Lecture Notes: Interview with Author Susie Krauss

Introduction

• Speaker: Nicole, a book publicist from River Street Writing
• Guest: Susie Krauss, author of "I Think We've Been Here Before"

Background of Susie Krauss

• Residence: Regina, Saskatchewan
• Origin: Grew up in Frontier, a small village
• Book Theme: A story about the end of the world and humanity, focusing on a rural farm family's experience

Inspiration for the Book

• Written post-COVID-19 pandemic during societal divisions
• Personal life changes influenced the story
• Recurring dreams about the end of the world linked to subconscious processing of change

Writing as a Creative Process

• Writing compared to other art forms as a mechanism for processing life changes and identity
• Dreams and writing are interconnected in processing personal experiences

Themes in the Book

• Human Connection and Family: Explores human reactions to the end of the world
• Empathy and Understanding: Writing helped Krauss develop empathy for different reactions to crisis
• Setting: Set in Saskatchewan, emphasizing the author's familiarity and connection to the location

Characters and Plot

• Irene: A character who denies reality due to fear and love for family
• Setting Significance: Encouraged by publishers to set stories in familiar places; Krauss chose Saskatchewan intentionally

Themes of Mortality and Hope

• All of Krauss's books explore themes of death
• Writing provides a platform to openly discuss and process death

Writing Process and Challenges

• Combining two separate book ideas into one
• Initial writer's block resolved by merging storylines
• Encouragement to trust the natural flow of creative writing energy

Impact of the Book

• Encourages readers to contemplate their reactions to end-of-world scenarios
• Promotes reflection on life, relationships, and how one lives knowing death is inevitable

Closing Thoughts

• Nostalgia and Recollection: Flashbacks and Deja Vu are central elements
• Author's hope: readers reflect on their lives and relationships after reading

Conclusion

• Interview ends with an invitation for viewers to subscribe for more author interviews.