Today we’re featuring Tawni Suchy on the blog. I love her advice to new writers and you will, too.
Tawni Suchy’s Book & Writing Process
Table of Contents
Q: What is the title of your book and what is it about?
A: When Forever Comes: A jilted bride and a pining billionaire—previous best friends and secret crushes—reunited in the most unexpected way. Will Olivia and West claim their happily ever after? Or will hurts from past wounds destroy their chance at forever?
Publication date: June 23, 2023
Q: What genre is When Forever Comes?
A: Sweet Christian Contemporary Billionaire Romance
Q: What inspired you to write your book, and how did you come up with the idea for it?
A: I’ve always loved billionaire romances. Having a man with the desire and means to spoil his woman and grant her every wish?! That sounds like the perfect escape into a fictional world to me! So when I was trying to come up with an idea for a novella, I knew it was time to try my hand at a billionaire romance.
As a Christian, I find it impossible not to incorporate a faith element into my books, and “When Forever Comes” was no exception. So despite having more than he’d ever need, my male main character, Weston Lockwood, fully relies on God and knows he’d have nothing and be nothing without Jesus.
And when my female main character, Olivia Swann, catches her almost-husband in bed with her best friend, she gets a wake-up call that she’s been straying from God’s plan for her life. Together they discover the truth in the verse, “Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)
Q: What scene was the hardest one to write and why?
A: The “dark moment” because I wanted them happy but knew they needed to overcome at least one more obstacle to reach their happily ever after. It was expanded significantly in my second draft and adding more of their pain and struggles was both difficult and satisfying (being an author is weird lol.)
Q: What are some themes and tropes that are included in your book?
A: Faith themes, billionaire, jilted bride, a second chance at love, meddling younger sister, friends to lovers
Q: Who is the ideal reader for this book?
A: I’d say women between the ages of 18-30+ who enjoy light, sweet, romance with faith themes
Q: What’s the one thing you want readers to take away from reading your book?
A: That God’s plan is greater than we can ever imagine and His timing is perfect.
Q: Share a favorite quote or two from this book.
A: “Just because I can’t finish writing a great love story doesn’t mean I can’t read them.” – Olivia
“Your Word says You give us the desires of our heart if our heart is aligned with You. And Olivia Swann has been the desire of my heart since I was fifteen years old.” – West
When Forever Comes, Tawni Suchy
Q: Plotter or pantser? Share a bit of your writing process.
A: Is plantser an acceptable answer? I’m a 5% planner, 95% pantser. My writing process includes a lot of talking out loud (which now, thankfully, I have a critique partner to listen to my ramblings) and rewriting the same sentence fifteen times. There is also a lot of pacing and trying to write myself out of a corner that I put myself in.
Those are often my favorite parts because I have to dig deep into my creativity well—and there is just this gut feeling that what I wrote is supposed to be there. There are also a lot of prayers involved, that God would guide my words and bless only what He wants me to share. That’s the most important thing for me, to write only what God has called me to write.
Q: What does a typical writing session for you look like?
A: It honestly depends. Some days it’s early mornings trying to get as many thoughts onto the page as possible. On other days, it’s stolen moments where I’m dictating ideas into my Google Docs app so I don’t forget them for the next actual writing session.
Q: What was the most challenging aspect of writing and publishing? How did you (do you plan to) overcome it?
A: Finishing the book and feeling like it’s good enough to send to beta readers, the editor, then ARC (advance reader copy) team. Overcoming it is just taking it one paragraph, one sentence, one word at a time and trusting that God will bless it in the way He does and in His perfect timing.
Q: Why do you write?
A: It’s a desire God put on my heart when I was just a little girl and my goal is to honor that desire for His glory, honor, and purpose.
Writing Advice from Tawni Suchy
Q: What advice would you give to someone who’s just starting out?
A: Make sure you love the story and are writing the book you are passionate about. If you’re writing to publish, writing to market is important, but if you aren’t passionate about your story, your characters, or your book—your audience won’t be either. So write first for the glory of God which should translate into writing what you love.
Q: What’s the best piece of writing advice you ever received? How has it impacted your life?
A: Never compare yourself or your writing to another author. God gave you your idea, your gift, your writing voice for His glory. So never compare what God gave you to what He gave someone else.
Q: What’s the worst piece of writing advice you ever received? Why do you think this was not good advice?
A: Write for your audience. If you write solely for your audience and aren’t excited about your idea—neither will your readers. (See the question about writing advice I’d give.)
Q: If you could go back and change one thing in your author career, what would it be and why?
A: Not rushing to get my debut novel out. Taking more time to set up my launch teams, pre-order, cover, etc. all ready before setting a publication date.
Q: What is one writing resource that you couldn’t do without?
A: My critique partner.
Just for Fun
Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Why?
A: Flight! How cool would it be to just fly everywhere? No more traffic jams!
Q: If you were not a writer, what would you want to be and why?
A: I’m a writer, but first and foremost I’m a wife and mother, which is what I wanted to be more than anything else—and I’m so grateful God gave me the husband and kids He did, they are my greatest earthly blessing!
Q: What are you reading?
A: “To Begin Again” by Emily Conrad, “Charmed by the Cowboy” by Mandi Blake, “Echoes Among the Stones” by Jaime Jo Wright
Let’s Connect with Tawni Suchy
Q: What are you working on next?
A: The second book of my Forever Duet (name to be announced 😏).
About When Forever Comes
A decade of prayers reunited them.
Only a miracle can keep them together.
Olivia Swann
Taking my sister on my honeymoon was never part of the plan. But neither was finding my now ex-best friend and fiancé in bed together the day before our wedding. Instead of dwelling on my failed relationship, my sister and I embarked on the vacation of a lifetime. I was ready to enjoy the exclusive resort and all it had to offer. What I wasn’t prepared for was running into the boy—now man—of my past, who vanished after giving me the kiss of a lifetime.
Weston Lockwood
It broke me to abandon the only girl I ever loved. But when my careless actions brought tragedy to our hometown, the only option was to leave her behind. Ten years have passed and in that time, I’ve built my empire, but Olivia never strayed far from my thoughts or prayers. When I found out she was engaged to my high school nemesis, I thought a second chance would be impossible.
But when she showed up at my resort on her honeymoon without her fiancé, I knew this was God giving me the second chance I’ve been praying for.
Will Olivia and West claim their happily ever after? Or will hurts from past wounds destroy their chance at forever?
Purchase When Forever Comes on Amazon
About Tawni Suchy
Tawni Suchy is first and foremost a wife and mom. She weaves together her love for Jesus and storytelling into Christian romance novels full of swoon-filled kisses, sassy heroines, and lovable heroes. Her debut novel “Secrets, Lies, and Deadly Ties” has been called an edge-of-your-seat romantic thriller.
She’s active on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook where she loves connecting with her readers.
Connect with Tawni Suchy on her Website | Author Central | Facebook | Twitter | TikTok | Reader Group | Goodreads l Instagram | LinkTree