Hello my friends,

You have not heard from me for a while due to “severe cloudy weather.” My laptop screen became damaged and I had to replace the computer, which is not a quick thing to do from a rural, economically depressed region of the country. Even ordering and receiving a replacement took several more days than planned. There was also a delay in backing up my hard drive and transferring data to the new computer when it finally arrived.

Additionally, after an uplifting lunch with an author friend, I was heading home to see if the computer had actually arrived, as updated texts promised, when I was impactfully rear-ended by a large truck while I stopped at a stop sign on a busy two-lane road. Airbags deployed, the engine shut down as a safety device, and I was left blocking the road awaiting emergency response teams.

I was not hurt, thankfully, but stranded, shocked, detained, and worried about my husband’s reaction to both the serious situation and the severe damage to our vehicle.

In the course of this uproar after the immediate danger, I did learn how to download the Uber app and use it to get to the business that would help me ensure data transfer. The syncing of information has not been seamless and I am still trying to work my way around passwords that cease to function any longer.

Despite all of the "cloudy weather", I have been cared for by many lovely, kind people who provided welcome sunshine.  These are the folks we don’t find in the headlines, the ones who despite working out in dusty, sunny, 90+ degree weather are organized, tender, and kind: the emergency response teams who carefully attended to me and my safety, the driver of the offending vehicle and his supervisor who were friendly, cooperative and kind, the dear tow truck driver who insisted on taking me to my door and meeting my husband while providing advice about insurance estimates and car totals, the insurance adjustment administrator who shared stories with me about her little lap dog who accompanies her when she works online at home. 

There have been a whole lot of new people in my life who care for others and treat them well, not to mention helpful neighbors and friends who have been supportive. These are the people who do not receive focus in the news and social media, but they are there with sunny, warm smiles, and careful attention. While I have been overloaded with worry and inconvenience, I have been truly blessed with the positive, healing energy of many wonderful individuals.

Brief Updates

I have a rough draft of Episode 3 of Gram’s Story and will revise and publish that as soon as possible. Please stay tuned!

Work on formatting my non-fiction book, Beat A Retreat: An Invitation to Care for Self and To Love Life (Reflections on healthful self-care techniques) will begin again as my personal organization gets up to speed.

When I return home tomorrow, I’ll continue to work on preparations for my book signing at Main Street Books in Frostburg, MD, on Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 11:00 am-2:00 pm. featuring my latest novel, Disappearance at Sycamore Grove: A Journey of Courage, Forgiveness, and Acceptance. A recent reviewer said, “Suanne’s talent shines in her character development, crafting a cast that feels remarkably authentic…The pacing is balanced, making it an engaging page-turner. While the mystery drives the narrative, it's the authentic portrayal of family dynamics and personal growth that leaves a lasting impression.”

Thankfully, Calli was not with me during the car accident. She continues to faithfully attend and support my efforts at increasing my momentum after this lengthy hiatus.

Take care, my friends,

Suanne