“This was an enchanting story of love, betrayal, and redemption! The author truly did a remarkable job showing the progression of the characters over time and hooking the reader with the real-life situations that I’m sure every reader can relate to. In this story are mini-tales of unrequited love, embarrassing relatives, school bullies, and friendships won and lost. The relatability and genuine honesty of Noel Branham’s book moved me and made me wish the story was never-ending. It’s a rare book that does that. Susan Combs loves Calder Hurtz. Her best friend since a young girl, she has spent years loving him, all the while hoping her love would one day be returned. Calder is a flirt, constantly having a different girl over each night to do homework, and Susan has started to realize that her place in his life is not what it once was. Determined to move on and get past her love once and for all, she begins to branch out and make new friends. Embarking on a journey of self-discovery, Susan learns about how powerful love really is, and while she makes mistakes along the way, the treasure awaiting her at the end of it all […]

Thanks to everyone who has been reading The Simple Soul of Susan (SSS) and reviewing! I get a lot of questions from reviewers and readers about the book and wanted to answer them here on the blog. Here are some of the most frequently asked ones: “Is this really your first book? I’m having a hard time believing it!” Yes, it is! I wrote it when I was homesick for Texas. It helped me remember all the things I love about Texas and eased my homesickness a bit. One of the reasons I decided to follow through with publishing it was so that I could always take a bit of home with me wherever I ended up. “Who published this? It is very well written and put together beautifully.” This is a self-published book. I had two incredible editors who made this a possibility. Julia Roller was my main editor and over the course of six months, she essentially helped me rewrite it twice… talk about passion and dedication! She is also an accomplished author and has some fantastic writings out, one of them being Mom Seeks God which I recommend checking out! Lee Ann A. was my copy-editor. Besides working for NASA before […]

Subscribe today and receive the first chapter of the Simple Soul of Susan delivered to your inbox! Susan Combs had long ago found the love of her life. The only problem was the other party still didn’t know he had been found. Every day Susan saw Calder Hurtz, her next door neighbor and childhood best friend. They always enjoyed the short drive to school down the dusty streets of their small Texas town. She was happy in those perfect moments, for her life at home was most imperfect. The challenging homestead she inhabited was also the favorite subject of local gossip. But one autumn day she overhears Calder and another boy having a conversation. This occasion of accidental audience sets Susan’s life on an unforeseen path. In the seasons to come, her future will be changed by two hospitalizations, two confessions of love, and one betrayal. Compulsively readable, The Simple Soul of Susan is an engaging, soul-endearing romance and a mesmerizing debut.