Susan L Markloff
Frequently Asked Questions
Here you'll find answers to the most common questions I get asked. Anything from what my book is about, to what sort of things inspire me, to where I've traveled. If you have a question, shoot me a message!
What is your book about?
The first book is centered around eighteen year old Jen Monroe. She’s part human and part dragon (referred to as a hybrid), giving her several different abilities like raw energy manifestation, wings, and rapid cellular regeneration. A group of warriors called Zaheri, also hybrids, have been training her in the various skills she has for about a year. One day, as Jen is on her way into school, enemy hybrids attack, forcing her and her Zaheri to protect against their efforts.
You said your book was the first in a series. How many books do you anticipate the series will be?
The Human-Born Era will consist of five books.
How long do you estimate the books will be?
Rise comes in at 364 pages for the standard print version. The dyslexic friendly edition is 390 pages. The Ties That Bind is currently looking like it'll be around 640 pages for the standard print edition, which will put the dyslexic friendly edition around 680 pages.
Dyslexic Friendly Edition? What is that? And what makes it dyslexic friendly?
There's a font that was developed specifically for helping those with dyslexia read easier. It's a "weighted" font, meaning that each letter is weighted a little differently to help the brain determine what letter it is. It's not perfectly, but it helps. I wanted to do everything in my power to meet people where they are, and provide them with the means to (hopefully) enjoy The Human-Born Era as best they could.
Who would you recommend your book for?
I wrote The Human-Born Era: The Rise of the Raidin with the age group of 16-20 in mind. Any teen to young adult that loves fantasy and action would likely be looking to pick up this book. Since this story deals with warfare, there are several battles that I have written throughout the series. Though apparently, Rise has been read by a fair number of 11 and 12-year-olds. This should be determined at a parent's discretion. The issue of warfare isn't something every child can digest easily.
What was your inspiration for your book?
I grew up absolutely living and breathing fantastical worlds. I was that kid that would play make-believe all the time. My friends and I were prone to play acting out scenes from our favorite movies and TV shows in my backyard. The worlds of Disney, Pokémon, Narnia, Digimon, and Middle Earth were ours to explore and build upon. If we knew that fanfiction was a thing back then, we probably would have been all over it. I adored these worlds, reveling in their magic and fantasy.
As I grew up, the daydreams never left me and I began to dive into video games like Kingdom Hearts, Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and Skyrim. The idea that I could go save galaxies and worlds was fantastic. Each of them inspired me to dive deeper into my own world and extract histories and ancient lore for my own fantasy world.
What makes you most excited about your book?
Quite honestly, seeing the fanart, fanfiction, and other fan inspired work! I get super stoked when I think about how they'll see my characters and to witness talent across artistic mediums. I’m a huge fan of people who can take an image in their head and make it come out in a drawing or a painting or a 3D rendering. I can’t do any of those things, so when I see someone pull something out of thin air, I stand agape at their talent. I am STUPID excited to see what the fans come up with.
Stuff like the image to the right!
Did you always want to write stories?
Not really. There was a period of time where I had a great desire to be a photographer to National Geographic. I love traveling and I like to think I have some semblance of skill with photography. That didn’t stop me from playing around with this little world that was brewing in my mind since middle school though. It was my brother who got me to talk about the framework of the story and encouraged me to write.
I started writing seriously during my Freshman year of college and officially made it my area of study when I arrived at Houghton College in 2009.
Is there an audiobook?
There will be! I intend to have 2 versions available by the end of 2022; one narrated by a woman, and one by a man.
Would you be open to joining a podcast?
Yes! Feel free to drop me an email. I'd be honored to be a guest speaker.
Do you offer any mentor programs?
Not at the moment. I'm not opposed to assisting young aspiring authors, and will do what I can to offer advice and guidance as you pursue publishing. But at the moment, I don't have the time to consider a mentor program, nor do I know what a reasonable and fair price would be. If that changes, I'll be sure to update this question accordingly!
So...can I ask you questions about publishing?
Sure! Like I said, I'm not opposed to helping others out. And I would be happy to assist if I can. However, I can't ever guarantee that I know the answer to your question, or even the best way to go about publishing. I know how I indie published, and why I went the routes I did. But that doesn't mean those steps are the right steps for you. But please, if you feel like you're at the end of your rope and just need someone to point you in the right direction, I'd be happy to lend a hand!
What social media platform are you most active on?
Instagram. That's where the bulk of my readers are, and where my fanbase is (slowly) growing. I post a lot about my books, my journey, and offer tips and advice here and there. I also try my best to feature another author every week, either with cover reveals or shoutouts.