Susan Hooper

About

Susan Hooper has been a newspaper reporter in New Jersey and Honolulu, a magazine writer and editor in Honolulu, a freelance writer and editor, and a government press secretary. Her writing has appeared in many publications, including The Honolulu Advertiser, Hawaii Business Magazine, the Washington Post and House Beautiful, and she has won several writing awards. She graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University, where she majored in Honors English and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and the Jesuit honor society Alpha Sigma Nu. She has an M.A. in English from the State University of New York at Buffalo and an M.S. in Journalism from Columbia University; she spent the academic year of 2000-01 at the University of Michigan as a Michigan Journalism Fellow. Susan has also studied and performed as a jazz vocalist and currently plays piano at a local hospital as a volunteer music therapy aide.

Recent Posts

Taking Arms Against a Sea of Robocallers

We are unlikely to win the robocalls war, but we still may feel compelled to fight back, even though doing so defies the sound advice to not worry about things we can’t control.

Am I Smart Enough to Own a Smartphone?

I am finally ready to buy a smartphone. Sadly, my telecommunications provider seems uninterested in helping me make that happen. What am I doing wrong?

I Never Had Children, and I’m Fine With That

I am always interested in learning the stories of women who chose not to have children. Here is my story.

Not Hearing Live Jazz Is Giving Me the Blues

Listening to live jazz in small clubs was a big part of my pre-pandemic life. I will feel like things are back to normal when I can safely do so again.

Downsizing With an Eye on the Past

My small townhouse is now the repository of family heirlooms dating back to the 19th century. How can I successfully downsize while still preserving some treasures from long ago?

My Crazy Heart

I’ve always thought I would live into my 90s, like so many of the women in my mother’s family. After a recent health scare, I am wondering if Fate has other plans for me.

Unexpected Signs of Hope

A foray into growing flowering plants proved to be a surprising source of joy.

Making a Small Sacrifice for Lent

For several years, I have tested my willpower by giving up red wine for Lent.

In This Time of Isolation, Connecting with Others Is Vital

Visits from a Carolina Wren helped sustain me as the pandemic and the winter stretched on.

Why Poetry Matters Now—And Why It’s Gaining Readers

Even before Amanda Gorman delivered her inaugural poem, poetry was surging in popularity. It may be the perfect vehicle to describe this perilous time in our country’s history.