Interview with Teen Nonfiction Author Susan Louise Peterson & Win $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Susan Louise Peterson is an author and school psychologist living in Las Vegas, NV. She has taken a twenty year journey working in the tough inner city schools of Las Vegas, Nevada as a teacher and later a school psychologist. Susan has worked with students from pre-kindergarten to high school levels. Working in a large inner city high school she noticed that many teenagers were dealing with communication issues related to their parents, teachers and other adults. Students were given limited information from adults when they asked questions and usually did not understand the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ type of responses they received from adults. In response, Susan Louise Peterson wrote two companion books to help teenagers with this communication dilemma. She is the author of the newly released books entitled THE YES BOOK FOR TEENAGERS and THE NO BOOK FOR TEENAGERS.

Susan is an award winning educator and has won several national awards for improving educational practice. She was named to the Practitioners Hall of Fame for Improvement of Educational Practice from NOVA University.

In addition, Susan is the author of the recently published book IS MY CHILD AUTISTIC OR DELAYED? (Vilnius Press-2013), as well as eight other books in the areas of education, research and child behavior.

You can visit her website at www.susanlouisepeterson.com.

Q: Welcome to The Writer's Life! Now that your book has been published, we’d love to find out more about the process. Can we begin by having you take us at the beginning? Where did you come up with the idea to write your book?

The Yes Book for Teenagers came from the personal experience of having twin teenage daughters who were constantly asking questions to do something or to go somewhere. I soon realized that even if I answered ‘yes’ I needed to give them some type of explanation about what I really meant to say.

Q: How hard was it to write a book like this and do you have any tips that you could pass on which would make the journey easier for other writers?

Every question my teenagers asked me just gave me a lot of ideas to write this book. I also listened at work and in public places where adults were telling about experiences with their own teenagers. I think that writers can get tons of ideas by being good listeners because the material and ideas can often come from others.

Q: Who is your publisher and how did you find them or did you self-publish?

Vilnius Press is excellent to work with for the writer who needs some support, but likes some independence as well.

Q: Is there anything that surprised you about getting your first book published?

It has been years since I first published a book and I think the biggest surprise is how the publishing industry is changing and there are many new avenues to publish written materials.

Q: Can you describe the feeling when you saw your published book for the first time?

The feeling I had getting the first book published was that I thought my work was done and that the publisher would take care of the promotion of the book.

I now have many different ideas about publishing that seem to be changing every day.

Q: What other books (if any) are you working on and when will they be published?

Along with The Yes Book for Teenagers, I have just finished The No Book for Teenagers (sort of like companion books). I also have had a book come out earlier this year called Is My Child Autistic or Delayed?

Q: Fun question: How does your book contribute to making this world a better place?

The Yes Book for Teenagers is a book written for teenagers. Although there are many books about teenagers most of them are for parents. This one is written more for the teenager.

Q: Finally, what message (if any) are you trying to get across with your book?

The Yes Book for Teenagers can help teenagers see that life is a little more complex than a simple ‘yes’ response and that parents and adults are often helping them see a bigger picture for life challenges.

Q: Thank you again for this interview! Do you have any final words?

The Yes Book for Teenagers is available on Amazon.

Win a $25 Amazon Gift Certificate!

Terms & Conditions:

By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
Three winners will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.
This giveaway begins August 10 and ends September 15.
Winner will be contacted via email on September 16.
Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!