Susan Spann's Blog, page 16
March 22, 2020
Summit #1: Mt. Akagi (赤城山)
In addition to being one of the Nihon Hyakumeizan, (100 Famous Mountains of Japan) Mt. Akagi is also a beloved symbol of Gunma Prefecture and one of the Jomo Sanzan (Three Famous Mountains of Gunma).
March 16, 2020
The Distance Between Us
Here are some of the things I'm doing to bridge the physical gaps and the isolation that comes from "social distancing" to help flatten the coronavirus curve:
March 1, 2020
Welcome, Spring!
"Springtime in Japan" conjures mental images of sakura - cherry blossoms - but in reality, the first colorful harbingers of spring are the ume (plum, or Japanese apricot), and the beautiful blossoms have now arrived once more.
February 15, 2020
Crime and Punishment in Medieval Japan
I recently had a very interesting talk with Tony Vega, host of the Japan Station Podcast, about ninjas (real and fictional), medieval police, and crime and punishment in samurai-era Japan.
February 11, 2020
Dawn on the Seto Inland Sea
A winter dawn breaks over Osaka as fishing boats return to the harbor with the morning's catch.
February 2, 2020
Happy Setsubun!
In Japan, February 3 is Setsubun (節分), the day before the first day of spring.
November 12, 2019
Happy Release Day, GHOST OF THE BAMBOO ROAD!
Today marks the release date for the seventh Hiro Hattory mystery – with my favorite cover to date. This time, Hiro and Father Mateo find themselves facing their strangest killer yet . . . When a vengeful spirit terrorizes a mountain village, Hiro and Father Mateo must save the villagers from the phantom’s wrath. January 1566: En route to Edo, Master ninja Hiro Hattori and Portuguese Jesuit Father Mateo spend the night in a rural mountain village whose inhabitants live in terror of a legendary vengeful ghost. When the innkeeper’s wife is murdered and Father Mateo’s housekeeper, Ana, is blamed
October 28, 2019
A Ghostly Chat With Kerry Schafer’s Creativity Quest!
Last week, I had a fantastic podcast chat with my close friend, and fellow author, Kerry Schafer (aka Kerry Ann King) about Japanese ghost stories, climbing mountains, and the importance of following your dreams. I even shared the background for the upcoming Hiro Hattori mystery, GHOST OF THE BAMBOO ROAD, which releases on November 12! Click through and listen at the links below! Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/authorsontheai... Anchor FM: https://anchor.fm/creativity-quest/ep... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6g0K... Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Breaker: https://www.breaker.audio/creativity-... Google play: https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR... Overcast: https://overcast.fm/+R_eo7B8L8 Radio Public: https://radiopublic.com/creativity-qu...
July 4, 2019
Three Days in Nikko
I recently spent three days in Nikkō, one of Japan's most important historical and religious sites. The area is not only a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, but an excellent place for hikers and mountain climbers.
May 14, 2019
CLIMB
I’m thrilled to announce that the memoir about my #100Summits journey, titled CLIMB, will release on January 2020 from Prometheus Books! From the jacket: After more than forty years of living “safe and scared,” California attorney and mystery author Susan Spann decided to break free by climbing one hundred of Japan’s most famous mountains, inspired by a classic list of hyakumeizan peaks. But when an unexpected cancer diagnosis forced her to confront her deepest fears, the mountains of Japan became the setting for an even more transformative journey from pain and fear to a new life fueled by hope, confidence, and strength.
