Once Upon Our Time, Episode 1

Texas Wildflower

In the third episode, Susan and Elizabeth turn their attention to Embrace the Day. Moving forward in Susan's expansive bibliography, the mother-daughter duo breaks down the historical backdrop, the intense emotional stakes, and the specific narrative challenges of crafting this sweeping story. They dive into the research process, share behind-the-scenes family memories from the era it was written, and look honestly at how this book marked another major step in Susan's journey as a storyteller.

Following their debut, Susan and Elizabeth dive into Susan’s second major milestone: her adaptation and exploration of Briar Rose. In this episode, the mother-daughter duo unpacks the dark, rich fairy-tale roots, the emotional layers of the retelling, and the creative choices that went into reshaping this classic narrative. They share their trademark honest reflections on the writing process, behind-the-scenes family dynamics, and how this specific story helped define Susan's evolving voice as a novelist.