Susan Quilty's Blog

I dreamed about my mom last night. My mom, who died when I was 13, 37 years ago. For years after she died, I dreamed about her all the time. I dreamed that she was alive. That her death was a mistake. A ruse. A misunderstanding.

In last night’s dream, we had a profound conversation that I can no longer remember. The wisps that remain are a mix of rumination and plans for the future. In my dream state, I knew exactly what I wanted out of the next phase of my life. I was explaining it to my mom as ...

During our recent trip to Newport, RI, we made a paperweight at Thames Glass. Since we’ve been back, several friends have said they’ve made blown glass ornaments. Said casually, like, oh yeah, we’ve done that. Um… is this a common couples activity that we’ve somehow overlooked for 26 years?

Glassmaking was not in our vacation plans before we got to Newport. We had a loose idea that we would visit some of the Gilded Age mansions, explore the Cliff Walk, and shop along the wharf. It was all part of...

We live in a society where we are frequently encouraged to compete. To be better. To be more. We long to contribute something meaningful, make the most of our lives, and stand out from the crowd. We strive to be special while overlooking contentment.

What if we didn’t? What if we didn’t climb the corporate ladder? Or keep up with the Joneses? What if we didn’t define our worth by status or by comparisons to others?

Competition is not necessarily bad. Setting goals, and wo...

Every spring and fall, Comic Logic Books and Artwork hosts Lot Con. This outdoor event fills their parking lot with a wide range of artists, authors, and vendors. It’s family and pet-friendly, featuring art and collectibles from many fandoms.

I will be back at Lot Con 2026 on May 17 from 12 to 4 pm.

Special guest Phillip Kennedy Johnson will also be there, signing comic books from 12 to 3 pm!

For me, Lot Con is a great chance to catch up with my comic book friends, who I don’t see as often as I’d l...

In a stranger-than-fiction moment, I stumbled into a scene from my second novel, To the Left of Death. This was an unplanned visit to a story setting. One that I only realized months after booking the hotel and days before leaving for my trip. Here’s what happened.

When writing fiction, I tend to create my own towns, loosely based on real places. In To the Left of Death, some characters take a road trip to New York City.

While I’ve visited New York City many times, we usually stay downtown, near T...

There are many inspirational sayings in yoga circles. One of these well-known aphorisms comes from Ashtanga guru Pattahbi Jois: Practice and all is coming.

The simple idea is that if you keep showing up—keep practicing consistently—all will fall into place.

It’s a lovely idea, but what does it actually mean? What “all” is coming to you?

Whether you’re applying this philosophy in your physical yoga practice or to aspects of your life off of your mat, it’s easy to become focused on a very specific go...

Questions about audiobooks come up at nearly every book event I attend. I get it. I’ve been wanting to produce my first audiobook for ages… It’s taken nearly 10 years, but I’ve finally made that happen!

While I had several books to choose from, my heart was set on starting with my first novel, The Insistence of Memory. Still, that was a difficult choice when there were strong arguments for starting with To the Left of Death, my only first-person novel, or Healers and Thieves, the first book in Th...

Heading into spring, it’s time for another Blend Coffee Bar Book Fair. This free event will be held on April 4, 2026, from 12-5 pm. It will include over 50 local authors, including me!

The book fair will be held on Blend Coffee Bar’s spacious patio and adjacent lawn. Authors will span a wide range of genres, making it easy to find books for yourself, your friends, and your family.

Blend Coffee Bar is a local business that supports the community with a variety of special events, including open mic ...

Let’s get real about meditation. You’ve already heard that meditation has proven benefits. You think it would be great to add some meditation to your day… in theory.

But your thoughts are like chattering voices that won’t be quiet. One judging what you are currently doing, another thinking about all the other things you need to be doing, another wondering if you’re hungry, maybe another singing an earworm, on repeat. And so on…

Trying to quiet those voices may seem impossible. That’s okay.

Luckily...

The day before the big winter storm of 2026, I was having a lovely time at Williams Gap Vineyard’s winter book fair.

This was my second book fair at Williams Gap Vineyard, after having a great time at their event last summer. While the June event was on their beautiful patio, this book fair was held in a cozy upstairs alcove.

With the forecasted storm, we were pleasantly surprised when the vineyard had a fantastic turnout with every table filled. While I’m sure many people had come for some wine a...