July 2026

I have always wanted to be a writer. I have always written. I wasn’t much of a diary writer, but I loved to get hold of a blank notebook and write—in my bedroom, under a tree, on a bench in a park, or in the car—happy to spend time by myself as I watched the world drift by.

English wasn’t my best subject at school, as the teachers that I can remember, either told me to expand my horizons beyond the horse and pony books I read by the dozen (the Pullein-Thompson sisters rocked my world into my young teenage years) or to not be so ‘creative’ in my written stories! While I continued writing, it was for myself, and the only evidence was the growing collection of notebooks under my bed.

Fast forward several decades to one dark, wintery night coming home on a bus from work in September 2017, and for some reason ‘you should be a writer’ popped into my head. I don’t know where the thought came from, but I reached for my phone and typed something like ‘how to write a novel’ into Google. The first page I came across was a reference to a blog post from Joanna Penn of The Creative Penn. I read the post and jumped to several others linked within, and by the time I got home two hours later, I was sure of the next chapter in my life.

Six weeks later, I chanced upon an opportunity to work with an established author and what I thought was going to be my first book, Planet, the start of this journey. It sounded so easy, but the time since has been difficult. Has there been some procrastination? Of course! However, there has also been a chronic blood cancer diagnosis and the associated whirlwind of emotions that impact one’s mental health, plus other global, life, and family events that vie for attention. I have additional drivers now that push me to get books written.

At a writer’s retreat Christmas 2019, I suggested to a friend/mentor that ‘Christmas Crackers’ would be an excellent concept for a Christmas cozy mystery anthology. I was invited to be part of the idea that grew legs and became a reality. We published in October 2020, with Planet pushed into the background. From my perspective at least, we had wonderful success with the anthology. We hit number 1 in our categories across countries and stores. The anthology was time-limited, and while the other authors went on to release their contributions in some shape or form, mine sits on the computer, so it is too late for you to read it now (but maybe one day).

How do I feel about this? I retired from my academic day job and now work locally as a nurse, but I still love to learn. While I cannot begin to list everything I have learnt over the last few years, about the craft of writing, I still learn something every day. I feel more comfortable in the words I get down on a page, but now I have to learn about cover design, advertising campaigns, and so many things I can’t even remember them.

I took part in another cozy anthology, and this time released the book myself when I was able. Although I have never advertised Familiar Unspelled, I sell copies through a multitude of online bookstores.

I have now finished my first full-length novel, The Ghost with a Very Cold Case, and once it is professionally edited, I can’t wait for readers to sit down with it.

I have often thought of these few years as a rollercoaster. Now I think I was on the toddler version that was more of a happy caterpillar navigating bumps in the grass. I am about to step onto the adult version—the Mad Mouse version—that was at the Adelaide Royal Show way back last century.

I look forward in meeting you, even if only here on a page, and in sharing my journey with you now that I have clear goals in mind.

Wishing you lots of great reads to brighten your days and nights in your cosy reading nook.

Susanne.

The photo is of Maya. She was my companion for 12 years and inspired Maisie in Familiar Unspelled. With great sadness, she passed in February this year. For those who read the book, I hope you fall at least a little bit in love with Maisie. Those who have read the book to this point in time (aged 11-88) have all fallen for Maisie, and yes, her orange cloud of hair followed her everywhere.