Hi everyone, my name is Susan.
I’m a creative person, an emerging potter, a haphazard acrylic painter, a dog mom, storyteller and the creator of The Wanderer Between Worlds.
I spent most of my life working on things that weren’t creative. Today, I have time to follow my imagination and build the fantasy worlds that have been in my head for years.
After thinking, researching, and scribbling in notebooks, I created the world of Erudus.
Before I created Erudus, I read voraciously.
I have read just about everything. I’ve tried short stories, poetry, sci fi, young adult fiction, romantasy, mystery and fantasy from many authours.
On that list of genres, I especially like mystery and fantasy. I love the puzzles, and the coming together of all the threads of a mystery novel. During the spooky season, October, I try to read at least a couple of these novels.
My favourite subject has to be fantasy, and I love all kinds. I love the magical archaeological books where ancient artifacts have supernatural powers. Hence, when I was young I really liked the Indiana Jones films. I also like animal fantasy, romantasy, cozy fantasy, and schools of magic and mayhem.
I really love worlds that are different, not from our past, but on a world elsewhere where there has to be rules, but they can be very different than ours.
Before I wrote Erudus, I found comfort in other people’s worlds.
I have been lucky to always be able to spend time in nature. My love of forests, monarch kaleidoscopes, deer peeking through bushes, and peepers singing in the wood lands was born here. Some of my happiest days were on the farm watching fireflies flitting by.
These days I’ve moved from my childhood neighbourhood to Northern Ontario. I live in a community immersed in nature. Everywhere I go there are forests, meandering rivers, mountains, canyons and mineral rich crystals.
Just outside my door, deer is the norm, there’s bears, eagles, thumping wood peckers and at least one lynx that wanders the area like a ghost.
When I was creating Erudus, I wanted to take the best part of my home, for me nature, twist it a bit and use it as the landscape for my world.
For the people, I tried to make them complicated human beings with good traits, as well as traits that if left unchecked, could be problematic. Often their problems and their choices were largely created by their physical (and mental) landscape.
Let’s face it, humans make mistakes, I know I have, and it is more endearing to me to see someone struggle with things and over come them, then coast through life.
So Erudus is a messy world, with all kinds of people, set in an imperfect magical setting.
Erudus, which is far out in the stars, at the edge of a busy galaxy, but its landscapes were inspired by Southern Ontario, Northwestern Ontario, my memories of Greece (although I went there a long time ago and I’m sure it’s changed dramatically), and research.
Some of the animals and plants may seem very familiar to earth’s. There is a reason for this, and it will become relevant as the Wanderer’s journey evolves.
Where did the story originate? Why Angelika? I honestly am not sure. I wanted to create a female character who is not afraid to face challenges, who although traumatized has the strength and intelligence to face her past and overcome it, and the compassion to care enough for others that she would put her life at risk to save them.
Why lavender eyes? I can’t remember. It may be as simple as purple is one of my favourite colors, although Angelika has albinism in her eyes, and I understand that although it is very rare, certain individuals with albinism can have a purplish tinge to their iris’s.
Why Jynx? I love animals and always have. I wanted to have something fairly larger and wilder than a dog, and unusual. I thought about a wolf, and although I love their sound, I just wanted something different. Apparently, there’s at least one lynx in the area. I haven’t seen her, but it sparked my imagination, and Jynx was born.
Why Erudus? I really didn’t have a plan when I started. I started with a mountain and cave system and the world with its plants, animals and people grew from there. I tried to make everything different but familiar, and there is a reason, I promise! I never expected Erudus to grow as it has, but I’m still enjoying exploring my creativity, so I will keep plodding on.
Why Barrow, Spirit and occasionally a post with my last dog Jessie? Why not? I love my dogs. They are spunky, challenging, lovable, funny and my companions. I just wanted to see them included. So, I did.
Finally, why music? Because I love music? I have tried my hand at the violin, guitar, piano, and oboe. I’m okay, but not great. I was in a choir. To everyone who was in that choir, I apologize. They say that with age comes wisdom, and I believe my voice sounds like a raven cackling over grain.
I can listen to music and I do everyday. I love Coldplay, Susan Aglulark, Penatonix, David Gareth, and Nickelback. I like seasonal music, especially Christmas, and other whimsical tunes like The Lion Sleeps Tonight by the Tokens and a Symptom of Being Human by Shinedown. So, it is natural that music and sound has crept into the heart of Erudus.
Explore a snippet of The Wanderer Between Worlds Music in the video.
See images of the Dragon Stones, the Spineback Mountains, The Charming Waters, The Dragonveil, The Quilleaf Forest, and The Pampas Region below.
See & Hear Erudus →Experience Erudus
These days I work on creative things. I love doing pottery, acrylic painting, and of course writing. I like to decorate for the holidays, celebrate my friends and family on special occasions, and read.
On my porch I can watch meteor showers, and auroras. I’m steps from nature and everywhere I go I can see the beauty of the sunrise or the sunset, and the falling snow in winter.
And don’t forget Spirit, Barrow, and occasionally Jessie who died last November. They technically live in Northwestern Ontario, but they seem to like to visit Erudus, especially when Jynx is around.
Come Wander With Me!
You don’t need to know Erudus’ history or understand its customs and magic. Just choose something that sparks your imagination and start wandering.
START HERE · EXPLORE ERUDUS · WANDER WITH US
Susan make Erudus. Jynx improve Erudus. Important Distinction.
New to the world? → About The Wanderer Between Worlds