Today you are going to be able to meet Susanne E. Wilder, CFE who currently lives in Perth, Australia. Susanne is one of the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association Regional Membership Directors. She is quite talented with a varied background.
Maralyn: Please introduce yourself: provide some background, i.e.where are you from, how did you start writing, is there anything specifically interesting about you? If you had another career first, how/why did you switch to writing?
Susanne: I a Home Economist (Washington State University), Reformed Cordon Bleu chef, nutrition consultant, food stylist for print and film, writer, author of 7 cookbooks, culinary consultant in the food industry, and instructor with three decades of experience in the foodservice and consumer food segments.
I’ve written for newspapers from San Diego to Seattle, Magazines from the U.S. to Australia, International websites and an e-book on sustainability: From Sustainable Garden to Table.
Avocationally, I’m also a Hatha Yoga instructor, as well as a roller-blading, biking, kayaking, and fishing bon vivant! Currently I’m working on new formulas and PR for various organic and healthy Australian food clients as well as a play and murder food mystery series.
Maralyn: What type of writing do you write?
Susanne: All things culinary and adventure travel with a bit of spa reviews tossed in for rejuvenation. Also, after creating 7 cookbooks I am trying my hand at a nonfiction (memoir) – working title: All but Aussie and a murder food mystery play/dinner party.
Maralyn: What can you share with others as to important tips or suggestions for other writers on writing and finding outlets for articles?
Susanne: Chain yourself to your computer—ha! No keep writing and persevering and sending copious query letters out, network and use the Writers Marketplace book. Take classes and more classes, try e-books and writing for various websites. If you can, even write for free, to raise your profile. You may even land a trip to Salsamaggerio Italy to be a judge for the world famous pizza, as I did for PMQ—Pizza Marketing Quarterly.
Here in Perth, Western Australia, we sometimes receive gift boxes, free dinners for all the writers at some fun restaurant and vouchers which is often better than taxable payments. For one magazine, I received a credit with a talented local designer and came away with a retro green flared skirt and bright pink knit coat! They’ve lasted longer than a small fee too.
Here’s a quote I like from Anne Wayman, “Write well and often.”
Maralyn: How did you get started writing?
Susanne: My mother sent me to a creative writing class at age 12 or so, after I won a cake baking contest. I wrote a haiku about material possessions demanding too much time and $ to maintain. I minored in journalism whilst I majored in Home Ec at Washington State University. As a waitress and a sous chef to get through college, it helped me writing restaurant reviews later, as did training at the Cordon Bleu and La Varenne.
Maralyn: Do you also blog or have a website?
Susanne: I’ve had a website for decades, but do need to add more clip links and updates. Purposefully I don’t have a blog or twitter as the computer time can so easily overtake life time. I prefer to write or cook intense and fast and then take time to roller blade, bike, paddle in my surf ski, snorkel, boogie board and or hike in the bush. I use mobile meditation for thinking time too before returning to the article or recipe to further refine. This is why I like adventure travel to rack up the fun points rather than getting on and off some bus.
Maralyn: Do you query for assignments before you write or after the article is done?
Susanne: I ask if they accept free-lance writers or do stories in-house. Next is request editorial guidelines and possible calendar of feature articles. Often I send specific ideas slanted to their publication. I read their magazine front to back to get a feel for it. In addition, I visit newsstands to review which publications I’d like to write for. Then it’s off to the library to research which publisher I hope to land for my murder food mystery series or non-fiction travel memoirs acclimatizing to Australia!
Maralyn: Can you comfortably recommend any publications looking for freelancers?
Susanne: Use that wonderful Writers Marketplace from the library as a reference. Email those you’d like to write for to find out if they use freelancers and how much they pay. It can vary so much.
Maralyn: Are you a freelancer or on staff?
Susanne: I’ve been a free-lance (often for free) writer since I wrote for my high school paper (1970) interviewing singer, Phil Ochs before he killed himself. Then I switched to food and travel for more fun and good cheer.
Maralyn: What’s the most difficult part of your job?
Susanne: Like many writers I must persevere in the face of continued rejections and juggling paying jobs with getting published. I think I now have the balance right with just enough relief (substitute) teaching to support my writing habit.
Maralyn: Please tell us again about your books.
Susanne: I’ve created and published 7 cookbooks and one does it for passion over proceeds. The returns are another level of visibility, credibility and consulting opportunities. And they make good ‘pressies’ (presents in Oz speak).
Maralyn: Where can readers learn more about you?
Today you are going to be able to meet Susanne E. Wilder, CFE who currently lives in Perth, Australia. Susanne is one of the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association Regional Membership Directors. She is quite talented with a varied background.
Maralyn: Please introduce yourself: provide some background, i.e.where are you from, how did you start writing, is there anything specifically interesting about you? If you had another career first, how/why did you switch to writing?
Susanne: I a Home Economist (Washington State University), Reformed Cordon Bleu chef, nutrition consultant, food stylist for print and film, writer, author of 7 cookbooks, culinary consultant in the food industry, and instructor with three decades of experience in the foodservice and consumer food segments.
I’ve written for newspapers from San Diego to Seattle, Magazines from the U.S. to Australia, International websites and an e-book on sustainability: From Sustainable Garden to Table.
Avocationally, I’m also a Hatha Yoga instructor, as well as a roller-blading, biking, kayaking, and fishing bon vivant! Currently I’m working on new formulas and PR for various organic and healthy Australian food clients as well as a play and murder food mystery series.
Maralyn: What type of writing do you write?
Susanne: All things culinary and adventure travel with a bit of spa reviews tossed in for rejuvenation. Also, after creating 7 cookbooks I am trying my hand at a nonfiction (memoir) – working title: All but Aussie and a murder food mystery play/dinner party.
Maralyn: What can you share with others as to important tips or suggestions for other writers on writing and finding outlets for articles?
Susanne: Chain yourself to your computer—ha! No keep writing and persevering and sending copious query letters out, network and use the Writers Marketplace book. Take classes and more classes, try e-books and writing for various websites. If you can, even write for free, to raise your profile. You may even land a trip to Salsamaggerio Italy to be a judge for the world famous pizza, as I did for PMQ—Pizza Marketing Quarterly.
Here in Perth, Western Australia, we sometimes receive gift boxes, free dinners for all the writers at some fun restaurant and vouchers which is often better than taxable payments. For one magazine, I received a credit with a talented local designer and came away with a retro green flared skirt and bright pink knit coat! They’ve lasted longer than a small fee too.
Here’s a quote I like from Anne Wayman, “Write well and often.”
Maralyn: How did you get started writing?
Susanne: My mother sent me to a creative writing class at age 12 or so, after I won a cake baking contest. I wrote a haiku about material possessions demanding too much time and $ to maintain. I minored in journalism whilst I majored in Home Ec at Washington State University. As a waitress and a sous chef to get through college, it helped me writing restaurant reviews later, as did training at the Cordon Bleu and La Varenne.
Maralyn: Do you also blog or have a website?
Susanne: I’ve had a website for decades, but do need to add more clip links and updates. Purposefully I don’t have a blog or twitter as the computer time can so easily overtake life time. I prefer to write or cook intense and fast and then take time to roller blade, bike, paddle in my surf ski, snorkel, boogie board and or hike in the bush. I use mobile meditation for thinking time too before returning to the article or recipe to further refine. This is why I like adventure travel to rack up the fun points rather than getting on and off some bus.
Maralyn: Do you query for assignments before you write or after the article is done?
Susanne: I ask if they accept free-lance writers or do stories in-house. Next is request editorial guidelines and possible calendar of feature articles. Often I send specific ideas slanted to their publication. I read their magazine front to back to get a feel for it. In addition, I visit newsstands to review which publications I’d like to write for. Then it’s off to the library to research which publisher I hope to land for my murder food mystery series or non-fiction travel memoirs acclimatizing to Australia!
Maralyn: Can you comfortably recommend any publications looking for freelancers?
Susanne: Use that wonderful Writers Marketplace from the library as a reference. Email those you’d like to write for to find out if they use freelancers and how much they pay. It can vary so much.
Maralyn: Are you a freelancer or on staff?
Susanne: I’ve been a free-lance (often for free) writer since I wrote for my high school paper (1970) interviewing singer, Phil Ochs before he killed himself. Then I switched to food and travel for more fun and good cheer.
Maralyn: What’s the most difficult part of your job?
Susanne: Like many writers I must persevere in the face of continued rejections and juggling paying jobs with getting published. I think I now have the balance right with just enough relief (substitute) teaching to support my writing habit.
Maralyn: Please tell us again about your books.
Susanne: I’ve created and published 7 cookbooks and one does it for passion over proceeds. The returns are another level of visibility, credibility and consulting opportunities. And they make good ‘pressies’ (presents in Oz speak).
Maralyn: Where can readers learn more about you?
www.fstnfrsh.com (Any constructive criticism welcome)
www.ifwtwa.org Regional Director of WA and Indonesia
www.forallevents.com Foodie Guru (hey, that’s what he calls me)
0407 649 437
52 Bates Rd Perth WA 6018
Upside down under in the most remote city in the world
Susanne:
www.fstnfrsh.com (Any constructive criticism welcome)
Regional Director of WA and Indonesia for IFWTWA
www.forallevents.com Foodie Guru (hey, that’s what he calls me)
0407 649 437
52 Bates Rd Perth WA 6018
Upside down under in the most remote city in the world.
I hope you enjoyed this interview with Susanne. We hope to feature one of her recipes soon on Where and What in the World.
If any of you would like to be interviewed, please let me know.
International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association
Books By Hills Success With Writing Where & What in the World
Member: Society of Professional Journalists
Finalist in the Writing and Publishing category of the 2009 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, “$uccess, Your Path to a Successful Book,”
What a fun interview. I really enjoy reading about other writers. Thanks for introducing us to Susanne!
Thanks for commenting Beth. I also find it enjoyable to get to know the various writers. If you know anyone who wants to be interviewed, just have them send me an email at mdhill@noralyn.com and I’ll forward questions.
Best,
Maralyn
Great post. I will be facing many of these issues as well..