Marlow, Susan K. 1953–

Personal

Born October 3, 1953, in Tacoma, WA; daughter of Alan (a math teacher) and Beverly (a homemaker) Martin; married Roger Marlow (a school administrator), August 18, 1973; children: Kristel, Chad, Andrew, Ryan. Education: Washington State University, B.A. (education), 1975. Religion: Christian. Hobbies and other interests: Camping, hiking, reading, farming, travel.

Addresses

Home—Enumclaw, WA. E-mail—[email protected].

Career

Educator, writer, and editor. Christian school educator, 1983-86; Home-school educator, beginning 1986; Buckley, WA, Public School system, substitute teacher, 2001—. Freelance editor; writing mentor. Presenter at conferences and writing workshops.

Member

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Christian Authors Network, Writers Information Network, Northwest Christian Writers Association.

Writings

"CIRCLE C ADVENTURES" SERIES; MIDDLE-GRADE NOVELS

Andrea Carter and the Long Ride Home, Kregel Publications, 2005.

Andrea Carter and the Dangerous Decision, Kregel Publications, 2007.

Andrea Carter and the Family Secret, Kregel Publications, 2008.

Sidelights

"From the time I could hold a pencil, words flowed onto paper," Susan K. Marlow told SATA. "My first ‘highly acclaimed’ work was a poem I wrote in the third grade, which was ‘published’ by hanging in the teacher's lounge of my elementary school. My fourth-grade teacher introduced me to the wonders of outer space, and I scribbled space adventures about unknown worlds and faraway galaxies. As a young teenager, au- thors like Robert Heinlein and television shows like Star Trek further ignited my imagination.

"When my grandfather brought me a blank, hardbound book he found at the dump, my dream of holding my own ‘published’ book began to take root. Painstakingly copied by hand, it was 107 pages of space adventure for kids.

"I grew up and came down to earth long enough to discover a new interest: people in the Old West had adventures every bit as exciting and imaginative as a voyage to the stars. I grew fascinated with the era. One day while riding my bike around our ‘horsey’ rural community, a story tickled my mind of a spunky tomboy on a ranch, her horse, and what kind of problems and adventures a child in the Wild West could have had. The writer's favorite question, ‘What if …?,’ begged to be answered. I was off on another—but very different—writing adventure.

"But I had lost the desire to hold my own published book in my hand, and was content to write only for myself, my children, and the kids in my classroom.

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Frankly, I was afraid to expose myself and my work to other eyes. Years later, my writing mentor, Colleen Reece, pushed and prodded me into making my childhood dream a reality. She encouraged me to take a risk, step out in faith, and never give up. Courage is being scared to death—but saddling up anyway. That's how I've come to view this entire publishing and marketing process.

"I hope my ‘Circle C Adventures’ series will capture the imagination of children, delight them with wholesome, exciting escapades that teach character lessons—like courage and determination—and encourage them to become avid readers and writers.

"And that's how you make a dream come true."

Biographical and Critical Sources

PERIODICALS

Kliatt, September, 2005, Heidi Hauser, Green, review of Andrea Carter and the Long Ride Home, p. 21.

ONLINE

Midwest Book Review Bookwatch Online,http://www.midwestbookreview.com/ (September, 2005), Shirley Johnson, review of Andrea Carter and the Long Ride Home.

Romantic Times Online,http://www.romantictimes.com/ (April 20, 2007), Jill Elizabeth Nelson, review of Andrea Carter and the Long Ride Home.

Susan K. Marlow Home Page,http://www.susankmarlow.com (April 25, 2007).