A Few Thoughts, A Few Memories: 2025

Local Author To Release Second Novel

By Kathleen Guill | Thu, 01/30/2025 - 06:19

Posted in: News

Local author Peggy Sue Clay has lived in Altus her entire life and graduated from Altus High School in 1987. She is preparing to release her second novel. She graduated from The Institute of Children's Literature in Madison, Connecticut in March 2015.

Clay said she’s always wanted to be an author, and it was a friend who gave her the push to get her started.

“I’ve always tried my hand at writing, but it wasn’t until January 2013 when a friend of mine asked me, “What is it that you really want to do?” Without thinking I blurted out, “I want to write a book.” Her simple answer was, “Then do it.” After that I found the institute, filed out their questionnaire and sent it in. A couple of weeks later I got a formal letter from them inviting me to take their classes. It wasn’t until later that I found out that out of the thousands and thousands of people who apply for their class they only accept less than 30% of them. I’m very honored to be a part of that 30% and less.”

Clay said the authors who have had the most influence on her include Leslie Meier, Carolyn Keene, S. E. Hinton, and Frank E. Peretti.

Some of her favorite books include The Lucy Stone Mysteries and the Nancy Drew Mysteries.

“Right now, I’m reading a couple of books which are based on an old television series I used to watch called, “The Tomorrow People.” Each book has a different author, and I have three of them, I’ve finished one and working on the second.”

Clay said that to be a good writer, you have to be willing to take our own life experiences and examine them in new ways.

“My first book was simply a story that I wanted to tell,” Clay said. “My second book will be faith based and it’s an easy way to talk about subjects in a non-threatening way and easy way. Both books are very different but so far people seem to like my style so changing things up a bit is a good thing.”

Clay said writer’s block was one of the challenges she faced writing her books.

“My first book took seven years to write,” she said. “I knew what I wanted to say and where the characters were going but it was trying to figure out how to get them there that was the challenge. Thankfully, writer’s block hasn’t been as big a challenge for my second book.”

To get through writer’s block, Clay said, “I just never stop thinking about my story and where I want it to go, and I just try to figure out how to get my characters where they need to be. And of course, I pray and ask the Lord for His help. That may sound silly to those who are not in the faith, but it works for me.”

Clay said she took a lot of time to think about who her characters were and how she wanted people to view them. The character she found the most interesting to write was the villain.

Clay writes the old-fashioned way, according to her, when it comes to her style of writing. No electronics for her.

“I, very literally, pull out a pencil, a good eraser and a spiral notebook and start writing,” Clay said. “My most creative time is right before bed so every night I sit on the edge of my bed, notebook in front of me, TV on in the background for white noise and I write until I get tired. Sometimes I write several pages and sometimes it’s only a paragraph or two. Later, when I start typing it up, I start editing. As I’m typing I used the “Read Aloud” feature in my Word program so that I can hear how the story flows and to check for spelling.”

“When I’m finished,” Clay continued, “I will change my setting to double space and email it to the printers. They print out two copies which they spiral bind it for me, then I take one copy and give the other one to my friend. As we read through the story, we look for spelling errors, how things are worded, etc. We edit these copies by hand then I will go in and make the changes on my computer. After that I send it to someone who formats it and gets it ready for publishing.”

Clay would like to give a shout out to the artists of Altus.

“Yes, there is. There are a lot of good and talented people in this town,” she said. “Not just writers, and singers, and actors, I’m talking about every day, hardworking people… I’d like to say to all of you and to anyone who reads these words, Thank you!”

Clay said advice she would give to an aspiring writer is to just tell your story the best way you can.

“If you have a story you want to tell,” she said, “then tell it in the best way you can. Research your topics. Take lots of notes, as in writing things down and put them in a folder or notebook to keep them handy.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Note From Peggy Sue:

Here are the actual questions that I answered for this interview. I understand about only having so much space so there was a lot she had to leave out, hence the reason that I’m posting them here.

Author Questions – From Altus Times – 2025

Name:

Peggy Sue Clay

Hometown information:

Born and raised right here in Altus, Oklahoma

Schooling: (High school, college, etc)

Grade School – Roosevelt Elementary

Junior High – Southeast Junior High

High School – Altus High School – Class of 1987

Some classes at WOSC

Formal Writing Training – The Institute of Children's Literature in Madison, Connecticut – Graduated March 2015

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve always tried my hand at writing, but it wasn’t until January 2013 when a friend of mine asked me, “What is it that you really want to do?” Without thinking I blurted out, “I want to write a book.” Her simple answer was, “Then do it.” After that I found the institute, filed out their questionnaire and sent it in. A couple of weeks later I got a formal letter from them inviting me to take their classes. It wasn’t until later that I found out that out of the thousands and thousands of people who apply for their class they only accept less than 30% of them. – I’m very honored to be a part of that 30% and less.

Which authors have had the biggest influence on your writing style?

I’d have to say:

Leslie Meier, she writes a series called "The Lucy Stone Mysteries."

Carolyn Keene, who wrote “The Nancy Drew Mysteries."

S. E. Hinton – Whose most famous book is, “The Outsiders.”

And Frank E. Peretti who was a Christian author back in the ‘80’s.

What are your favorite books to read in your free time?

The Lucy Stone Mysteries, the Nancy Drew Mysteries. Right now, I’m reading a couple of books which are based on an old television series I used to watch called, “The Tomorrow People.” (Each book has a different author, and I have three of them, I’ve finished one and working on the second.

How does your personal life experience inform your writing?

I’ve learned that in order for me to be a good writer I have to be able to take experiences from my own life and examine them in new ways. Metaphorically speaking, I pick them up and examine them. Then I turn them upside down and look at them again. I keep turning them around until I can use what I’ve learned to create the best story possible. – In other words, there will always be a little bit of me in every one of my stories. When people read my books, I want them to ask themselves, “Did the REALLY happen, or is it just a story?” The simple answer is it’s a bit of both. The trick is to get the balance just right so that no one will know which is which.

What inspired you to write this book?

My first book was simply a story that I wanted to tell. My second book will be faith based and it’s an easy way to talk about subjects in a non-threatening way and easy way. Both books are very different but so far people seem to like my style so changing things up a bit is a good thing.

What was the biggest challenge you faced while writing this story?

Writer’s block!!! My first book took seven years to write. I knew what I wanted to say and where the characters were going but it was trying to figure out how to get them there that was the challenge. Thankfully, writer’s block hasn’t been as big a challenge for my second book.

How did you develop your main characters?

I took a lot of time to think about who my characters were and what voice I wanted them to have. I took a copious amount of notes for each one, who they were, who was in their lives. I had to consider what jobs did they had and what their family dynamics were and how, if they took this action or that how it would affect those around them.

Which character did you find most interesting to write about?

Oh, the bad guy for sure. But it’s that always how it goes with writers? The leads were challenging because the focus was always on them, but I had to make that guy nasty, and I wanted the readers to really hate him that way when they got the end it would all make sense.

What themes are you trying to explore in this book?

My first book was just a story I wanted to tell buy my second book will be focused on Spiritual warfare.

How did you research the setting or subject matter?

I had to think about each character and who I wanted them to be, and this goes for both of my books so far. Who are they? Once I figure that out, I can set them in their proper settings. In first book my leading lady is a waitress, so she was set in a café, her home and so forth. My second book is spiritually based so naturally it’s about a church and the community. Who goes there and what are their jobs and add them accordingly.

Were there any significant changes made from your initial outline to the final draft?

I don’t work from outlines; I just get the ideas in my head and start writing and then editing as I go. But I’m constantly editing which will be explained farther in the next question.

What is your writing routine like?
Ever watch those movies, or TV shows where the writer sits down at their laptop or their typewriter and just starts clacking away? Yeah, that is so NOT me! I write the old-fashioned way. I, very literally, pull out a pencil, a good eraser and a spiral notebook and start writing. My most creative time is right before bed so every night I sit on the edge of my bed, notebook in front of me, TV on in the background for white noise and I write until I get tired. Sometimes I write several pages and sometimes it’s only a paragraph or two.

Later, when I start typing it up, I start editing. As I’m typing I used the “Read Aloud” feature in my Word program so that I can hear how the story flows and to check for spelling. (Where would we all be without spell check?!)

When I’m finished, I will change my setting to double space and email it to the printers. They print out two copies which they spiral bind it for me, then I take one copy and give the other one to my friend. As we read through the story, we look for spelling errors, how things are worded, etc. We edit these copies by hand then I will go in and make the changes on my computer. After that I send it to someone who formats it and gets it ready for publishing.

While all of that is going on I’m in contact with my graphic artist who takes my vision and creates it digitally. – I actually designed the cover for my first book and will for my second book as well, but he does the digital work on them to get them ready for publishing.

How do you overcome writer's block?
I just never stop thinking about my story and where I want it to go, and I just try to figure out how to get my characters where they need to be. And of course, I pray and ask the Lord for His help. That may sound silly to those who are not in the faith, but it works for me.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on a faith-based book which will focus on spiritual warfare. It’s about a church who learns how to put their trust in the Lord and stand on His promises; because if they don’t it could cost them their lives. – And almost does!

Do you have any plans to write a sequel to this book?

I’ve been considering a sequel to my first book but haven’t worked out the kinks yet; but a couple of fans of mine have asked me to so I’m considering it quite heavily. Not sure about the second book yet.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

If you have a story you want to tell, then tell it in the best way you can. Research your topics. Take lots of notes, as in writing things down and put them in a folder or notebook to keep them handy. – While doing this remember to have extra led for your pencils, a good eraser, and a few paperclips (trust me).

DON’T try to sit at a computer and write because it will only make you freeze. If I had tried to do that, I never would have written one word. Do things the old school way, get out a pencil and paper and write. Don’t worry about spelling or punctuation or sentence structure, just write! You can fix all of that later when you start typing it up. And YOU type it up, don’t give it to someone to do for you. When you do it will give you a perspective that you didn’t have before, and it can help you edit things and tighten up the loose ends and it will help you to become disciplined and focused.

What are you most excited about regarding the release of this book?

I’m excited for the Believers, the Christians, to read my book because it’s not just a book to read and put down and say, “Well that was a nice story.” No, this book will be something different. I want this to be a book they can use in their bible studies, something that will help them to deepen their relationship with Christ. Yes, I realize that sounds like a lot but when they see the book in print they will understand.

Is there anything else you’d like to add that I haven’t covered?

Yes, there is. There are a lot of good and talented people in this town. Not just writers, and singers, and actors, I’m talking about every day, hardworking people. People who are working their butts off for their families and never get any credit for it. I’d like to say to all of you and to anyone who reads these words, Thank you!

Thank you for your love, your passion, your hard work. Congratulations on all of the achievements you’ve accomplished in your life that you should have gotten credit for but didn’t. Not just for those accomplishments but for working your job every single day to provide for your families. That takes hard work too and you deserve to be recognized for that. Life is hard and we need to say, “Good job,” and “Congratulations,” and “Well done,” and “Way to go!,” to those people!

If are one of those people who feel invisible just like I do, then my love and prayers and everything I’ve said above goes to you! To those parents who are trying to provide for your families. The first responders and military who work so hard for us. To those cashiers at the store. To those folks who work in convenience stores and everyone who needs some love, thank you and job well done.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Tangled Hearts

Written By: Peggy Sue Clay

Paperback: October 2, 2022

Front Cover:

Katie is torn between the two men she loves the most while trying to juggle work, friends, and an attempt on her life.

Back Cover:

Despite a small bump in the road a few months ago, Katie’s life was fairly uneventful; that is, until an old friend of her brother’s is killed. After the funeral her life is turned completely upside down as she is confronted with her past which results in her having to flee the city for her safety. Can the killer be stopped? Find out!

https://www.amazon.com/Tangled-Hearts-between-friends-attempt/dp/B0BH513CD7