Suzanne Strong's Blog, page 15
January 2, 2020
Embrace more this year! :)
December 30, 2019
Expectant New Year! 2020
Hey guys,
It’s this time again – when we all seek to celebrate the advent of a New Year. I love this time of year and I seek to reflect on what went before this and then be expectant for the year to come. Or in the very least focused again. 
December 29, 2019
Courage…in 2020!
Hi guys,
Yesterday, I was reflecting on the journey of writing my novel I released in October, 2019. The central idea I had for this novel four years ago was to explore the idea of courage, and to reject the notion that it is purely a male characteristic. I have pondered this for a long time how women in my life have showed so much courage and some men have not showed the same courage.
A juvenile example of this is when I was a young kid I loved going on those little rides, like the cars in the shopping centres, but my brother only wanted to sit on them and was too scared for them to actually go. When I was a three year old, I walked off into the Australian bush to go explore and find a dam that was on our vast outback property and my brother said he couldn’t go with me. I had two dogs with me and I reached the dam and then realised I was very lost. Consequently, my family had to come and find me, miraculously they did find me and I was okay.
Also, I have heard many stories from my friends who were fearless towards men fighting etc and stepped into situations like this. After I experienced domestic violence once, since that I have found myself in a couple of situations where I have stepped in between two men fighting or a man victimising a woman. I will always go towards helping in these situations as I remember that feeling that there was no one to help.
So, the notion of courage I always felt had been mosty unrecognised in women. However, in 2015 I became enthralled by the extreme courage shown by the Kurdish women fighting Daesh in Syria.
For more than three years, I have lived and breathed this novel and been with these women. They inspired me to walk in courage, and every time I felt afraid of something I thought of what they sacrificed and what perils they faced. Then I was able to do somethings and overcome.
These women still live with me and will always be with me. The women in my novel are based on a lot of research I conducted, but they are fictional. I created their back stories, personality and characters. These characters will always be with me throughout out my life. In Where the Sun Rises I sought to reflect the courage I saw in these phenomenal Kurdish women, but also that I see around me in my female friends and I hope to reflect myself.
I think that coming to the end of 2019, I am reflecting on the year that was, and also how thinking about these women spurred me into many things this year. I wish to continue to take this inspiration from these women – and it is for men as well, into 2020. I am so keen for a New Year, this year had many challenges, but was also glorious as well.
Let’s move in to the New Year with Courage! Bring it on! Thanks for reading! Suz
December 25, 2019
Where the Sun Rises, No. 1 Hot New Release and No. 2 Best Seller Middle Eastern Fiction…
On Christmas I had these little gifts. Where the Sun Rises is No.1 and No.7 Hot New Release in Australia as well as No.2 Best Seller in two categories in Australia. I love Christmas and I am very thankful to God. Thanks for reading.
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Hey guys, I wanted to wish you all a lovely, peaceful and joy-filled Christmas.
December 20, 2019
Where the Sun Rises free for 2 days…
Hey guys, if you are curious about my book Where the Sun Rises and in the spirit of Christmas – I am giving it away for two days.
December 17, 2019
'Budding Nadine Gordimer…'
A very kind review on Amazon.com for Where the Sun Rises.
Where the Sun Rises Review!
Reviewed Amazon in the United States on December 17, 2019
“”Where The Sun Rises” by Suzanne Strong confronts the soul in ways reminiscent of Nadine Gordimer’s writing. The author’s ardent prose follows an earthy drumbeat that resonates in the manner of Hemingway’s “For Whom The Bell Tolls” yet it is made all the more poignant by Strong’s empathetic touch.
The story unwinds the most recent tragedy for the Kurdish people in Syria seen through the eyes of two women friends. Daesh beheadings and atrocities perpetrated against their family members, friends and neighbors enrage Karin and Roza and provoke them to enlist in the Kurdish Women’s Brigade where they make war employing guts and daring.
Experience the ISIS siege of Kobane on the ground and feel the way a woman brings the tragedy of the war in Syria and the ongoing struggle of the Kurdish people to life.”
December 16, 2019
Sunshine Coast Library – film about my book…
Hey guys,
I felt very fortunate to be asked to film this short video about my book and how I wrote and researched it over the past 3 years. Check it out. Thanks so much to the Sunshine Coast Council.
December 8, 2019
Martin Luther …
“If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write.”
Martin Luther
This is a powerful quote, from a man who did pick up his pen and change the western world forever. His words were the catalyst required to make a reformation, desperately needed at the time. His words in this quote are particularly apt, true and profound. I love Martin Luther what a brave man!
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