None of my earlier writing prepared me for the rush of telling a story--the one that's in my head and wants to be told. My fondest wish is that readers will laugh and cry and sigh, maybe even say "What if . . ."My writing "career" began in third grade when I wrote a story about a pioneer family and decided I'd grow up to be a novelist. The journey to those bright lights took off when I was tapped to write the junior high gossip column for our local newspaper.Over the years, I wrote instructional materials for accountants, exploration geophysicists, and airline pilots. One gig included writing a newsletter on raising dairy goats. (Somebody had to write it!) Returning to my small town newspaper roots, I wrote a humor column on living with teenagers. And believe me, there was never a shortage of material.This is my first novel.Keep in touch at . . . www.susanhammondwrites.comwww.facebook.com/susanhammondwrites