Susy Flory
6 min read ⭑
“I’m finishing up my dissertation on women writers in the ancient world and whether women might have contributed to the writing of the New Testament. This is my focus of study and writing, and the idea of these women writers in biblical times is unheard of and overlooked in the evangelical world. I hope to jumpstart that conversation with my work.”
Susy Flory is a New York Times bestselling author, a teacher, a nonprofit founder and a doctoral candidate at Houston Theological Seminary. Her book Thunder Dog, an international bestseller, tells the true story of a blind man and his guide dog during the September 11th tragedy. Her 2014 book, The Unbreakable Boy, was released as a feature film this year by Lionsgate Studios. In addition to coauthoring 20 books, she has founded a nonprofit called West Coast Christian Writers, which hosts conferences annually.
In this interview, Susy shares many of her favorite things, from the country of Ireland, where she was deeply moved by an embodied experience of faith, to the study of women writers in the early church. She recounts how a difficult experience taught her that embracing weakness is, in fact, a strength, and she dives into the topic of community versus isolation. Continue reading to hear more about what’s currently fueling her faith.
QUESTION #1: ACQUAINT
The meals we enjoy are about so much more than the food we eat. So, how does a “go-to” meal at your favorite hometown restaurant reveal the true you behind your web bio?
We’re something of an adventurous family. There are three of us at home right now: Susy, Robert and daughter Teddy (31, disabled by a migraine disorder). We like good food and travel, and we often travel for work or fun apart from each other, as well as together. But home is our house (a cabin, really) in the mountains in a tiny Gold Rush town in California’s Sierra Nevadas called Volcano. We like to cook at least one meal a week together, the three of us, in what has almost come to feel like choreography as we maneuver around the small kitchen together — twisting, turning, dodging, holding up knives, juggling cutting boards, slinging vegetables, negotiating over pans and burners, chopping, seasoning and tasting. The result is always beautiful — something better together than apart. My daughter is an ecologist and makes us pray like this: Lord, thank you for our food and for the plants, animals and fungi that gave their lives for it.
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QUESTION #2: REVEAL
We’ve all got quirky proclivities and out-of-the-way interests. So, what are yours? What so-called “nonspiritual” activity do you love engaging in that also helps you find essential spiritual renewal?
My favorite place in the world is Ireland. I had a book project located there a few years ago and fell in love with the land, the people and their faith. I go to church with my friends there, the local Catholic village church, and have become acquainted with Celtic spirituality. I was surprised they still believe in fairies and banshees (and they do), but they also believe God works in mysterious ways that intersect with their very long history of faith. The first time I went to a holy well was with my friend Patrick; it was dedicated to Mary. The stations of the cross surrounded it, and there was a sacred tree with cups hanging from it and ribbon prayers tied to the branches. The well was deep and still. Patrick leaned down and touched the spring waters and then touched a finger to my forehead. The water burned. Having been raised a very analytical, grounded evangelical, this surprised and delighted me — an embodied experience of faith I didn’t know was still possible.
QUESTION #3: CONFESS
Every superhero has a weakness; every human, too. We’re just good at faking it. But who are we kidding? We’re all broken and in this thing together. So, what’s your kryptonite and how do you confront its power head-on?
I am more Vulcan by nature than hothouse flower, so I can have a hard time trying to understand the deep and quick feelings of highly sensitive people. When someone exhibits big emotions, I tend to shut down and try to process intellectually rather than enter into someone’s pain, disappointment or lament. When I survived breast cancer a while ago (parts of it were harrowing), I had to go for a test for a possible relapse. I broke down and went to the prayer room at my church — something I had always been too “strong” to need. In there, I found compassion and empathy. I began to understand how weak I was in those areas, and I began to understand why the world needs extra sensitive people.
QUESTION #4: FIRE UP
Tell us about your toil. How are you investing your professional time right now? What’s your current obsession? And why should it be ours?
I’m absolutely obsessed with women in the ancient world — especially the New Testament era and the very early church (including in Ireland). I’m finishing up my dissertation on women writers in the ancient world and whether women might have contributed to the writing of the New Testament. This is my focus of study and writing, and the idea of these women writers in biblical times is unheard of and overlooked in the evangelical world. I hope to jumpstart that conversation with my work.
QUESTION #5: BOOST
Cashiers, CEOs, contractors or customer service reps, we all need grace flowing into us and back out into the world. How does the Holy Spirit invigorate your work? And how do you know it’s God when it happens?
When I isolate or think I don’t need anyone in my writing, it goes stale and lacks imagination and depth. When I share my work with others, and help others in their writing, my work comes to life. No one writes alone; this is the truth. We write in community, just like they did in the ancient world. We are a scribal community, collaborating with God, each other and our readers.
QUESTION #6: inspire
Scripture and tradition beckon us into the rich and varied habits that open our hearts to the presence of God. So, let us in. Which spiritual practice is working best for you in this season?
I go to a small Lutheran church here in the mountains with about 30-40 people, mostly older. Pastor Janna is in her 70s, and she has over 10 years of vacation stored up; she needs to use it to get some things done at her house as she is the sole caregiver for her disabled husband. She’s been taking vacation weeks and asked me to preach — without ever hearing me preach before. So my spiritual practice has been learning to write and deliver sermons — not because they are a beautiful piece of writing or polished speaking, but because they are conversations with the congregation, looping in what’s going on in our community and in the world. I’m learning!
QUESTION #7: FOCUS
Looking backward, considering the full sweep of your unique faith journey and all you encountered along the way, what top three resources stand out to you? What changed reality and your heart?
First is Scot McKnight’s Substack. He writes daily, and I’ve been reading his work for years. He engages with books, ideas, scholarship, people, events and spiritual practices. He’s the reason I started seminary at 53.
Second is Northern Seminary and Houston Theological Seminary. I grew up thinking women weren’t allowed to go to seminary. During my master’s and doctoral programs, I savored each moment like a kid loose in an ice cream shop — each class, each professor, each reading assignment a delight. I took nothing for granted. Both of these schools welcome and celebrate the ministry and potential of women as well as men.
Third is Archer & Olive. This might seem silly, but this company promotes bullet journaling for mental health. I was skeptical until a friend gifted my daughter a box of supplies. I started creating my own working journals and understood why it worked — because to-do lists and strategies and brainstorming veer over into art. I began intensely looking forward to planning my weeks and my months because I got to “play” as I did it, and it made me feel happy and inspired.
We all have things we cling to to survive or even thrive in our fast-paced, techno-driven world. How have you been successful in harnessing technology to aid in your spiritual growth?
I have an ongoing Voxer chat with three friends; we call ourselves the Bad Moms Club. We started the chat about 15 years ago when our kids were teens. We are all Christian moms, and we are professional writers and speakers in the Christian world — a place that can feel a little critical of its leaders at times, especially when struggling as a parent or a wife. The chat started so we could encourage each other about our wins and especially failures as moms. We could be real with each other. We’re still going and have talked about every problem under the sun through texts, voice messages and photos. Sometimes we go days or weeks without talking, and sometimes we connect dozens of times in one day. We will always be there for each other, even though we live far apart. One simple app brings us together when needed.
QUESTION #8: dream
God’s continually stirring new things in each of us. So, give us the scoop! What’s beginning to stir in you but not yet fully awakened? What can we expect from you in the future?
I’ve been running a big Christian writers’ conference for over 10 years. We’re now a nonprofit and continue to grow and develop. I have lots of ideas; some make it and some don’t. A dream I’ve had for a few years is a program for Christian writers called “Theology for Writers.” Many Christian writers have studied on their own because they don’t know much about seminary, don’t think it’s for them, or can’t afford it. Many don’t know the difference between a commentary and a Bible dictionary, much less what might be a good, current one. They don’t know much about the church as a whole or about church history or the different denominations. They also don’t know about their own church’s dogma or basic Christian theology that most Christ followers agree on. My dream is a one-year program geared specifically to writers and the deficits I see in my work — sort of a mini-seminary program. I’m hoping to start in 2026, and I’m hoping to get some grants for it!
Susy describes a time in her life when she was desperate for help. After a medical scare, she recounts her experience: “I broke down and went to the prayer room at my church — something I had always been too ‘strong’ to need.” But letting others in during that difficult time helped her find compassion and empathy. Have you ever felt the need to isolate or be “strong” by fighting battles on your own? God presents us with a better way. He tells Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you. My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Ask God to reveal to you any area where you’re resisting weakness. Ask him to show you things you’re carrying in your own strength, and ask him for the grace to embrace your weakness so that his strength can carry you.
Susy Flory is a New York Times bestelling author and co-author of 20 books, including international bestseller Thunder Dog. Her 2014 book The Unbreakable Boy was released as a feature film this year by Lionsgate Studios. She founded a nonprofit called West Coast Christian Writers, which hosts an annual conference and a paid membership. She’s passionate about memoir and teaches and coaches through Everything Memoir. A doctoral candidate at Houston Theological Seminary, Susy’s focus of academic study is women writers in the ancient world, including the era of the New Testament.
