Susanna J. Sturgis: Writer • Editor • Born-Again Horsegirl

Fellow Traveller, 2008–

At long last, you can read Travvy's story -- at least the beginning of it -- in the photo gallery, and see pics of his parents, Trouble and Mayhem.

Rhodry, 1994–2008

My beloved, beautiful, impish half Malamute died on February 26, 2008, after a short battle with cancer. Words can't express how wonderful he was or how much I miss him, but here's an attempt. He's buried on the hill overlooking Malabar Farm. Good night, Rhodry; I'm glad you were my puppy.

Get out your brand-new 2008 datebooks and circle October: that's the projected publication date for my first novel, The Mud of the Place. Details TK -- that's "to come" in publisher-speak. It's a story all by itself. I'm currently having a blast with novel #2, The Squatters' Speakeasy. It involves some Mud charcters, takes place several years later, and concerns a disorganized gaggle of Vineyard musicians, iconoclasts, misfits, and weirdos who take over a trophy house and turn it into a coffeehouse.

Rhodry Malamutt -- who inspired Pixel, the canine sidekick of one of Mud's protagonists -- died in February 2008. Check out the photo gallery for some scenes from his long life, and the bloggery archive for his take on the world. Rhodry taught me that life is better when you have a dog to share it with, so I spent March and April looking, thinking, planning, and finally driving to Canandaigua, New York: Fellow Traveller is now in residence, and I'm pretty sure Rhodry approves. Rhodry is survived by Allie, a Morgan mare who joined the family in October 1999. You can learn more about her, and how I became a born-again horsegirl, by stopping by the barn.

I support the horse, the soon-to-be-published novel, and the novel in progress as a freelance editor and proofreader. If you're looking for a capable editor, copyeditor, proofreader, writing coach, or all-round bully to help you start, finish, or polish your project, come meet the editor. Writing may be a mostly solitary endeavor, but too much isolation can make a person squirrelly.

Isolation doesn't help the writing either. Written words do not like to be locked up in drawers or on hard drives. Writing doesn't really come alive until it's read or heard. Plenty of writing never happens because there's no one listening. So my lair harbors something bloggish. Here is where I muse, maunder, meander, and mumble on subjects including, but not limited to, writing, editing, horses, feminism, music, fantasy/science fiction, and life on Martha's Vineyard. Check out the Highlights and the Archives for the older stuff. Let me know what you think!

Martin Luther wrote a paper he nailed it to the door
Rosa Parks took her seat she couldn't take it anymore
Galileo set the sun at the centre of the stage
The things we never challenge
are the things that never change

Fellow Traveller, 2008–

Rhodry, 1994–2008

rev. 26 Feb. 2008