Susan M. Stevens (GHS ’81) is a professional writer and author of several books for young adults. Her first adult novel, titled “Horseshoes and Hand Grenades,” was released this September. Inspired by the #metoo movement, it tells the story of two young women beginning their careers in 1980’s Boston while “struggling with past and present demons.” Stevens said, “The novel examines parallels between workplace sexual harassment and childhood incest, specifically how society asks many of the same questions of both types of victim: Was it partly your fault? Why didn’t you say something sooner? How severe was it really?”

After earning a BA in English from Cornell University in 1985, Stevens spent her early career in Public Relations and Marketing at Fortune 500 companies and small businesses, as well as with nonprofit organizations. She said, “On the corporate side, I helped list a company on the New York Stock Exchange and managed communications for multiple mergers.” On the nonprofit side, she said, “I have worked on amazingly fun projects like the grand opening of a rainforest exhibit that took Franklin Park Zoo in Boston from the doldrums to world-class attraction. She was also involved with the first “dry-docking” repair of the USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”) in 20 years. She has had articles published in the Boston Sunday Globe, Bay State Parent, Bay State Realtor, Strategic Communications Magazine and Guitar & Bass Magazine.

Stevens began writing fiction as a result of two serious health issues: a broken pelvis from a horseback riding accident, followed a year later by a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. After the riding accident, she said, “On crutches for three months and unable to commute to work, cook, clean or shuttle kids to activities, I turned to writing to stay sane.” The result was “Shannon’s Odyssey,” a novel for adolescents, written for her animal-loving younger daughter.

A year later, facing a diagnosis of ovarian cancer, surgery and months of chemotherapy, Stevens again turned to writing. She said, “I made good use of eight-hour chemo sessions, captive in my padded hospital lounge chair, with a warm laptop on my knees.”

“Bit Players, Has-Been Actors and Other Posers” was a novel she wrote for her older daughter and all musical theatre-loving teens. Returning to work after her battle with cancer, she managed to write two additional Bit Players novels.

While she still consults and provides marketing and public relations services to causes “near and dear to her heart,” much of her time is now taken up with writing.

Stevens gave the following advice for anyone considering a career in writing. “If you don’t consider yourself a strong writer, take some classes before trying your hand at a book. If you can develop your skills through on-the-job training in a position that entails writing, that’s a great education too,” she said.

Stevens loved growing up in Gorham, on Pine Street, across the “ditch” from the high school. “I got wet more than once on my way to school, when my foot slipped on stones trying to cross the brook,” she said. When the snow was too deep to get there on foot, her mother, a teacher in South Portland, gave her a ride. She said, “When I went to GHS, the school didn’t have enough money or kids for a football team.”

Even though she was eager to leave small-town Gorham after graduation, she said, “I treasure my small town upbringing. In fact, I looked for a similar small town to raise my kids in.” She still returns home a few times a year to visit her mother, father, sister and brother who still live in Maine. She added, “Our family has a cramped, outdated camp (sorry, Mom!) on Sebago Lake that remains one of my favorite places in the world.”

She is the daughter of Cynthia Stevenson of Gorham and Emery Stevens of Scarborough. Her siblings are Doug (GHS ’73), Jeff (GHS ’74), Craig (GHS ’77) and Nancy (GHS ’79).

Smith lives in Clinton, Massachusetts and has two daughters. In her spare time, she listens to music, practices yoga, travels, and even occasionally rides a horse. She can be contacted through her website www.authorsmstevens.com.

She will also be at a book launch, “New Book, New Bar” party, at the Grand Central Wine Bar in Gorham on Wednesday, November 27, at 7:00 p.m.