• Author • Singer • Musician • Songwriter
Creativity and curiosity saved my sanity and my soul.
I learned at an early age to adapt and reinvent myself. But when do children truly know who they are? Almost never.
As a child, creativity was an essential part of me and the way I moved through the world; and still is. I designed original art projects and board games, made wallpaper collages, wrote poems and short stories, composed songs and guitar music, and discovered my voice through singing.
As an adult, I wanted creativity to remain the driving force in my life. That choice did not always fit neatly within society’s expectations or traditional ideas of success. It has been a long and difficult road, often without a safety net. But by remaining devoted to my passions, I eventually created the life I wanted, one shaped by my own ideas, values, time, love, and purpose.
A life lived on my own terms.
Does that make me a bit of a control freak? Perhaps.
But I prefer to think of myself as the compassionate, creative director of my own life, and I am proud of it.
You can be too. Take that first step.
Understanding Me
A magical journey into empathy, identity, and the natural world. Understanding Me invites children and the adults beside them to stay curious about themselves and one another.
Address Unknown
A memoir of instability, survival, and the search for belonging. Address Unknown explores the lasting effects of a difficult childhood and the courage it takes to begin breaking generational cycles.
Stories, Music & Community
• Author • Musician • Singer • Creative
Through books, music, storytelling, and conversation, I bring people together to explore who we are and what connects us. Find an upcoming event or reach out about hosting one in your community.
Let Understanding Begin
Join the Susan Souza’s Passions community for book news, music, upcoming events, and a little creative inspiration. As a thank-you, you’ll receive three free Understanding Me activity sheets to enjoy with a child, classroom, or group. Have an idea or question? You’re always welcome to reply.
Featured Reviews & Praise
Source: Instagram
Understanding Me by Susan Souza completely melted my heart! 🌿✨ From the moment our brave little explorer sets off down that winding forest trail with their bright backpack, water bottle, and a delightfully magical walking stick, I was totally hooked...
Source: Instagram
Address Unknown by Susan Souza is a candid memoir about growing up without a reliable sense of home. Moving through shelters, trailer parks, borrowed rooms, and Navy bases, Souza describes a childhood shaped by instability, responsibility, and the constant need to read the mood of a household coming apart. What gives the story its emotional pull is not only the hardship but also the way a stronger inner voice gradually develops beneath it...
Source: Instagram
Susan Souza’s Understanding Me is a gentle, imaginative children’s story built around a wonderfully simple idea: what if stepping into another creature’s body could help us understand ourselves better? The book follows a child walking alone through the forest with a bright backpack, water bottle, and a magical walking stick that allows remarkable transformations into animals encountered along the trail...
