About
Hi, I'm Susan. I have always written. Long before I became a published author, I carried a notebook wherever I went. It’s where I captured thoughts before they drifted away, wrote poems to make sense of life’s challenges, and recorded moments that might otherwise have been forgotten.
I’ve always been fascinated by people’s stories.
I think I collect moments in words in much the same way a photographer captures images through a lens. A fleeting conversation. A gesture. A memory. The emotions that shape us often live in these small moments, and they've become the heart of my writing.
Professionally, I've spent more than thirty years as an optometrist, including over two decades running my own practice in the heart of Edinburgh. Every day I've had the privilege of listening to people's stories, helping them see more clearly, and earning their trust.
Writing has become another way of helping people.
My books explore resilience, relationships, personal growth and the possibility of beginning again. Whether you’re here for practical guidance or a personal story, I hope my books encourage you to see possibilities in your own life.
“It’s important to be a participant in life and not a passenger.”
My Dad’s Wisdom
Every Story Begins with a Choice
From practical coaching to deeply personal memoir, my books explore the choices that shape our lives and the courage it takes to embrace change.
Choose You
Choose You is a coaching guide inspired by a young woman at the beginning of her adult life. Through stories, questions and coaching exercises it helps readers make confident choices and take positive action.
In Secret
In Secret is an honest memoir about love, longing and the emotional complexity of a secret affair. Through poetry and personal reflection, it explores the choices we make, the consequences we face and the courage to step out of the shadows and begin again.
Choose You: Leading Yourself & Others
Choose You: Leading Yourself & Others is a practical guide to building confidence, leading with purpose and making better decisions. Drawing on coaching principles and over twenty years of business leadership, it offers practical tools, real-life stories and thoughtful questions to help readers lead themselves and others with greater clarity.
Not Done Yet
Not Done Yet is a memoir about resilience, reinvention and discovering that our best years may still lie ahead. Through deeply personal stories, it explores, loss, hope and the courage to begin again.
Available August 2026 on Amazon
Stories Along the Way
If you’ve enjoyed visiting my website, I’d love to keep in touch. From time to time I’ll share reflections on life, news about my writing and updates on new books. I’d be delighted to have you along for the journey.