Meet Susie Crosby | Teacher and Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Susie Crosby and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Susie, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking

I am not by nature a risk-taker, but I have taken a few significant risks that have definitely changed my life for the better.

One risk was leaving the only school I had ever taught in. After 28 years and with deep and strong connections to that community, I accepted a job at an all-kindergarten school near my home, and I joined the leadership team. It was a brand-new school (one of just a few kindergarten centers in the country), and all of us were starting out together. Six years later, I am still teaching there; and the collaboration and teamwork is like nothing I have experienced before. My energy and enthusiasm for teaching has been renewed and strengthened.

A second risk that I am glad I took is in my passion for writing things that encourage people I care about. I have always loved to write cards and notes with verses from the Bible and some of my own words that I want people to feel inspired by. Someone I admire very much was reading one of my cards and said to me, “You should write a book.” I remember everything in me wanting to respond with a loud, “YES!” All of a sudden I knew that I had to try. I joined a local Christian writers association, attended writers conferences, and took a step of faith to make an appointment with an editor from a major Christian publishing house. One year after my first conference, I had a book contract! My second book is coming out in 2024, and I’m starting to write for children now. It has been a crazy adventure, but it is all coming together in a really fun way.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

I have been a Christian for most of my life, but I struggled a bit reading the Bible. I believed it was the Word of God, but it seemed complicated and overwhelming to me. I read through it a few times and attended church and Bible studies, but I didn’t really understand how it applied to my life right now.

One afternoon on my way home from work, I was listening to the Christian radio station and this question was posed to the listeners: “How would you describe Jesus in ONE WORD?”

So many words came to my mind, and I got the idea to look them up in the Bible one at a time. I learned how to use Bible references and tools to really dig into the scriptures ONE WORD at a time. As I studied, I began to write about the words in a way that would teach and encourage others. I started a blog and posted weekly devotions with ONE WORD titles. My first book is a collection of these devotions, and its title is, Just One Word: 90 Devotions to Invite Jesus In, (Harvest House, 2018).

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
That would be so much fun! Seattle and the surrounding area has a bit of everything–mountains and beaches are within just an hour or two of my home in Mukilteo.

We would spend time in downtown Seattle beginning at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery (one of only 6 in the world) for a tour and delicious coffee tasting. We would ride the famous ferris wheel on the historic waterfront and shop for hours at Elliott Bay Books and the Pike Place Market. A bowl of Ivar’s famous clam chowder with warm Seattle sourdough bread would give us energy to take in the Mariners Baseball Game and fireworks at T-Mobile Park that evening.

Another great day would be spent in the San Juan Islands. We would drive onto the ferry and sail for an hour to Orcas (our favorite of the four main islands). We would hike around Mountain Lake in Moran State Park, savor tasty food and coffee at Brown Bear Bakery, and experience the breathtaking views from Mr. Constitution. Before the return ferry trip, we would sit outside at the Orcas Hotel and enjoy their famous burgers and local hard cider while watching for whales to pass by.

We would also take a drive over Stevens Pass in the Cascade Mountains to a charming little Bavarian town called Leavenworth. Depending on the season, we would either float down the Wenatchee river on innertubes or take a snowy walk along Icicle Creek. Sausages and something cool (or warm) to drink would be enjoyed at Munchen Haus restaurant at the close of this adventurous day.

And finally, I would love to have a day to share my little town of Mukilteo. We would kayak or stand up paddleboard on the Puget Sound, tour the tiny lighthouse on the beach near my home, play on the playground at my Kindergarten Center, drink coffee at the Red Cup Cafe, and watch the sunset from my deck while we bbq the fresh salmon we brought home from Pike Place Market. Want to join us?

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have a wonderful husband and two amazing sons–all three of them have always believed in me and supported my teaching and writing careers. To them, of course, and also to my faithful, encouraging Prayer and Share Team members, I want to dedicate this shoutout. There are about fifteen women in this text group who pray weekly for my writing ministry. They are dear friends from all parts of my life, and I couldn’t do it without them. I also remember how my Mom and my Grandfather (both of whom have passed away) wrote beautiful and humorous books, articles, and poetry. Their love for the written word, their strong faith, and their brilliant creativity inspires me every day.

Website: https://susiecrosby.com/

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