questions with Susan J. Reinhardt!


Every Wednesday, I ask a writer the same five easy questions. In an effort to support and promote fellow wordsmiths, I feature authors who write a variety of genres, from sweet inspirational to mainstream thrillers. The writers themselves may be aspiring, published, or  best-selling--all have made an impact on my life.

Thank you for joining me in welcoming… Susan J. Reinhardt!!

I met Susan through her excellent blog, Susan J. Reinhardts's Christian Writer/Reader Connection. We share similar tastes in fiction; indeed several books Susan has recommended have been favorites of mine! I always feel inspired after stopping by her blog because of her generous spirit, go get 'em attitude, and excellent interviews.

Let's get to it!

1. Beverage of choice?

Lactaid milk. I'm a serious cookie hound, and I love to dunk. Chocolate soy milk is another favorite, as well as Tazo Calm tea.

2. Any pets?

I don't have any pets right now, but I had two cats. Their names were Abraham and Sarah. Abraham was a black and white tuxedo cat, who loved to nap in the bathroom sink. Sarah, a beautiful tabby, was my wild child. Climbing anything made her happy. A space between my kitchen cabinets and the ceiling provided a perch from which she could survey her domain. Someday, I'd like to write a children's book based on their antics.

3. Dream vacation?

My late husband and I went on our dream vacation six months after we married. Colorado's mountains, Denver, and The Garden of the Gods made for a romantic belated honeymoon. I think God spent an extra hour or two creating that landscape.

4. What are you listening to right now?

Nothing. Unless I'm working on a Sign Language Special for church, I like silence. I get too distracted if I have music on when I'm trying to write. I listen mostly to worship music, so I want to sing and enjoy His presence rather than do the task at hand. Both writing and worship demand my full attention.

5.  What's for dinner?

Rotisserie chicken from Costco! If I don't have someone to fuss over, I don't have the time or inclination to putter around the kitchen. Domestic diva is not one of my descriptions.

***
Susan, when we lived in Virginia, we could buy Chocolate Lactaid. It was delicious! I haven't been able to find it around here, though. Your kitties sounded like they were entertaining companions. My late cat used to curl up in the bathroom sink too. How cute!  I have to agree with you on Colorado. I've been blessed to spend time there twice, and both trips left me awestruck.

Silence is good. I'm listening to the sound of my dryer tumbling. While my kids are at school, I rarely turn on any optional noise. And I'm so with you on non-fussy dinners! What did we do before rotisserie chickens? :)Thanks so much for being my guest today, Susan!

***

Susan J. Reinhardt's devotionals and short articles have been published both in print and online. Her latest piece is in the recently released Love Is A Verb devotional. She is currently working on a futuristic fiction trilogy and collaborating with Karen Lange on a historical novel. Susan's active in her church, enjoys reading, gardening, antiquing, couponing, and spending time with family and friends. (Is it any wonder she doesn't have time to cook!)

To learn more about Susan, head to her blog, be friends with her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.

I bought several bags of Halloween candy and enough chocolate chips to last a lifetime. Have you went nuts in the grocery store lately??
Have an amazing Wednesday!

33 comments:

  1. Good Morning, Jill -

    Thanks for having me on your blog. Answering your 5 easy questions was a fun experience.

    I appreciate all you do for writers and your excellent articles.

    Blessings,
    Susan :)

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  2. Hi Susan! Hi Jill! Fun interview, ladies! :)

    Susan, I love what you said about Garden of the Gods and how God must have taken extra time to create it. What an awesome way to think about it!

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  3. So nice to learn more about Susan, today! I love this description, "domestic diva." I think I'll steal that! :) Susan, I, too, love a rotisserie chicken. We get them from Sam's quite often.

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  4. Good morning Jill and Susan! I would love to visit The Garden of the Gods. My dad went there a few months ago and the pictures were incredible!

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  5. Fun interview, ladies! I like silence, too, Susan.

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  6. Good morning!

    First of all, I apologize for the missing biography of Susan earlier. This is the third time Blogger has eaten a portion of my post! Thankfully, it is fixed, and I hope you all check out Susan's lovely blog and connect with her on her social networks.

    Susan: Thank you so much for being my guest! I loved hearing about your cats. Aren't they fun?

    Sarah: It is a great way to look at it, isn't it? I think God took extra time to create the shores of Lake Michigan too. :)

    Heather: Ha! I know--domestic diva--awesome!!

    Jessica P: Ooo, how cool to see pictures. I love living vicariously through other people's vacation pics. :)

    Tracy: I am so with you on silence. Maybe it's because when my kids are home silence doesn't happen? :)

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  7. Yes, what did we do before rotisserie chickens? :) This is fun, it's good to learn a little more about Susan.
    Thanks and blessings,
    Karen

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  8. Love Tazo and what your pets were named.

    Susan, so cool to see you here.

    I tend to go nuts on cheese when I do go a little nutty (which sounds so funny...cheese and nuts).

    ~ Wendy

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  9. Hi Ladies! Susan I never feel like puttering around the kitchen:)

    I really enjoyed peaking into your day.

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  10. Karen: Yes! And it was neat to learn you and Susan are working on a project together! Best wishes!

    Wendy: Oh, me too. I love cheese. And nuts. And chocolate... :)

    Tamika: Ha! I like baking and cooking, but I also like to have plenty of time to do it. Rushed meals aren't my idea of fun!

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  11. Great interview. I already love the stories of your cats. Yes. Write the children's books. We had a black/white cat, Matilda, who died last year. Now, we have an all white cat, looks Main Coon. He's both a hunter and a lover.

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  12. So fun to learn more about you, Susan! I love silence also, and cookies! This morning I bought some cannolis, which I've never done before.
    Thanks for sharing, ladies!

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  13. Hi Jill! Hi Susan! Nice to meet you.

    I would love to go see The Garden of the Gods...

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  14. I love the last one. Domestic Diva isn't in my description either. :)

    Your kitties sound wonderful. You must miss their form of entertainment.

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  15. Nice to meet you, Susan. I enjoy Garden of the Gods, too. The hiking and scenery is spectacular!

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  16. Great interview! We still have candy from various holidays/events throughout the year that I think I need to throw out before the great gathering in another week. :)

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  17. Hi Everyone -

    I'm back on the Net after getting home from work. Thanks for all your great comments.

    I wish I'd coined the phrase, "domestic diva," but I heard it somewhere. I loved it because it is SO not me!

    I'll try to get around to all your blogs and say, "Hi." Meeting new friends is the best.

    Blessings,
    Susan :)

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  18. Susan, like you, I'm a cat person. I enjoyed hearing about Abraham and Sarah and their antics. I hope you do write that book about them one day.

    I'm sooo not a Domestic Diva and would love it if Taco Bell would deliver. =)

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  19. Hi Keli -

    Cats get a bad rap sometimes. Mine were delightful and affectionate. I hear the children's market is soft, so I think I'll wait before tackling a book project.

    Cooking? I'd rather be writing. :)

    Blessings,
    Susan

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  20. Nice interview, Jill. :D

    I'm not buying Halloween candy until the last minute...It will save me lots of preHalloween calories...

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  21. Hi Jill and Susan .. great to hear more .. and Susan - I'd love to hear more about your Sign Language 'stories' .. that would be very interesting ..

    I too like silence .. no kids = no tumble dryer!!

    Cheers to you both .. lovely interview .. enjoy the weekend .. Hilary

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  22. What fun to learn something new about this dear friend of mine! Thanks for the extra peek, Jill. I love and admire Susan. She's a kindred soul and great writer.

    Suze, I had no idea about your trip to Colo, and I agree that the Master outdid Himself there.

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  23. Susan's blog is always uplifting, and she is an inspiration especially when it comes to praying for others. I love the names picked for her late cats--Abraham and Sarah! Thanks for interview ladies!

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  24. Great interview, ladies! Costco rotisserie chicken is a life saver. I've never been to Colorado, but it sounds gorgeous. My husband and I keep saying we'll load up the kids in the rv and spend a month visiting other states. We'd better hurry before they're grown and gone!

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  25. I never buy Halloween candy until at least the 30th of October, and ideally not until the 31st. I just can't trust myself to keep it around!

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  26. Another great interview Jill and nice to meet you Susan.

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  27. Mary A: I love children's books, especially picture books. I think a colorful tale of two kitties would be perfect!

    Jessica N: I've never had a cannoli? Was it good? Does it have frosting inside? mmm...

    Loree: Me too. I've heard such good things!

    Erica: Ha! I think we're all the same. Cleaning is last on my list, but I keep things tidy, and I do love to cook. :)

    Brandi: I've been stuck indoors most of this week, so hiking sounds wonderful right now!

    Stacy: Okay, I need lessons on self-control from you! The holiday candy doesn't last long around here! ;)

    Keli: You've hit a genius idea--Taco Bell delivery! Yum!

    Sharon: Why are you so smart? And why can't I resist the double whammy of "sale" and "coupon?"

    Hilary: Love the equation! Do you hang your laundry out to dry? I'll bet it smells fresh!

    Jeanette: I'm with you. Colorado is a special state!

    Lynn: It's true, Susan is amazing. :)

    Julie: I'd love to RV it to the grand canyon. What an adventure it would be!

    Beth: And you save money--doesn't it go on sale at the last minute?

    PW: Thanks!!

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  28. Hi Jill and Susan,
    So glad that Susan and I have connected in person a few times! Wonderful that cyberfriends can do that sometimes ;D

    I bought a rotisserie chicken today and added it to a paella I made for the family. Looked far more complicated than it was!

    Thanks Jill and Susan for your oh-so-helpful blogs.
    Blessings,
    Susan

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  29. Hi Jill and Susan, I enjoyed your wonderful post! You asked if I have gone nuts in the grocery store lately? I am going through a "Edy's Pineapple Juice Bar' phase right now! They had a sale at Walmart and I bought five boxes and stocked up. They are just so delicious and refreshing. Have a lovely evening! Delisa :)

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  30. Hi Jill - I would love to hang the laundry out .. but I live in flat now and there's no outside space .. certainly we always used to and would love to do so again.

    Cheers - enjoy the weekend .. Hilary

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  31. Hi Hilary - Hmm, that may be an idea for a blog post if I can tie it in with writing. :)

    Hi Jen - Aww, thanks! I'll have to tell you about our trip to Colorado one of these days. Fabulous!

    Hi Lynn - A friend wanted me to name them David and Bathsheba...uh, no. Thanks for your kind words.

    Hi Julie - Colorado has stunning vistas. I'll never forget it.

    Hi PW - Nice to meet you. I'll try to get to your blog later today.

    Hi Jill - Wow! I've met so many terrific folks here. Thanks for having me.

    Hi Susan - See you in a few weeks. :)

    Hi Delisa - It's easy to spend a lot at the grocery store these days! I've been hanging out at couponing blogs learning to stretch my dollar.

    Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

    Blessings,
    Susan

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  32. It's always great to hear more from Susan. She has a great blog and a very warm heart.

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  33. Susan: Paella? Yum! I'd love to have some of that!

    Delisa: I love Edy's. They make such fabulous slow churned, low-calorie ice cream. I haven't tried their bars. I'm going to! Thanks!

    Hilary: I hear you. We don't put our laundry out now either, but I'm hoping to again someday. :)

    Nancy: Oh, yes! She has both--and so do you. :)

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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