WRITING TO LAUGH

I think I write to entertain not only the prospective readers I hope will one day immerse themselves in my toil and task, but I write so that I myself can be immersed in joy and laughter.  Take for instance the picture to the left...it is night time in a city, perhaps your city, but I thought it was mine when I drew it.  The church to the left is one of the country's oldest churches downtown in what used to be known as New Amsterdam...from that one building, I built a city...complete with cats on one rooftop sleeping happily, to the partying mice to the right on the other rooftop. Improbable, but possible...after all, how many of us know what mice really do when we go to sleep? As I drew this I started to smile, then laugh inside myself, and when it was well underway, I thought how wonderful it was that I was able to create a place that was a stage for a happy time in life...and how wonderful it was that I created this happiness! There is no question I derive great joy from drawing and writing ridiculous stories...especially if my son, for whom this story was created and told to, finds it humorous and silly too!
Tonight I'm playing with my story...letting it take me where IT wants to go...and I'm meeting up with some interesting situations...as for the characters...some are absurd and some are outrageous...as they should be when I know that what I am writing permits, encourages, and rejoices in, the improbable, yet sends a message that defends and promotes, ethical behavior, integrity, principles of kindness, compassion, empathy, and what it means to have and respect a value most cherished; honor.  So here we are, in a city, cats, dogs, human beings all together, with lives of their own and a young boy named Walker who is on his journey...where he's going I will go too! Back to finding out where he's going!

WELCOME TO MY NEW WORLD!

Here we are at the beginning of my new blog.  I'm Susan, and the fellow to the left is the main character in the children's book story I am currently writing.  His name is Walker. I can't tell you much more right now...but I am here to let you know I'm a returning cartoonist and illustrator and writer....I've done all the other stuff over the last few decades, and done them well...but somehow the gnawing characters in my brain kept talking to me...begging me to come back, laugh with them, fill them in with color, give them adventures to go through...bring them to the end of their stories.  I'd try to ignore them.  I'd packed them away and shut the door on the lid.  I kept them from floods, mold, and dust.  But every Christmas when I'd go fetch the decorations, I would glance over at my drawing board and the box where all my art supplies and stories were, and I could hear the voices of my imaginary rascals...urging me to open the lid, let them become "real" again.
After the fabulous careers and the hoopla, I realized they were right...I needed to give them a voice and life in living color again...and so I have walked across the street to the other side of life...the one that makes me laugh and smile and feel alive...that makes me gleeful as a child.  It's writing and drawing for children that most makes me happy...and that my friends, is what life should be about...doing what we love most! I'm setting my sights on traveling far this time...and I have a destination in mind...it's the journey that is the best part...come along with me and share in laughter!  Let me know if you like what I'm doing...you're my audience...thanks for being here!