Author: Susan Brooks

Categories
Writer Encouragement

Procrastination Disguised as Learning

Years ago, I heard someone say, “Start by doing what you already know to do instead of worrying about everything you don’t know about the Bible.” Most of us know we should love others and love God, and if we started doing those two things, we’d be a long way towards being a good disciple of Jesus.

Procrastination or Preparation?

This principle can also be applied to writing. I love learning, and I’m so thankful for all of the trainings, blogs, podcasts and videos about the writing process. How to get published, how to build platform, how to develop characters—videos and trainings abound on the internet. But I came to the point a few months ago where I needed to just stop. I had filled stacks of notebooks with great ideas about writing, but I wasn’t writing or building platform or doing much of anything besides studying about how to do it all.

Use What You Already Have

As a family, we spent several years living in Mozambique, Africa. The Mozambicans were great about using what they already had—even what we would consider garbage—to make necessities as well as art or recreational equipment.

For example, with the help of his Mozambican friend, my 12-year-old son Kirk unraveled a length of nylon rope into many short strands. The two of them spent hours tying them together end to end for a kite string. Then they used a plastic grocery bag over two sticks tied together in a cross shape for the kite and scraps of rope for the tail. Believe it or not—it flew sky high. As we drove around during the windy season, we dodged dozens of kids flying plastic bag kites.

When we visited the city, we sometimes went to the open-air market to see the arts and crafts. We marveled at carvings and paintings and handmade sculptures, and again, they used whatever could be found. Some artists created tiny bicycles out of bits of wire they collected. The ingenuity of the Mozambicans struck me as wonderful.

Loaves and Fishes

This reminds me of the story of the five loaves and two fishes in Matthew 14:13-21. The people were hungry, and the disciples only found five loaves and two fishes. Jesus instructed them to work with the supplies they found on hand. Then Jesus gave thanks, broke the loaves and passed out the bread. In the end, everyone ate and was satisfied. They even had leftovers.I wonder if we could follow this pattern as we think about writing. We need to make the most of what we have. Perhaps we can offer our writing time to God, give thanks and trust him to provide.

Focus on the Important

With our faith and with our writing, it’s great to learn, but putting it into practice is the important part. Even with platform building, I kept learning what to do and how, but I finally had to grit my teeth and make those videos, instead of taking another course on how-to. I’m not suggesting we should stop learning—never! And I’m not throwing away my stacks of notebooks. I’m challenging you, writers, to take out the notes, and write the characters according to what you’ve learned or make the video before you do one more training. Use what you already have. Act upon what you already know.

Jesus Offers Living Water

Jesus gave this invitation: “On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’ By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive” (John 7:37-39a, NIV).

We can ask the author of life for living water, and He will give us inspiration for our writing. Ask yourself this question: Am I procrastinating by watching another training video, or am I going to put the information into practice immediately?

Jump In

Sometimes, jumping in is the only thing to do. Stephen King says it this way: “Writing is magic, as much the water of life as any other creative art. The water is free. So drink. Drink and be filled up.”

In 1996, Susan E. Brooks moved to Mozambique, Africa, with her family where she taught art and English at an international high school and started journaling about her adventures. Her stories of struggles and victories in Mozambique are now published on her blog in a series entitled “Mozambican Odyssey.” She has since lived in Portugal, Ghana, and Cyprus, as well as in her home state of Kentucky, USA.

Meanwhile, nine grandchildren have come along, and she is inspired to write and illustrate a children’s book for each of them. Susan has self-published four children’s books and she writes a regular column for patheos.com.

Categories
Writer Encouragement

Do It for Love

Jesus, always loving and full of joy, taught and shared his stories lavishly as he feasted with anyone who would welcome him. Extravagantly giving of himself and his time, he never hoarded possessions, stories, encouragement, or energy.

What if this radical, joyful giving is the attitude we need as creatives? Dance, sing, paint, write—fling it all out upon the world, trusting God will provide as we use the gifts He has given.

Sounds lovely, but how do we get to that point of abandonment? How do we work for love of God and the reader? A number of obstacles can block loving, artistic flow, but let’s examine self-doubt and fear of rejection.

Banish Self-doubt

Poet Silvia Plath said, “The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” Self-doubt is a tool of the enemy. In order to squelch the negative, we can drown out the noise with better voices, basking in truth and encouragement. Identify your sources of encouraging words and the truths you need to remember.

What books, scriptures, friends, or relatives tell you the words you need to hear? If we connect to the Source, then God’s life flows through us to bless others in a continuous stream. How do we stay connected? Post favorite scriptures in your writing area, spend time in the Bible or good books, call a friend, or do whatever it takes to silence the voice of self-doubt.

Conquer Fear of Rejection

Jesus expressed no worries over how his teaching would be received, though he knew eventually his words would lead to his death. He was so in touch with the Father that he spoke freely, with joy, inviting others to the living water that flowed constantly from his heart. His motives were pure and entirely unselfish.

On a good day, when I’m full of faith, love, and hope, rejections don’t bother me much. (On a bad day, it feels like running a gauntlet of wet leather gloves smacking me on the face, but let’s not go there!) My motives rooted in love, I can trust God has a better plan for my writing, and that he is working his plan for my good. He knows who needs to read what I write and where it needs to be published. He knows my past and future and arranges circumstances to bring about his perfect will.

God Goes Before Us

Sometimes it’s hard to trust that God is working everything out, yet I have seen evidence of this again and again. For example, some years ago we were in Cyprus, sharing a meal with students from the local university where I taught English. Somehow the scriptures came up in our conversation, and my husband and I started sharing Bible stories with the group, who happened to be Muslims. One of them kept finishing the stories before we could. “How do you know so many Bible stories?” we asked him.

“One time while I was teaching back in my home country, a group from the states came to our school and gave out Bibles. After they left, school authorities demanded we surrender the Bibles, but I tucked mine up the sleeve of my jacket and read it whenever I could,” he said.

Years after the teacher hid the Bible up his sleeve, God arranged for us to meet and bond over Bible stories. We became good friends, and we keep in touch to this day. The Spirit worked through that meeting, and I am trusting he will continue to work in the future.

Do It for Love

Rejection is not lethal when we remember God is in control, and we write from a place of love. Not to say that we don’t edit, accept feedback, and study to grow and learn our craft, but after that we trust God to provide a way to share our gifts, the “good works which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph. 2:10). It’s not about us, and we do it for love.

In 1996, Susan E. Brooks moved to Mozambique, Africa, with her family where she taught art and English at an international high school and started journaling about her adventures. Her stories of struggles and victories in Mozambique are now published on her blog in a series entitled “Mozambican Odyssey.” She has since lived in Portugal, Ghana, and Cyprus, as well as in her home state of Kentucky, USA.

Meanwhile, nine grandchildren have come along, and she is inspired to write and illustrate a children’s book for each of them. Susan has self-published four children’s books and she writes a regular column for patheos.com.

In recent years, her stories have been published by Peace Catalyst International and in an anthology entitled Prayer Warrior Confessions. Follow Susan’s adventures and her art on her websiteL susanebrooks.com, Facebook susanbrooksart, and on Instagram @sebrooks81.

Categories
Writer Encouragement

No Turning Back

After conquering the first challenging rock face, I paused to look down at the path we had just climbed. Quitting was not an option. Going backwards at this point felt like a death wish. Edging down the cliff on slick sandstone outcroppings with my bum knee that could go out any moment? No way. What choice did I have but to go forward? My son assured me we were nearly past the difficult part and beyond the next rise we would start the journey downward by a much easier route.

I wasn’t sure I could make the journey ahead of me, but I had gone too far to turn back now. I forged ahead and with much help from my family, I finished the hike, exhausted but happy.

As serious writers, we can set up circumstances in our lives that will, in effect, place us in a position of no turning back from our writing journey. Most of us feel pressure to meet certain expectations—either our own expectations or those placed upon us by others. Commitments, deadlines, and goal setting can provide accountability and lead us forward. We may have to stretch ourselves and ask for help from family and friends, but if we press on, a tipping point will come. It will become easier to keep writing than to quit.

Reverse Engineer Expectations

Someone discovers your talent for cooking or sewing or anything slightly unique, and from then on, they expect you to complete a certain task, whether you want to or not. Ever happen to you?

A trivial example from my life is baking pecan pie—well, okay, pecan pie is not trivial. Apparently, I make the best pecan pie of anyone on both sides of my extended family, so for years and to this day, it’s my job to bake the pecan pies for our family holidays. No one cares whether I might like to try chocolate pie or blueberry pie or any other dessert. I’m great at pecan pie and that’s what they expect from me, so I do it because— “Tradition!” (You should be hearing the theme from Fiddler on the Roof.)

The point is, for the most part, we do what is expected of us, and we can turn this to our advantage. What do we want people to expect from us? I desire to write regularly and to share with an audience to bless, encourage, and/or inform them in some way. How can I find a group or a person who will require my writing? Of course, we’d all love to have a publisher pay us, but until we get there, I have a few suggestions that will put good pressure on us to write regularly.

Join a Critique Group

Joining a critique group has many advantages over Lone Ranger writing. We may be introverts, but until we reach Stephen King status, most of us need the help of others to keep growing and stay energized.

Critique groups, like authors, come in many different shapes and colors. Search the web for local writers’ critique groups or ask around in your online writers’ groups until you find one that fits your personality. I was happy to find a group requiring a certain level of commitment. As a kid in school, I always did my homework, so if a group is requiring a submission from me each month, I will complete the assignment. This is one way to reverse engineer the kind of pressure you want for the sake of motivation.

Find a Deadline, Submit, and Start Small

Once you have a critique group, you can get help with submissions to publishers. Using the Writer’s Market Guide or online research, find deadlines listed by publishers for submissions. Some accept freelance submissions year-round, others have submission periods certain times of the year, and contests have definite deadlines. Allow plenty of lead time before any publisher or contest deadlines and ask your critique group to give you feedback on your future submissions.

If you’re an unpublished beginner, start with short submissions for devotions or magazine articles and volunteer to write for church or non-profit publications. It’s wonderful to receive pay, but in the early stages of your career, being published is valuable in itself.

Set Goals

In addition to the requirements of a critique group or publishers, we need to create our own goals and expectations. It’s easier to fulfill the expectations of others, but I am praying for the self-discipline to achieve my personal goals. List your goals and keep track of them; for example, I plan to have at least twelve submissions out at all times. As soon as I receive a rejection, I send out another submission.

If twelve sounds daunting, set a lower number. Plan your days and set word count goals, submissions goals, or simply commit to spending a certain number of hours per day writing. Ultimately, while God is in charge of our destiny, we are in charge of our daily decision-making. Like my rock-climbing experience, once you make it to a certain level in your writing journey, it becomes easier to keep moving forward than to turn back.

What helps you stay motivated to write? Do you tend to meet the expectations of others more than your own? I’d love to hear your comments.

In 1996, Susan E. Brooks moved to Mozambique, Africa, with her family where she taught art and English at an international high school and started journaling about her adventures. Her stories of struggles and victories in Mozambique are now published on her blog in a series entitled “Mozambican Odyssey.” She has since lived in Portugal, Ghana, and Cyprus, as well as in her home state of Kentucky, USA.

Meanwhile, nine grandchildren have come along, and she is inspired to write and illustrate a children’s book for each of them. Susan has self-published four children’s books so far.

In recent years, her stories have been published by Peace Catalyst International and in an anthology entitled Prayer Warrior Confessions. Follow Susan’s adventures and her art on her websiteL susanebrooks.com, Facebook susanbrooksart, and on Instagram @sebrooks81.

Categories
Writer Encouragement

Secrets of Successful Authors

The writer’s life is full of challenge and discouragement, rejection and struggle. The famous authors we admire surely never went through this much, we may think to ourselves. But what if they did? Then maybe there’s hope for us. Let’s consider what a few well-known authors endured before becoming famous. What are their work habits, and how did they keep going? How old were they when they started? It might surprise you.

Work Habits of the Famous

For a time, Maya Angelou’s work pattern was to rent a hotel room and go every morning to write from about 6:30 am to 12:30 or 1:00pm. Stephen Pressfield has a daily ritual which includes donning lucky shoes and invoking the Muse. He sits in the same spot every day and writes until he starts making typos, and that’s it, about four hours. To him, the number of pages or the quality doesn’t matter at that point, he has beaten Resistance. Stephen King aims for 2,000 words a day, about ten pages, which can take him anywhere from a few hours of the morning or until suppertime, depending on how it goes. But then there’s Victor Hugo, who insisted his valet hide his clothes, so he couldn’t get dressed until he had completed his first draft. If only I had a valet….

From Rejection to Fame

After all the hours dedicated to writing them, some of the world’s most successful books were rejected dozens of times before finally being published. For example, The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, was rejected sixty times before becoming wildly successful and being made into a blockbuster movie. Stephen King’s Carrie was rejected thirty times until he threw it into the garbage. His wife retrieved it, and it became the first of fifty worldwide best sellers. Beatrix Potter was rejected so many times that she decided to self-publish. Rejection, no matter how excruciating, might not mean your book is trash. Instead, it might indicate you haven’t found the right publisher yet, and that publisher just might be you.

It’s Never Too Late

Okay, you may think, but most famous writers got started young, and I’m not young. It’s too late for me. Let’s see about that. (And if you are young, Jan Karon has advice for you below.) Many famous writers began later in life. Frank McCourt, author of Angela’s Ashes, got started at age sixty-six, and Laura Ingalls Wilder at age 64, with her ever-popular Little House on the Prairie series.

Jan Karon didn’t start the Mitford series until after she quit her job at an advertising agency at age fifty. She gave this advice to would-be writers in an interview with CBN:

If God has given you a dream, you’d better get cracking because He wants you to use it. That’s why He gives them to us in the first place…. We can’t say, “I’m too fat,” or “I’m too thin,” or “My husband wouldn’t like it,” or “My kids wouldn’t like it,” or “I’m too old,” or “I’m too young,” or “I’m too tired.” Just get moving!

CBN interview by Belinda Elliot

Thank you so much, Jan Karon, I think I will!

In 1996, Susan E. Brooks moved to Mozambique, Africa, with her family where she taught art and English at an international high school and started journaling about her adventures. Twenty-six of the stories of struggles and victories in Mozambique are now published on her blog in a series entitled “Mozambican Odyssey.” She has since lived in Portugal, Ghana, and Cyprus, as well as in her home state of Kentucky, USA.

Meanwhile, nine grandchildren have come along, and she is inspired to write and illustrate a children’s book for each of them. Susan has self-published four children’s books so far.

Categories
Writer Encouragement

Earthlings Are Watching

You need to write, but you don’t feel like it. You have nothing to say, nowhere to start. You have a deadline, or a great idea, yet your brain is clogged. Some call it writer’s block. Best-selling author Jodi Picoult said,

“I don’t believe in writer’s block. Think about it—when you were blocked in college and had to write a paper, didn’t it always manage to fix itself the night before the paper was due? Writer’s block is having too much time on your hands.”

Jodi Picoult Quotes. BrainyQuote.com, BrainyMedia Inc, 2020+.

That may be true, but for those of us with “too much time on our hands,” these suggestions might help.

Just Start

Get your coffee or tea, sit down at your desk, and pray! Then start writing. Compose a prayer if nothing else comes to mind. When your head is full of negative emotions, get all of your angst out onto the paper, such as, “I can’t think of a blessed thing to write about, and maybe I should quit writing anyway. Nobody wants to read what I write.”

Yes, we’ve all been there. Get it out and then move on. It may even be useful later for something like a column on “Writer Encouragement.” Just start somewhere, and as you do, chances are the Spirit will take over and lead you into something interesting God wanted you to say. Somewhere, in the midst of all of the mess you just spewed onto the paper, nuggets of gold may be hiding.

Give Thanks

Giving thanks may overcome writer’s block. List the myriad ways you are blessed. “I am thankful for the good health to sit in my chair and type.” When you have a deadline, “I am thankful someone wants my writing.” If you don’t have a deadline, “I am thankful for having all the time I need to do an excellent job.” Once you start the flow, it will become easier to keep going.

I have nine little blessings, ages one to fourteen, and they motivate me to write. After I wrote the first children’s book starring my granddaughter, my other grandchildren expected one as well. Everyone may not be blessed with grandchildren, but it may help to list the people you love. Consider how you want to write for their sakes—to encourage them, dedicate a book to them, leave a legacy of beautiful family stories, make them proud.

 Remember the Witnesses

A family trip to Red River Gorge, a famous rock-climbing spot in Kentucky, reminded me of an important truth. We were climbing a dangerous outcropping of rocks together. My adult children climbed ahead of me, offering a hand up when needed, and my husband stayed behind. I plastered my body against the slippery surface and slowly hoisted my weight from one tiny foot-hold indention in the rock to the next. My legs shaped angles they hadn’t formed in years. With plenty of help, I struggled through it.

With the final rise conquered under my feet, I realized a group of young climbers had been waiting above, watching and cheering me on! It reminded me of Hebrews 12:1.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)

Throw off all distractions—cell phones, the voice of the enemy, dirty laundry, alphabetizing the spice rack—and get to it. Remember, heaven is watching, and not only heaven, but earthlings as well!

In 1996, Susan E. Brooks moved to Mozambique, Africa, with her family where she taught art and English at an international high school and started journaling about her adventures. Twenty-six of the stories of struggles and victories in Mozambique are now published on her blog in a series entitled “Mozambican Odyssey.” She has since lived in Portugal, Ghana, and Cyprus, as well as in her home state of Kentucky, USA.

Meanwhile, nine grandchildren have come along, and she is inspired to write and illustrate a children’s book for each of them. Susan has self-published four children’s books so far.

In recent years, her stories have been published by Peace Catalyst International and in an anthology entitled Prayer Warrior Confessions. Follow Susan’s adventures and her art on her websiteL susanebrooks.com, Facebook susanbrooksart, and on Instagram @sebrooks81.

Categories
Writer Encouragement

Lessons from Bart

For years, I taught full-time, but it never quite satisfied my longing to create—to put into practice what I was teaching others. “Someday, I’ll quit teaching and pursue my dreams of becoming a writer,” I kept telling myself. And finally, I did just that.

“Oh, you’ve retired from teaching, and you’re taking it easy now!” seemed to be the implied if not the stated opinion of everyone who felt free to comment on my life choices.

Never Give Up

The truth is, I have been tempted to live up—or down—to those expectations. Writers face rejection constantly. We are misunderstood, or we don’t even get a hearing in the first place. “Why do I put myself through this?” I ask on a bad day when another “Dear Susan” rejection email arrives.

During one of those why-don’t-I-just-give-up mornings, I read the story of blind Bartimaeus. Bart had been waiting who knows how long for a chance to be healed. When he called out for Jesus, many told him to be quiet, “but he shouted all the more!” (Mark 10:48 NIV). The crowd thought Bart was wasting his time, but Jesus had a plan for him. He heard him, called him, and healed him.

When publishers reject my writing, friends expect me to kick back and relax, and voices in my head clamor, telling me to give up, I need to remember Jesus has called me. And perhaps, in time, he will heal me of the need for acceptance from anyone other than him.

Get Moving

To counteract discouragement, we can take concrete steps to improve our writing. Earlier this year, I joined a critique group which requires me to submit monthly. After a few months of writing with my group, an award-winning website gave me a column to write! This made me feel like a real writer—as opposed to the fake writer I was before—but then I got stuck. Certain I was delusional to think a monthly column would be a breeze, I panicked. I listened to the accuser in my head ask these questions: “What ever made you think you’re a writer, capable of working with a deadline? Why would you want to write a column every month? How will you come up with new ideas?”

To silence the voice in my head, I took a deep breath and went back to Bart. He not only kept calling out to Jesus but also bounced to his feet when Jesus called. He got moving, taking concrete steps toward his goal. We can do that too.

Hog-tie yourself to your writing chair—or not—but sit in your writing space and type, even if it reeks, just to get the thoughts flowing. Take a few minutes to read some great writing and ask yourself why you love it. Take a walk outdoors. Find practices that work for you and make a list for the times you are panicked. Move in a positive direction like Bart did.

Open Our Eyes

Jesus opened the eyes of Bartimaeus, both physically and spiritually. When we need inspiration, we can venture out into nature and ask God to open our eyes. I walk and pray in the fresh morning air, and my mind opens up to new ideas and the guidance of the Spirit. Sometimes I sit watching the birds, remembering that Jesus said not to worry for God takes care of the birds, and we are so much more precious to him than they.

The world may seem to be falling apart, but in nature we see tremendous beauty all around us, whispering that God is real, loving, and attentive to our needs. When the descending sunlight filters through the delicate leaves, backlit with dazzling golds and corals, we need to be still and open our eyes. In the changing colors of sunsets and sunrises, we experience the creativity of God, his gifts to us, abundant and new every morning and evening. G. K. Chestertonsaid, “Most probably we are in Eden still. It is only our eyes that have changed” (2011, 2). 

If we allow God to open our eyes, the writing will flow from his Spirit, his Breath, breathed in by us, his children.                           

Reference

Chesterton, G. K. 2011. In In Defense of Sanity, 2. San Francisco, CA: Ignatius Press.

In 1996, Susan E. Brooks moved to Mozambique, Africa, with her family where she taught art and English at an international high school and started journaling about her adventures. Twenty-six of the stories of struggles and victories in Mozambique are now published on her blog in a series entitled “Mozambican Odyssey.” She has since lived in Portugal, Ghana, and Cyprus, as well as in her home state of Kentucky, USA.

Meanwhile, nine grandchildren have come along, and she is inspired to write and illustrate a children’s book for each of them. Susan has self-published four children’s books so far.

Categories
Writer Encouragement

Top Five Books to Encourage Writers

Expect rejection, and don’t take it personally. Just keep writing. God is in control. This is my mantra. Most famous authors have been through years of rejection before finally breaking through the barriers we all face. The following books are full of encouragement to persevere, along with practical suggestions for improving your writing.

books to encourage writers

1. The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

Pressfield names “Resistance,” as the enemy that keeps us from writing. He shares how he finally faced Resistance after years of running from his calling.

Pressfield is like a drill sergeant ordering us to face down opposition daily and stop making excuses, but he’s an eloquent drill sergeant:

“Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. It’s a gift to the world and every being in it”

Pressfield, Steven. 2002. In The War of Art: Break through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles, 165. New York, NY: Black Irish Entertainment.

2. The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

If Steven Pressfield is a drill sergeant, Julia Cameron is a compassionate friend coaxing us into writing through playful exercises designed to jumpstart artistic expression. Wonderful for blocked writers, I found it affirming even though I didn’t feel blocked. Cameron reassures us that God is pleased with our creative efforts. She provides wisdom for dealing with crippling perfectionism and negativity. She also suggests practices such as “morning pages” and a weekly “artist date” to stimulate creative flow.

3. Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg

Fun and relaxing to read, Goldberg is honest and vulnerable. In this classic book, she shares her secrets, such as promising herself two chocolate chip cookies at her favorite bakery as a reward for writing. (My kind of gal!) Arranged into short chapters filled with engaging stories and concrete steps to establishing a writing routine, this gem is encouraging on every page.

4. Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

With her characteristic humor, Anne Lamott shares her experiences growing up with her writer father as she struggles to become a writer herself, and that’s just the introduction! Then she gives thorough instructions about getting started with short assignments, crafting characters, setting, plot—nearly everything you need to know about writing—punctuated with hilarious stories. She charms the reader to the last page.

5. On Writing by Stephen King

I am not a fan of horror, and this is the only Stephen King book I have ever read, but it is riveting.

“The nail in my wall would no longer support the weight of rejection slips impaled upon it. I replaced the nail with a spike and went on writing”

King, Stephen. 2000. In On Writing: a Memoir of the Craft, 41. N.Y., NY: Pocket Books.

King also includes nuts and bolts instruction on the craft of writing. It’s perfect, almost.

Dive into these books and press on toward the goal. Replace your “nail with a spike” and keep on writing!

In 1996, Susan E. Brooks moved to Mozambique, Africa, with her family where she taught art and English at an international high school and started journaling about her adventures. Twenty-six of the stories of struggles and victories in Mozambique are now published on her blog in a series entitled “Mozambican Odyssey.” She has since lived in Portugal, Ghana, and Cyprus, as well as in her home state of Kentucky, USA.

Meanwhile, nine grandchildren have come along, and she is inspired to write and illustrate a children’s book for each of them. Susan has self-published four children’s books so far.

In recent years, her stories have been published by Peace Catalyst International and in an anthology entitled Prayer Warrior Confessions. Follow Susan’s adventures and her art on her webisite: susanebrooks.com, Facebook susanbrooksart, and on Instagram @sebrooks81.