Potholes and Belly-flops

If you like stories of God's transforming love and power, then you will love this account of one woman's colourful journey through life. Susie tells it with disarming honesty and helpfully recounts the ongoing healing process through her journal, her conversational walk with the Lord and the application into life of the truth that she reads in the Bible. You will hear many other tales of radical change, but this one is told from the hindsight of several decades and offers hope and encouragement to all who will persevere as she has done.

Joyous and heart-breaking. Shocking but inspirational. The ruthlessly honest, movingly written, self-penned story of Susie, our lifelong friend, and her journey of struggle, redemption and hope.

An amazing story of transformation told with honesty and passion. This book will touch the lives of all who read it and give hope to those who feel that, because of their past, they can never be free. Susie is proof that God accepts us as we are because we are His children, and gives us wings to fly to the place of freedom He has planned for all of us ... Her story is a reminder, too, however, that the journey to freedom is not always easy and that because we are human ... we will stumble at times ... Susie takes the risk to be vulnerable so that other people can find hope and value through the love of God.

This book is refreshingly honest. Susie dares to take the reader into her world, whether that be the world of drugs or the struggles of family life. For many years, I supervised Susie's counselling practice and knew some of her story, but this book opened my eyes to the life she had and the life she has now. I recognised afresh why she has such understanding of people who are struggling with life's issues and marvel with her at God's amazing grace. She is truly a daughter of the King, and she is able to rejoice in that even when she is 'getting things wrong'. This is a story for Christians and non-Christians to read. It will challenge, inspire and resonate.

When Susie first joined the Tunbridge Wells & District Writers' Circle I recognised her talent immediately. On reading Potholes and Belly-flops I was moved by her honesty and her willingness to share this with her reader. In her unique and beautiful voice, Susie describes her life, her faith and the challenges she has faced. Even in the shadows there is light and courage. An inspiring read for the real woman of today.

Susie is my cousin. I love her and have always loved her. There is something of her in something of me – the same quest for something real and reliable; for meaning in life and the meaning of love – nothing else will do, and nothing else does. I loved reading her book; simply and truthfully told, it is easy to read but not an easy subject to write about – I admire her, and always have. Even though I know aspects of this story, I never felt ashamed of her or even disappointed in her. I have simply loved her, as I think God has too. And whilst I do not exactly hold to the beliefs that underpin this book, I do believe in healing and I do believe in Love. I do believe in faithfulness and forgiveness and in redemption and resurrection and in something eternal, and this book is full of that!