About Me

Hi! I’m Susan Greenway. Welcome to my website.

I grew up in northern California but have spent most of my adult life in Seattle. Being outdoors makes me happy. I love to hike, ski, and walk my dog on wooded trails. Her name is Willow, and she’s a sweet, gentle Golden Retriever.

Willow and me

Growing up, I spent many happy days at the ocean, body surfing, exploring tide pools and looking for seashells. My family also spent many weekends up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe are two of my favorite places.

After college, I moved to Seattle where I taught elementary school and was a reading specialist.

The Pacific Northwest is beautiful, with more green trees and plants than you can imagine. It also rains, a LOT.  Now, I split my time between Redmond, Washington, and Edwards, Colorado, where I get some much-needed sunshine. I live with my husband and Willow, and I am a mother and grandmother. 

Writing Elephant Touch was inspired by an experience I had while visiting elephants in Thailand. I had just received a phone call with very sad news.  Sensing my grief, an elephant came up from behind me and placed its trunk on my shoulder.  I will never forget that elephant’s compassionate touch.

I’ve always loved books, and my mother took me to the library regularly. When I taught elementary school, I reconnected with the magic of children’s books, especially middle grade stories. Shortly after that I became a member of SCBWI and began to learn how to write books for kids.

Some of my favorite things are:

  • Eating freshly baked chocolate chip cookies that have a chewy center
  • Following up a dog walk with a visit to my favorite coffee shop and bakery
  • Hanging out with friends and family
  • Seeing new spring flowers
  • Reading a book  so good that I can’t put it down
  • Watching ocean waves crash on rocks and sand