Writers get asked a lot why, when, and how they knew they wanted to become a writer. For me it wasn’t so much a career choice as a necessity. I was one of those kids who went around quietly telling themselves stories, and yes, I had an imaginary friend or two. Writing the stories down was my best chance of ever separating fiction from ‘real life,’ which is something I’m still working on.

The easiest way to explain my growing up years is that they were spent in an alternate universe without tv or traditional schooling, but with (limited access) to computer for games, and lots and lots of books. Perhaps it’s no surprise then that I write books and–recently–have turned my hand to creating games! In my opinion the most important thing about about being a ‘grown up’ is being able to choose who you are. I’ve embraced the enriching things from my childhood and tossed the rest in the trash, and found that approach to be wonderfully freeing.
After my three years in a ‘normal’ school and upon graduating high school, I took something of an enrolled tour of colleges and universities that was almost coast to coast, and sampled a half dozen majors. I finally transferred all my credits to Brigham Young University and in 2008 walked away with a Bachelors of General Studies with an emphasis in History. Some might call history dry, but I love it and always feel like I’m drinking from the story fire hydrant when I study it!

Other things about me:
I have a black belt in Chung Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do, and have also spent time learning judo, jujitsu, bo staff, and how to handle a broadsword. If you ever need a sparring partner, I’m so there and can even keep it clean.  Otoh, don’t ask me to play basketball without first signing a waiver.

I was born in the Year of the Dragon, and keep a menagerie of dragons around our home. Perhaps that’s why dragons tend to show up in my stories. Just like cats, they can’t resist sticking their nose right in the middle of whatever mystery or adventure there is!

I’ve also worked as a developmental editor–think big picture and structure–and spent three years coaxing books of a variety of genres into publishing condition while working at Red Adept Publishing. Though I’ve stepped away from the editing world since becoming an author, I think editing taught me more about writing than all the classes and crafting books put together, so it’s my recommendation to aspiring writers that they join a critique group and throw themselves into the editing process whenever they’re not actively writing.

I live in the heart of North Carolina, within a half day’s drive of both the beach and the mountains. I share my piece of paradise with my husband and teen daughter (my son has fledged and flown off to see the world), plus three cats. Apricot-kitty has been featured on many of my middle-grade book spotlights and is always full of opinions. Heimdall and Valkyrie are more recent rescues, but they’ve both leant a bit of who they in shaping my dragon stories.

I am happy to be represented by Peter Rubie, of FinePrint, so if you’d like me to sign a Rich and Famous contract, you’ll need to talk to him. If you’d like to connect, I’m on twitter as @warrchick and would love to see you there, and on Facebook as Suzanne Warr. I’m also on instagram as warrchick, where I make most my game updates and also post pretty nature pics. This blog gets updated with the big highlights and also has a gigantic library of book recommendations from my years when I participated in Marvelous Middle Grade Monday.

If you have any questions, comments, insights, or rotten tomatoes, feel free to leave a comment, or email me at: theraven (a) suzannewarr (dot) com. I can’t promise a quick reply, but the line is open.

Thanks so much for stopping by!