It's Time for a Coffee Break

Growing Up in a Military Family: How it Shaped My Writing (and Life) —a look at how constant moves influence my stories.

Dear Readers,

Don't get me wrong. I love to travel and could move to Hawaii, New Zealand, or England at the drop of a hat. It's something I understand about myself, and appreciate that my continued wellness depends on the potential for possibilities. When I was a kid, many, many years ago :), as a Marine Corps family, we crisscrossed the country, making the move from coast to coast to the next duty station more than a few times. Later, as a young married woman with a small son, we were stationed in England, and then Delaware before my husband got out of the service. He was in the Air Force. My mother was a nomad at heart and by this time, so was I.

How did moving so many times shape my writing? First, let me say... and I know it's a bit controversial but I'll say it anyway... moving and seeing more of the world gave me a bigger view and helped me see things more like a world citizen. I feel like I'm more sympathetic and that it helped me understand there is more going on in the world than just what is happening in my backyard.

So how has moving around and having seen more than just the small town I'm living in now informed my writing? Writers talk about their core story—the story that they always tell even if they change genres with every book they write. My core story has always been finding home. I didn't realize that at first, but as I look back at the novels I've published, either my hero or my heroine (until now, I have predominately written contemporary romance and women's fiction) are looking for that one place where their hearts can find peace—home. For example, in the series I just completed, the Strawberry Ridge Ranch series (about three estranged brothers, a ranch in trouble, and the strong women who win their hearts), in Book 1, The Prodigal Cowboy Returns is about Blake, who has been summoned home and Malorie who isn't looking for home, but who will find that special place by the end of their story. In Book 2, The Cowboy Fix Nathan has never left home but Izzy will find that she's finally found that magical place, not just on the ranch but with the cranky rancher who lives there as well. In Book 3, The Rancher's Heart (coming in 6/2025), Sloane has always called Strawberry Ridge home. This time, it's Jonas who discovers by the end of the book that there's no place like home, and what makes his heart happy is Sloane and the ranch where he grew up.

My core story has always been about finding sanctuary, peace, and coming home. Periodically, I still want to get out there and keep looking, but as you know, I caught my mom's nomad bug. The world is on a crazy path and life has its challenges… that's okay, right? In every story, the ones we read and the one we live, there are hills and mountains to climb that in the end make it all worthwhile.

Thank you for joining me! If you have a minute, let me know, what is your core story.

~ Su