Susan the Writer

A coming-of-age novel in which Susan, a popular and beautiful college freshman, rejects her protective family environment and gradually degenerates into overweight and isolation, as she confronts drugs, her close friend's pregnancy, binge drinking, date rape, abortion, sex-for-grades, and other challenges while experiencing the excitement of her growth as a writer. She laces a climactic choice when her female mentor makes an unanticipated sexual advance toward her, posing the dilemma for Susan of whether submission to the lesbian relationship is necessary to her writing career.

Neil J. O'Brien is a native of Dallas, Texas. He has a degree in English from Rice University, a J.D. degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law, and an L.L.M. degree from Georgetown University School of Law. He is an adjunct English teacher at the Dallas County Community College.He has enjoyed a highly successful career as a corporate tax lawyer, and is now semi-retired, enjoying a writing career that began when he was in high school. He has written numerous short stories, several books, a screenplay, a one act play and a cartoon. Currently, he serves on the Board of Trustees of the University of Dallas, the Board of Trustees of the Institute for Aerobics Research, and is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Dallas Business Committee for the Arts.Neil and his wife, Pat Brown O'Brien, live in Dallas and are the parents of four children and sixteen grandchildren.