Everyone has early fiction fantasies, but it wasn't until my second child Betsy was born that I allowed the urge to write a novel bubble up. Susan Isaacs More Quotes by Susan Isaacs More Quotes From Susan Isaacs My first novel, 'Compromising Positions,' was a whodunit. The protagonist was a Long Island Jewish housewife who turns private investigator. But she was Jewish the way I was: lighting Sabbath candles but envying her Protestant and Catholic friends' December decorating options. Susan Isaacs decemberfriendslongway Being a novelist is the adult version of a kid creating a make-believe world. But unlike a child, a writer of fiction has to come up with a structured story, one that has as much meaning for others as it has for her. Susan Isaacs meaningstorychildworld There is no 'right' way to begin a novel, but for me, plot has to wait. The character comes first. Susan Isaacs waitmecharacterway It's not that I'm apolitical... In my youth, I was a freelance political speechwriter, which taught me a lot about writing fiction, I must add. Susan Isaacs meyouthpoliticalwriting Could there be a cowgirl in my future? You know, I never know what character is going to come and tap me on the shoulder and say, 'Hey, tell my story.' So maybe the next one will have boots. Susan Isaacs meyoufuturecharacter There are days where I lose track of time, of place, of everything else, because I've been transported to another universe. Susan Isaacs loseplaceuniversetime I wanted to be a cowgirl... But, you know, it was pointed out to me that, you know, growing up in Brooklyn, there wasn't much opportunity... for cowgirlery. Susan Isaacs meyougrowing-upopportunity It's no coincidence that I began writing the day my daughter started school. I knew everything I knew before I began to write, but I was raising two children and didn't have the time to get to the typewriter. Susan Isaacs daydaughtertimechildren I can only write about two or three pages of fiction a day. Susan Isaacs onlydayi-canthree I've had lots of commercial success. I've also had some terrible reviews and some wonderful reviews. Susan Isaacs someterriblesuccesswonderful I am married to a happy camper. He's a criminal lawyer who thinks people are inherently good and will befriend him. His father, at 93, is the same way. Susan Isaacs i-amgoodfatherpeople I have such admiration for Whoopi Goldberg as an actress and a general smart person. Susan Isaacs actresspersonadmirationsmart I see myself as writing biographies, the complete story of someone's life. Susan Isaacs storysomeonemyselflife Style is not my long suit, but I'm really fascinated by it. Susan Isaacs suitreallystylelong I love being a grandparent. I'm one of those you want to avoid - I pull out the iPhone and say, 'Hey, wanna see my camera roll?' Susan Isaacs iphonecamerayoulove As for writing novels - it's what I've done for 30 some-odd years. I can't suddenly say I'm going to take up golf. I need something in my life. As long as I can write a coherent sentence, I'll keep at it. Susan Isaacs my-lifegolflifelong Our culture is so celebrity-obsessed that for individuals to show they matter, they need to display their intimacy to fame. Susan Isaacs needmatterfameculture As soon as someone is coming from New York, I automatically think I have to get dressed up. Susan Isaacs newsomeonethinknew-york With my middle-class metabolism, the suburbs were where I always wanted to be. Susan Isaacs werewherealwayssuburbs At the beginning, I really wanted to be home with my kid. I was a product of my generation. But in the suburbs, you are very isolated, really alone. Susan Isaacs alonebeginningyouhome
