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Susan Beckham Zurenda

Goodreads Author

Born

in Lancaster, SC, The United States

Website

https://www.susanzurenda.com

Genre

Fiction, Historical Fiction

Member Since

March 2019

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/sbzurenda

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After teaching literature, composition, and creative writing to thousands of high school and college students for 33 years, Susan Beckham Zurenda turned her attention to putting a novel in her heart on paper, the genesis of which was a short story that won the South Carolina Fiction Prize a number of years ago. Her debut novel, Bells for Eli (Mercer University Press, March 2020; paperback edition March 2021), was the first place winner for Best First Book—Fiction in the 2021 IPPY (Independent Publisher Book Awards), a Foreword Indie Book Award finalist, a Winter 2020 Okra Pick by the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, a 2020 Notable Indie on Shelf Unbound, a 2020 finalist for American Book Fest Best Book Awards, and was nominated fo ...more

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Susan Beckham Zurenda’s books

Average rating: 4.02 · 586 ratings · 144 reviews · 3 distinct works • Similar authors

	Bells for Eli 4.16 avg rating — 295 ratings — published 2020 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Girl from the Red Rose Motel 3.88 avg rating — 291 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	No Way Out but Through 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Susan Beckham Zurenda's Blog: Bells for Eli

Bells for Eli in NextTribe

Check out the fabulous review of "Bells for Eli" in NextTribe.

teaser from the review by Jeannie Ralston:
Bells for Eli, delivers a haunting coming-of-age narrative, a destroyed Southern childhood, forbidden love, and a tragic twist. Think of a Tennessee Williams story that takes place in the ’60s and ’70s.

2 likes · Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on December 12, 2020 09:03 • Tags: bells-for-eli

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Susan Zurenda rated a book it was amazing Girl from the Red Rose Motel by Susan Beckham Zurenda (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Nov 20, 2025 02:49PM · 2 likes · like
Susan Zurenda rated a book it was amazing Three Days in June by Anne Tyler (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Anne Tyler is an exquisite writer. I've read all her novels, and my favorite one shifts, depending on which I've recently read or reread. Right now it's her new novel, Three Days in June. I was deeply moved by this quiet story of divorced couple Gail ...more
Sep 18, 2025 09:09PM · 2 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Three Days in June by Anne Tyler. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Three Days in June by Anne Tyler <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Susan Zurenda rated a book it was amazing Blame It On Paris by Helen Aitken	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Helen Aitken’s new novel, Blame it on Paris, starts with the perfect title and continues from there. I highly recommend this romantic comedy threaded with loads suspense as four old friends, Chloe, Samantha (Sam), Beau, and Matt ironically meet again ...more
Aug 14, 2025 07:37AM · like · see review
Susan Zurenda and 5 other people liked Lynda Loigman's review of The Collected Regrets of Clover: "Such a heartwarming and beautiful story. ❤️"
Jun 22, 2025 09:43PM · see review
Susan Zurenda rated a book it was amazing The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Brammer writes with depth and accomplishment on the subject of death. Main character Clover is a death doula, lovingly devoted to her dying clients. At the same time, her job is an escape from her own life, an excuse not to move forward after the dea ...more
Jun 22, 2025 09:11PM · like · see review
Susan Zurenda rated a book it was amazing The Faculty Lounge by Jennifer Mathieu (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
As an author and former English teacher for 33 years, I speak with authority when I say this novel is real and affecting. Centered around the on-campus death of retired teacher Bob Lehrer, the narrative revolves around educators' lives at Baldwin Hig ...more
Jun 16, 2025 08:08PM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Faculty Lounge by Jennifer Mathieu. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Faculty Lounge by Jennifer Mathieu <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Susan Zurenda rated a book it was amazing The Women by Kristin Hannah (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I came of age during the Vietnam War, and I appreciated this story of women's roles in the war, somethig we heard little about while the war raged. I found the scenes convincing and the characters captivating. I'm giving the book 5 stars, though I th ...more
Jun 16, 2025 08:04PM · 5 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Women by Kristin Hannah. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Women by Kristin Hannah <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Susan Zurenda is now following Adrienne and Otis Chandler
Jun 16, 2025 07:53PM
Susan Zurenda liked Pam Zysk's review of Girl from the Red Rose Motel: "I enjoyed reading this book but I must bring up something that bothered me. A Certified Nursing Assistant would not have access to narcotic medication. That is not in their scope of practice."
May 30, 2025 07:40PM · see review

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