CHRISTMAS SERIES: Author Susan Bateman

by | Nov 6, 2020 | writing

Hello, Readers!

And welcome to another installment of my Christmas Series. I am happy to introduce you to another Christmas themed book and another author that may be new to you! I have Susan Bateman (writing as S.B. Roth) on my blog today sharing about her Christmas novel, It Happened One Christmas!

I have connected with Susan through the ACFW Romance genre Facebook Group Page. If you have followed me for any length of time, you know that I am a huge fan of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) and their efforts to bring writers together for networking, encouraging one another, and helping each other out. As well as just connecting! Meeting Susan to introduce her to you all is just one of the many examples of why I love what the ACFW brings to my life 🙂

But, I won’t go on and on…as I can often do…I’ll go ahead and introduce Susan…

Welcome to my blog, Susan! First can you tell us a little about It Happened One Christmas?

It Happened One Christmas tells the story of Elizabeth Buckley, Liz, coming to spend Thanksgiving with her precious Aunt Mabel. When she arrives, she discovers her aunt is very ill and she is rushed to the hospital, only to pass on Thanksgiving Day. Mabel’s neighbor, Chase Clarke, has always been a pain to Elizabeth. Although she barely knows him, she resents his closeness with her aunt. Both Chase and Liz feel the pain of losing her. Then they discover that they have inherited her beautiful home, there is a catch; they must live in the house together for one year before they own it outright. Turmoil and troubles begin, before the Christmas magic starts!

What an interesting premise! Where did you find your inspiration for It Happened One Christmas?

My inspiration came from my own very precious aunt who passed on Christmas Eve several years ago. Her love for me inspired me to write about the love that I felt, through Liz and Chase.

Awww…that is so sweet. I’m glad you had such a wonderful relationship with your aunt. And that it spurred you on to write this story for all of us!

So, you have obviously been bitten by the “writing bug”…but when did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Wanting to be a writer has always been a part of my life. Reading at the age of four, I would tell stories to my parents. When I began writing, I wrote poetry, short stories, and once in the fifth grade, I wrote the entire script of Blue Denim, a movie I wasn’t allowed to see!

Neat! I find over and over that for most writers, it’s always been a part of their life in some regard. That’s amazing that you started telling stories so young!

And, as much as we love what we do, there is always something we’d rather “pass” on. What is it for you? What part of the writing process do you dread?

I love developing the story and making everything come together. Sometimes my mind works so fast that my fingers can’t keep up and I skip huge pieces of information. Then I have to go back and edit. I dislike the edit. I realize without it my work would not make sense but it’s just not my favorite part of writing.

I hear ya! The editing is more the analytical side of the process…we’d much rather just create, create, create I think… 🙂

When I write, I definitely have to set the mood…that always involves music suited to the story I’m writing. What about you? What kind of music, if any, do you listen to when you write?

When I write I want absolute silence. Well, I sometimes talk as I write so music would interfere. I like to write early in the morning and late at night. I tend to get noodle headed about eleven in the morning and have to get up and move around. I’ll come back around six or seven in the evening.

Talking out loud while writing definitely weirds the non-writers out sometimes. I’ve gotten far too many strange looks at the coffee shop 🙂

One question I find I get a lot is about how long it takes me to complete a manuscript. So, I like to turn that question on those I interview… How long does it take you to write a book?

Most of my books take about four to six weeks to write. Although, the book I am working on now has taken me over a year. It will be released, I hope, in January. It is a historical romance about a family in Ireland who was part of the potato famine exodus.

Wow! You’ve definitely snagged my attention! Historical Romance…you are speaking my language for certain.

Now, my sneaky question…as I’m always looking for more recommendations…what are you currently reading?

Currently, I have been reading Josephine Blake’s, Brides of Adoration Series.

I’ll have to check it out. Thanks again, Susan, for being on the blog and for sharing about your new release!

It Happened One Christmas

Elizabeth and Chase find themselves inheriting an old Victorian house together. 


Problem #1 They are strangers
Problem #2 They have to live in it for one year for it to be theirs.
Problem #3 They don’t like each other too much.


​Can they make it work, or will one of them bow out before Christmas ever happens?

Enjoy an Excerpt

Excerpt from It Happened One Christmas by S.B.Roth:

Liz was as cross as two sticks when she headed to bed. It bothered her that he could get under her skin so quickly. She thought this could be an attraction she was trying to deny. Staying in the downstairs bedroom for the night, she was greeted with Chase’s belongings scattered about the room. Cleaning the bed off so she could get in it was a chore. After brushing her teeth and washing her face, she climbed into the bed. Maggy jumped up and snuggled up to her as they both tried to get comfortable.

The bed had an aroma of clean body mingled with shampoo, a sweet smell that enticed you to grab it and hold on. It smelled like Chase. The soap he used smelled like summer on a cloudy day. The wind blowing through the grass of a green field permeated the sheets, making it difficult for her to relax.

Counting sheep didn’t help, but Liz had just about gotten her eyes closed when Ranger came bounding into the room and jumped on the bed. Now, where had he been? He must have been downstairs, but she didn’t see him at all. Now she had one at her back and one at her feet. She was dog bound instead of housebound! Laughing, she fell asleep thinking about that girl Chase was kissing outside the kitchen. Was she someone special? Was she one of his one-time hook-ups? Did he even do that? She planned to ask in the morning, well maybe.

Buy Link

Find out up-to-date information on the availability of It Happened One Christmas on Susan’s website!

More About the Author

I live in North Texas, a small community, with my husband, my dog, and am surrounded by three children, six grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. I always wanted a large family and God provided. Being an only child, I spent many hours creating my own world, which led me to love reading and writing my own stories. My greatest desire was to be a well-known writer/actress, so I became a high school biology teacher! Talk about creating and writing, WOW.  I still loved writing and would start and stop so many books I can’t even count them. After I retired from thirty years of teaching, I picked up my first love writing. I love the worlds I go to in my books.

Connect with Susan and Her Work

Website: susanbatemanauthor.com

Facebook: Susie’s Scratchpad

Instagram: @susanbatemanauthor

Free ebook giveaway: https://BookHip.com/RSBWCF

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Sara R. Turnquist