“A Day in the Life” of Young Adult Fantasy Author Suzy Vadori

August 5, 2020 Jessica da Cunha Arts, Literature

Suzy Vadori always knew she’d write a book one day, but she didn’t sit down to write her first full length novel until she was on maternity leave with her third child. It took her two years to finish that first book, The Fountain, and two more after that to find a publisher and get it out into the world.

She never gave up and hasn’t looked back. Since then, The Fountain Series has been a two-time finalist for the Aurora Awards, Canada’s premiere science fiction and fantasy award. It also earned a bronze medallion from Readers’ Favorite. It was then that Suzy left her job as a Vice President of a Calgary-based products company to focus on all things writing full-time.

“I didn’t set out to become a full-time author,” Suzy says. “But I love speaking, teaching, and helping other authors coax their writing onto the page, and my writing life took over. The reading and writing communities in Calgary are amazing to be part of and I can’t thank them enough for the support they’ve shown me and my books over the years.”

The long-awaited final book in The Fountain Series, Wall of Wishes, launched in June 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We had to move the whole event online, and somehow recreate the sense of community my readers have come to expect from me,” Suzy says. “It was a very different experience, but I was happy to interact with many of my readers over the week-long celebration. They’re the whole reason I write.”

Suzy’s newest book, Wall of Wishes, launched in June 2020 with a week-long celebration of online events. Wall of Wishes is a young adult fantasy novel
Suzy’s newest book, Wall of Wishes, launched in June 2020 with a week-long celebration of online events. 
Suzy Vadori appears at many community events to meet with the public and talk books! This photo was taken at Spruce Meadows International Christmas Market in 2019.
Suzy Vadori appears at many community events to meet with the public and talk books! This photo was taken at Spruce Meadows International Christmas Market in 2019.
The Fountain Series by Suzy Vadori is a trilogy beloved by kids and adults alike. Set in the fictional New England town of Evergreen, on the St. Augustus High School campus, It’s full of mystery, magic, and a hint of romance.
The Fountain Series is a trilogy beloved by kids and adults alike. Set in the fictional New England town of Evergreen, on the St. Augustus High School campus, It’s full of mystery, magic, and a hint of romance.
Meeting Suzy when she’s out in the community is an interactive experience. You can make a wish by throwing a coin (pennies provided!) into her stone fountain full of lollipops. She gives away 30,000 lollipops a year to Alberta readers, all while telling stories about the magical world of The Fountain Series. This is Suzy at Calgary’s Fan Expo, held on the Stampede grounds each April (in Non-Pandemic years!).
Meeting Suzy when she’s out in the community is an interactive experience. You can make a wish by throwing a coin (pennies provided!) into her stone fountain full of lollipops. She gives away 30,000 lollipops a year to Alberta readers, all while telling stories about the magical world of The Fountain Series. This is Suzy at Calgary’s Fan Expo, held on the Stampede grounds each April (in Non-Pandemic years!).
Suzy supports Kids Help Phone, and donates a portion of her book sales to them each year. This is Suzy and Kids Help Phone Development Coordinator Carolina Bejarano making a joint appearance at Calgary’s This Girl Can Girl’s Expo. Kids Help Phone provides a safe and trusted place for young people in any moment of crisis or need.
Suzy supports Kids Help Phone, and donates a portion of her book sales to them each year. This is Suzy and Kids Help Phone Development Coordinator Carolina Bejarano making a joint appearance at Calgary’s This Girl Can Girl’s Expo. Kids Help Phone provides a safe and trusted place for young people in any moment of crisis or need.
Students at Calgary Girls’ School in Lakeview eagerly await Suzy Vadori’s keynote speech in the school library during their Literacy Week in December, 2019. Suzy tours across Alberta schools talking about the importance of literacy and how useful it is for life beyond the classroom.
Students at Calgary Girls’ School in Lakeview eagerly await Suzy Vadori’s keynote speech in the school library during their Literacy Week in December, 2019. Suzy tours across Alberta schools talking about the importance of literacy and how useful it is for life beyond the classroom.
Chapter Chicks Calgary Book Club contacted Suzy Vadori to tell her how much they enjoyed Book 1 in her series, The Fountain. This is a subset of the Chapter Chicks members, meeting at The Calgary Public Library. Members from left to right (bottom photo), Julia Paulgaard, Megan Sterchi, Mary Yang, Dani Falconer, Kaisa Curran, Saedrie Hussein.
Chapter Chicks Calgary Book Club contacted Suzy Vadori to tell her how much they enjoyed Book 1 in her series, The Fountain. This is a subset of the Chapter Chicks members, meeting at The Calgary Public Library. Members from left to right (bottom photo), Julia Paulgaard, Megan Sterchi, Mary Yang, Dani Falconer, Kaisa Curran, Saedrie Hussein.
Suzy Vadori with Brendan Lord, Executive Director, Choir Alberta. This picture was taken at the 2019 Rozsa Foundation Awards, where Brendan was shortlisted for his excellence in Arts Management. Suzy was asked to write and perform a short story about Brendan’s accomplishments in the style of Young Adult Fantasy, as a fun way to honor his success.
Suzy Vadori with Brendan Lord, Executive Director, Choir Alberta. This picture was taken at the 2019 Rozsa Foundation Awards, where Brendan was shortlisted for his excellence in Arts Management. Suzy was asked to write and perform a short story about Brendan’s accomplishments in the style of Young Adult Fantasy, as a fun way to honor his success.

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What ‘hood are you in?

I live with my wonderful husband and three kids on the Westside of Calgary, in Wentworth, which is an amazing community to raise a family in. We have great schools, sports teams, shopping, and restaurants that are just starting to reopen after being closed for the pandemic. Lots of days, I have no reason to leave the hill, everything we need is close by.

What do you do?

I do all things writing! I’m a Book Coach, a Motivational Speaker, and an Editor in addition to writing. The list of things I do has grown over the years because I love giving back to the writing community. Being a Book Coach means I work with other writers to realize their projects, from the early stages of book development right through to creating their author platforms and any stage in between. Working with first time writers is my specialty. It’s an amazing feeling to help another writer succeed and I’m lucky to have such a fulfilling job.

I’m also an involved member of the Calgary’s amazing writing community. I’m a Program Manager for When Words Collide, a festival for readers and writers held in Calgary each August. I also teach writing to both youth and adults at Calgary’s Alexandra Writers’ Centre Society, and tour Alberta schools with the Young Alberta Book Society. All three of these organizations have moved their programs online in 2020, and I was an integral part of this process. When Words Collide and the Young Alberta Book Society both have content that’s free to the public during COVID-19, so don’t miss it.

What are you currently working on?

I am always writing something new. Right now, I have a new Young Adult Fantasy Series underway, as well as a Contemporary Young Adult Novel set in Nova Scotia, which is where I’m originally from. I hope to have news on these projects to share soon.

I’m continually learning new things about the craft of writing, both for my own books and to best serve my clients. I am in the process of completing my Advanced Book Coaching Certification and growing my Book Coaching practice.

Where can we find your work?

The Fountain Series can be ordered wherever you buy books.

Buy Local at Owl’s Nest Books in Calgary or Find your Favorite eBook seller for each of my books here:
The Fountain
The West Woods
Wall of Wishes

To find out more about my Book Coaching, Editing, Public Speaking and School Visits (Yes, I’m doing virtual classroom visits during the pandemic!) please visit my website.

 

 

 

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