About Susan
Encouragement for Every Season
Hi , I’m Susan. I’m a speaker, author, and jewelry maker who shares encouragement, connection, hope, and possibility with authenticity and heart, especially for the times when life seems messy or gets downright hard.
Through speaking, writing, and creative work, I help women cultivate courageous resilience and live with intention. My words aren’t about ignoring the struggle — they’re about choosing hope, strength, and purpose in the middle of it.
Who I Write and Speak For
Hope’s contagious, and I love reminding women they’re enough, their stories matter, and that they matter. If you’re looking for hope, encouragement, connection, or just a friendly reminder that you’re not alone, I write for you.
I write for women with dreams who are still figuring out how to get there. Because when we share hope and lean on each other, we spark resilience, rise stronger, and find the courage to say, “I can do this.”
I speak and write for anyone who’s ever felt:
A Little About Me
I’m a speaker, writer, and creative who loves photography and enjoys making jewelry out of sea glass, wire, or clay. I love transforming what was once broken into a beautiful treasure that can remind us all that we may all have a season when we feel broken but, we don’t stay that way.
I believe some of the most powerful things we can do are show up for each other – holding space, reminding one another of our strength when we forget, laughing together, dreaming about what’s possible, and helping each other take the next steps. We can walk forward with hope knowing that we’re never truly alone, life is richer when we journey together, and God is bigger than any challenge we will ever face.
A Few Things I Love
The beach
Sunrises and Sunsets
Long talks with good friends
Trail walks with my dog
Photography
Lake time
Being Creative
Family time
My Journey
What began as a spark to share my story has unfolded into a journey of writing, speaking, creating, and living with hope.
2011
Inspired by a speaker’s transparency through hardship, I realized sharing our stories can spark hope. It was time for me to share mine. I began to write.
2012
My memoir won the Grand Prize in the Guideposts and Inspiring Voices Manuscript Contest, proof that courage to a step can open unexpected doors.
2013
A Search for Purple Cows: A True Story of Hope was published by Guideposts Books, a dream I couldn’t have imagine was possible.
2015
I joined the faculty of the SpeakUp Conference to help other writers and speakers take bold steps toward their own calling.
2016
I began speaking at women’s events, retreats, and conferences across the U.S., discovering the power of sharing encouragement and hope with audiences.
2017
I began crafting jewelry from seaglass, reminders that even what’s been broken can be transformed into something beautiful.
2020
I added clay jewelry to my collection, continuing to find creativity and resilience in new forms.
2024
A sudden trip to the ER led to my second open-heart surgery, a powerful reminder of the gift of each new day and that no tomorrow is ever promised. The scare brought a renewed sense of urgency to my writing, speaking, and creative goals.
2025
I began creating hammered jewelry out of metal, shaping hearts and crosses as an addition to my creative designs made from glass or clay. Each piece is a story of hope and faith.
Let’s stay connected…
A Search for Purple Cows
Find out why readers call A Search for Purple Cows an inspiring, compelling, and heartfelt read.
Looking for a Speaker?
I speak at retreats, conferences, or other group events bringing a relatable, hope-filled message that encourages hearts and inspires action.
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