This is Who I Am

Susan is a California Native

I was born in Riverside, California, the child of a lieutenant colonel in the army. As such, I had the travelling jones installed in me at a very young age because my father got a new and better assignment from the Army every few months.

Another thing I had installed was a love of the ocean. As a result,every so often, I have to get up and move around, and at least once every two or three years, I have to find a big body of water to hang around near for a few days. I don't know what it is. I just have to have it.

Susan Gets It All from Her Family

I got my love for space from my father and my love of science fiction from my brother. After a cliff diving accident prevented him from continuing with the paratroopers, Dad worked in procurement, which meant he got to deal with the aerospace people all the time. He brought home pamphlets for me about how the moonshots were done, how spacecraft and missiles work, and why we were doing it.

Science fiction naturally came next, but my brother was the example there. He turned me on to Asimov, Heinlein, and Star Trek. Can't say enough about Star Trek. Particularly the original series with William Shatner, my first crush. Be still my heart!

Susan and the Writing Habit

Ah, but the writing, you ask. Well, Hemingway said it best. When asked why he writes, he said simply, "It's easier than not writing." I've got to write. There just isn't any way for me not to. When I was younger, if I couldn't think of any stories to tell, I'd write long letters. My friends used to hate getting letters from me, because I didn't seem to know when to shut up. Still don't, according to my sweetie.

As an adult, my love for writing, and my need for a good story just naturally combined into a single element. Novels and stories. I write things I'd probably enjoy reading if I found them in the bookstores, little gems waiting to be discovered.

I hope you'll look into some, and I hope you enjoy them. I write them for you.

Susan on the Web

Other places to find me

Susan's Hangouts

NASA - Sally Ride beat me into space, but I'm still going someday!

NASA Jet Propulsion Lab - 'nuff said, I think!

Space.com - All the space news updates you want and more.

This Week in Science - A wonderful morning DJ team-style podcast of the latest science updates.

Science Friday - A webcast and blog lifted straight from NPR.

The New Scientist - A slightly left leaning magazine with all sorts of new stuff.

Susan's Pals

J.P. Edwards - Urban fantasy writer who definitely deserves a look. Dragons are back and they have an agenda.

Jackie Kessler -

Colleen - in the Gardella chronicles, she has created a world in which Buffy meets Regency. Very cool!

Rhonda Grasle - Hilarious stuff! Can't say enough.

Stefani Worthen

Writing Links

Romance Writers of America - enough said.

Science Fiction Writers of America - has lots of good information for new and current writers.

Carolyn Jewel -

Mary Soon Lee -

Mark Worthen's myspace - has lots of links for new writers

William Shunn - has an article on manuscript formatting that is not to be missed.