A BESTSELLING BIG-FIVE AUTHOR AMONG US: GUEST SUSAN CRANDALL

From left, author and journalist Cathy Shouse, columnist and soon-to-be author Janet Leonard, national bestselling author Susan Crandall; ASAP Writing Services owner, author, and writer Susan Sparks, and yours truly. The Susan in the middle is also a lifelong friend of Janet's. Both hail from and live in Noblesville.

Our little band of writers meets monthly and each gathering leaves me stoked about our craft, fulfilled in a way I didn't know I would find in retirement. Writer Chicks Society had a special meeting on Tuesday.

We hosted Janet's lifelong friend and classmate Susan Crandall. Susan is a national bestselling author, revered for such titles as Whistling Past the Graveyard, and quite a few additional books. She's at work on a new one now, as well as doing regular-life stuff such as assisting with a family business, and babysitting twin grands. 

If that makes her sound down to earth, it's because she is. Raised in and returned to Noblesville, she's not so different from us. Unless you count her tens of thousands, heck probably hundreds of thousands, of fans. Maybe more than that. Yet there she sat with us for hours at Janet's kitchen table yesterday, dishing on what it's like to be a Big Five author. 

When we offered her an "out" to leave, deep into the afternoon after a long lunch, she said no, that she had been looking forward to hearing about our projects. And so she stayed another hour as we shared updates on what we're each working on, stumbling blocks we're experiencing, and yes, our guest even offered some advice.

But before all of that goodness--lunch.

Between Janet's homemade chicken-noodle soup, Cathy's slaw, Susan's couscous heart-healthy side, and my non-heart-healthy strawberry-pretzel salad (but really dessert), we enjoyed a delightful meal. And by the way, isn't Janet's kitchen adorable?

Yes, please!

Oh, but the dessert is this: an itinerary to work through.

Cathy, left, had written about Susan several years ago, and brought the article for Susan to look over. The two enjoyed a time of reminiscing about their previous time together as interviewer and interviewee.

The Susan section: Susan Crandall and Susan Sparks. discuss a question for our meeting guest.

It was a day I don't think any of us wanted to see end, but by 4 p.m. (or later), it was time. Thanks to everyone for such a great meeting.