Discover Your Inspiration Susan Sheppard Edition

Susan Sheppard (1955-2021) was a native West Virginian, with deep roots in Appalachia. Sheppard was the winner of a West Virginia Department of Culture & History's poetry fellowship, which is how she won her first computer. She was the first runner-up in the Poets & Writer's Maureen Egen Writer's Exchange for 2019 and traveled as a part of the "Women of Appalachia Spoken Word Series." She was "Black Dutch," meaning that she was descended from the less than 850 Shawnee Indians who remained east of the Mississippi River after the other Shawnee (during the "Trail of Tears" removal) were forced onto reservations out west in the 1830s. Susan, along with others in the Friend family, was a direct descendent of Shawnee Chief Big Thunder through his daughter, Bright Lightning, whose name was anglicized to "Anna Friend."

Inspiration. It's all around us if we know where to look. Sometimes
it's found in the beauty of nature or the dynamics of the big city.

Sometimes it's in the most elegant places on earth. The artist Paul

Gauguin found his muse among the islands and people of Tahiti.

Other times it's in some of the most unimaginable of places or

situations. Viktor Frankel found it in the Nazi concentration camps.

Mother Teresa found inspiration in the slums of Calcutta. Nelson

Mandela found his in a jail cell.

These amazing authors share their life experiences and challenges

and how inspiration played the key role in their overcoming adversity

and growing as human beings. Some come from very modest means

and some from great wealth. Some found their inspiration against

incredible odds with no support from friends and family. Others had

caring mentors who pointed the way.

Whatever path you may be on, these stories will enlighten, enthuse

and inspire you and, hopefully, lead you to inspire others.