Spotlight on Suzie Winfield and her mystery series "Wrongful Accusations.

Today I want to introduce you to an author whose work I recently discovered on Substack, Susie Winfield. She is the creator of “Wrongful Accusations”, a serialized mystery that combines wit, grit, and an unforgettable heroine named Sassy.



I came across her work while exploring other writers in the serial fiction space, and I was immediately intrigued by her storytelling voice and her journey from Kindle Vella to Substack. She was kind enough to share her thoughts on her process, inspirations, and future plans in the Q&A below.



You can read Wrongful Accusations in full here:

1. What originally inspired “Wrongful Accusations”? Was there a moment or an idea that sparked the story?

I've been a fan of the mystery genre for most of my adult life. Sue Grafton, Janet Evanovich, and J.A. Konrath are some of my favorite authors. I decided to create my own character to build a series around. That's how Sassy came to be.

Sassy has lived rent-free in my head for a decade. Her personality and the way she speaks have changed over the years, but she's basically still the same. Serious and strong-willed with a sense of humor and a love for a nice drink occasionally.



2. How did your experience with Kindle Vella shape the way you approached this project?

I already had most of the content written so I didn't have to struggle too much to post on a regular basis. Kindle Vella was cool. I had hoped that I would do several series on the platform but when they announced that Vella was being shut down, I thought about where else I could continue in the serial format.

3. What made you choose Substack as the new home for the story?

I didn't know if there were fiction authors on Substack until I ran across David Mcilroy and Simon K. Jones. They both wrote serial fiction on other platforms before migrating to Substack. I figured if they could do it, so could I.



4. How do you approach pacing and character development when writing in a serialized format?

I wish I could say there was a direct formula but there's not. I just make each episode or chapter as long as I think feels right and natural. It is important for me to make sure something happens in each installment that pushes the story forward.



I'll admit that the story is not perfect by any means, but I plan to refine it in the future.

5. Do you plan to release “Wrongful Accusations” as a full print or eBook in the future, perhaps on Amazon?

Since I have plans to refine the story, yes I will publish it on Amazon as a full-length novel. I've been thinking about how to proceed with the series of possibly 10 books so of course I've got to have what I consider the prequel ready.

6. What has surprised you most about sharing your story this way, whether on Vella or now through Substack?

Well, I don't get a lot of comments on the story on Substack or when it was on Vella but the feedback I have received has been very positive. That's why I'm pushing hard to finish the story. Usually on weeks where I don't have another part of the story to post, I do a behind-the-scenes post to explain my thought process behind writing a particular installment.

I do this to give readers and fellow writers something to think about and to help me find the best way to end the story. And possibly hint at the future books.
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If you love serialized mystery fiction and enjoy following an author’s process as much as the story itself, Suzie Winfield is well worth your time. And if you enjoy my own writing journey and want to explore more author spotlights, behind-the-scenes thoughts, and storytelling discussions, make sure you are subscribed to me as well.