I am published in epic fantasy and fantasy romance. I write romance under the pen name Susan Kelley and fantasy under my real name, Susan Gourley. My day job is as a high school health and PE teacher and as I remind everyone at every opportunity, this is my last year before retirement. I have two wonderful stepsons, three sons and a daughter. One son attends Penn State and my daughter is at Boston University. I love writing, reading, running, baking, needlework, jigsaw puzzles and family time most of all. I grew up in a large family on a dairy farm. If I write something about cows or baling hay, you can bet I know what I'm talking about. I'm pretty sure I can do the whole survival thing if that TV show, Revolution, come true. Enough about me. Go visit more blogs.
In staying with my hopes to give something back to people who have helped me along the way, I would like to mention my friend, Misty Simon, has a new book out, What's Life Without Sprinkles? If you like some laughs while you're reading, read one of Misty's books. Check out the great reviews she received on Amazon. I'll be telling you more about Misty and a blog project she's starting later this month. Some of you will be interested :)
Don't forget about A to Z sign up starting this Wednesday. I'll be on there the first day.
Do you need to reintroduce yourself? Signing up for A to Z? Like some laughter with your reading?
56 comments:
I love jigsaw puzzles too! Used to put them together with my dad. My kids think they're boring though. Glad to hear your kids are at such prestigous schools. Best wishes to them!
We love jigsaw puzzles. That is our New Year's Eve tradition.
Loved hearing more about you! Let's get together and talk about cows and baling hay.
You too, Betty?
Jigsaw puzzles will be popular forever. Lots of writers enjoy them, the challenge I think.
You need a countdown widget for your retirement!
I keep forgetting to read your book, so I'm making a mental note to fix that tonight when I get home from work.
Great to meet you, Susan, and congrats on your (almost) retirement. I'll bet farm life was pretty interesting...wouldn't mind trying it, myself, someday :)
Nice to meet you Susan. I'm a fan of jigsaw puzzles and running too. I also like cooking but I'm terrible at baking. For some reason, I always mess things up when it comes to putting anything in the oven, lol! I also enjoy fantasy and romance so I'm definitely going to check out your books. (;
We love jigsaw puzzles here, too! I'm going to swing over and have a looksie at your books!
My son and I do puzzles too. Sounds like you keep yourself busy! BTW... I do talk fast. Lol. You had me cracking up on my blog.
Jigsaw puzzles help me focus and relax. They're perfect for a wintery night or snowy day.
Glad you reintroduced yourself.
Last year before retirement. That's great. Are you the stay busy all the time type or the sit and do nothing type?
Glad to re-meet you Susan.
As a child, we always had jigsaw puzzles... but I haven't done one in ages...
I'm definitely signing up for the A to Z Challenge. I agree with Alex about the retirement countdown widget. *chuckles*
I'm off off check out your books.
Hello Susan thanks for your comment and being a follower.
I really enjoyed your post, I used to do lots of jig saws when I was a child, and of course when my own children were small.
I look forward to reading more of your post.
Yvonne.
I used to love jigsaw puzzles but they don't work very well with cats. ;)
Looking at those sprinkles made me hungry!
Jigsaw puzzles are so much fun. My family does them all the time. :) Really cool that you grew up on a farm, that must've been fun!
Great to meet you again, Susan. I was teetering about AtoZ, but decided to do it. I actually loaded up A, B, and C today. Sick, huh?
Hey, Susan!
I bet you could tell us some interesting dodge-ball stories,lol. Oh, the life of a dairy farmer, early to rise and early to bed. I've spent time on my aunt's farm, so I've seen how it all goes down. It's nice meeting you! I look forward to learning more about your fab life. :)
Baking, hmmmm, I love cookies and cakes, just not chocolate ones. Retiring, uh? Just more time to writing. Nice to meet you! :D
very interesting post! I am happy to know more about you!
Hi Susan. I've seen you around the ridges but it is lovely to know more about you. You must be excited about your upcoming retirement. Will that mean lots more writing?
My kids enjoying doing jigsaw puzzles, but then give up half way through. We have so many unfinished puzzles and lost pieces all over the place. :P
I hope you enjoy your final year before retirement.
It's very cool to have two names for two genres. I wouldn't like to work in just one genre, but I worry if I published one thing that was successful (I wish, lol!) people would keep wanting the same thing. Good solution.
Seems a lot of writers like jigsaws. I won't go into the whole comparison to putting a plot together... but I do remember being very satisfied at completing a 1000 piece one as a child which was a history of WWII, kind of in the format of a comic strip. I think they're very underrated by kids!
I love reading, writing, baking, and family time too! How neat it must've been for you to grow up on a dairy farm-- you must've gotten your milk very fresh!
Nice to meet you! Thanks for stopping by my blog, too :) I'll have to check out your books--I love a good epic fantasy!
I used to do puzzles all the time. Actually, today I sat down with my son and tried to explain jigsaw puzzles to him with his new one. I can't wait for the A to Z! :)
Congrats on your retirement. Good thing you have writing to keep you from getting bored. I might consult you if I need some dairy farm info for a novel :)
Nice to re-meet you, Susan!
You are very accomplished and clearly have a family that is doing well too! I know nothing about farming except cows are cute! :)
Hey Susan!! Nice to re-meet you again. :)
I was so busy meeting people again and a few for the first time, I haven't checked back here to answer questions.
Retirement will mean lots more writing time for me. I'm never bored because I have so many things I want to do, usually all at the same time.
Yes, I spend those years on the farm getting up very early. usually 4 am. The milk was fresh but dad always pasturized it.
Hi Susan. Nice to re-meet you. Word of caution in case you not already know this...beware of on-line jigsaw puzzles. Very addictive. You may never get any work done again. :-)
We used to put a bazillion-piece puzzle together on New Year's Day every year, but we haven't done that for a while. Last puzzle I did was 3-D, and a whole different kind of challenge.
Nice to re-meetcha.
Great blogfest!
Thanks for the mention of the A to Z Challenge. Sign-ups open tomorrow!
Nice to meet you, Susan, and thanks again for stopping by my blog earlier. I love that show Revolution, although I hope nothing like that really happens. :) Once upon a time I cross-stitched and loved it but that was before kids. I still have a big storage tub of all my needlework, thread, design books, etc. waiting for my kids grow up and move out. Then I'll be back in business. LOL!
I like the suggestion above for a retirement countdown widget. I'm going to be needing one of those in the next few years. There must be days when you're just counting the seconds. ;) Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier, and I'll look forward to reading more from you.
Are you counting the days till retirement yet? The best part is being close enough to count down the lessons. ;-)
A high school health and PE teacher? Wow, you have your work cut out for you in these unhealthy times! Keep those kids moving!
My parents are very much into jigsaw puzzles! We spent many hours together putting them together and we still do, just less frequently.
Thanks for stopping by my blog! That's a great reintroduction, it's nice to meet you! Congratulations on your upcoming retirement, I bet you can't wait! :)
Hi Susan, Thanks for popping 'round the nut-tree. Always nice to meet new folks.
Life without sprinkles is a plain affair to be sure. My three year old just made a sprinkle "soup" the other day, and it was a thing of beauty to behold!
~Just Jill
Wow you're a busy lady! Congrats on your upcoming retirement! :D
Man, it's been forever since I did a puzzle! Nice to meet you. :)
It's great to get to know more about you, Susan. And congratulations on your upcoming retirement! I can imagine you are counting the days LOL.
Hi Susan! Thanks so much for your visit. I enjoyed getting to know about you (this is my first visit).
I look forward to reading your books sometime soon.
We have been having fun so far (he played last Jan. in the Army/All American game) and look forward to traveling this fall to watch Tyler play.
Thank you,
Kathy M.
Survival skills are a definite advantage of growing up on a farm. I have no such abilities and am further hampered by a distinct lack of common sense. If the apocalypse happens, I'm going to go beg someone who grew up on a farm to protect me.
Ooh enjoy your last year before retirement! Interesting post, nice to learn more about you!
As usual, I am a day late and a dollar short, but I love getting to know you a little better! Puzzles are one of the quibbles my hubby and I have. I like to do them, but hard ones, and he hates anything OUT for days on end. I've suggested a 'puzzle table' (one with two tops, so you can close up the undone puzzle between layers so the cat won't fling the pieces everywhere)
So fun meeting you! I love all your loves! Oh wait, I don't know how to do needlework... but I bet if I did, I would love it. ;-)
Thanks for stopping by my blog, too.
I love knowing you come from a big family. Big families are the best!
Yes, Susan, you did get my word beat! Retirement is my favorite dream word, that even beats out winning the lottery! Congrats on your soon to be retiring.
What a life. Maybe you should sign up for The Amazing Race. I love jigsaw puzzles too.
What a fun title, life without sprinkles. Good stuff.
I'm a huge fan of jigsaw puzzles too. Love your list of Loves :)
No electricity? No internet? Boy, what would I do :(
........dhole
I think I may have been here since the beginning, Sue. :)
And Misty is a great author and person!! Glad she'll be making an appearance here soon!
Congratulations on your impending retirement! It is always good when someone knows what it is they're talking about when they write it.
Shannon at The Warrior Muse
Very nice to meet you!
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