Susan Hartzler
My journey as a writer began in third grade when my teacher, Mrs. Ring, told me I should write for a living. I took that seriously. I went on to earn a degree in journalism from San Diego State University and started my career in television news, inspired by The Mary Tyler Moore Show and its groundbreaking portrayal of a woman in the newsroom.
From there, I moved into public relations, where my first night on the job was working the opening party of the American Ballet Theater, where I watched Mikhail Baryshnikov perform a solo dance. It was an early glimpse into a fast-paced career that would take me behind the scenes of major films such as Dirty Dancing and Kiss of the Spider Woman, and into television publicity for shows like Blossom, Biker Mice from Mars, and Strawberry Shortcake. Along the way, I had the opportunity to meet remarkable creatives, including Bob Kane and Stan Lee.
My career eventually led me to serve as vice president at a travel PR firm, where I traveled the world opening luxury resorts and working with clients such as Jean-Michel Cousteau. It was an exciting chapter, including multiple trips to Fiji, but everything shifted when my mother passed away. I moved home to care for my father during the final three years of his life, an experience that changed both my perspective and my path.
Becoming a caregiver made it clear that I needed to build a life that allowed me to be home, so I turned fully to writing. The good news is that being home meant I got to spend more time with my dog, a black fluff-ball rescue who quietly supported me through those years. What I didn’t fully understand then was how much that relationship would shape the direction of my work.
It took ten years to publish my first book. After countless rejections, I was on the verge of self-publishing when I came across a notice from the Dog Writers Association of America that McFarland Publishing was seeking manuscripts. I sent mine with a cover letter that began, “I’m sure you won’t want this.” Two weeks later, they told me they loved it.
That book, I’m Not Single, I Have a Dog, Dating Tales From the Bark Side, became the first memoir in McFarland’s Dog in Our World category. I have since published a second memoir, The Peace Puppy: A Memoir of Caregiving and Canine Solace, and a third book, Teaming Up With Therapy Dogs: Skills to Build Healing Partnerships.
Today, my work centers on the healing power of dogs. I write BlissDog, a Substack devoted to the human–animal bond, where I share stories, insights, and reflections on how dogs support us emotionally. I also created Sit With Me, a series of dog-centered meditations that help people regulate their emotions by simply being present with their dogs.
My two Australian Shepherds are my muses and my partners in this work. My days are spent writing, walking them, and doing therapy dog visits with special needs individuals in Oxnard—continuing the work that has shaped my life since 2000.
• Journalism degree from San Diego State University
• First female sports writer of college newspaper
• Angel on a Leash Award
• Pawlisher Award
• Dog Writers Association of America
• Therapy dog visits to special needs people in Oxnard
• Caregiving for father during last 3 years of his life
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to persistence and a refusal to give up on myself. When I believed in my book, I kept going—even after ten years of rejections. I was on the verge of self-publishing when I finally got my break with McFarland.
Writing has never really felt like a choice. It’s something I need to do. When I’m not writing, my mind tends to drift toward negative thoughts. But when I am writing, my focus shifts. I’m thinking about what comes next, shaping ideas, working things through. It keeps me grounded and helps me move through difficult emotions in a more constructive way.
Writing has become both a practice and a perspective. It allows me to process life and see it more clearly, often more positively. I didn’t learn this from classes. I learned it by writing consistently and by reading widely.
That path began early. My third grade teacher, Mrs. Ring, told me I should be a writer, and that idea stayed with me. Over the years, I’ve also been inspired by voices like Glennon Doyle, Oprah Winfrey, and Reese Witherspoon—women who have built meaningful platforms by telling honest stories.
And through it all, there have been my dogs. They are not just companions, but muses. They keep me present, focused, and connected to the work that matters most to me.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received came in third grade, when my teacher, Mrs. Ring, told me simply to be a writer. That one sentence stayed with me and quietly shaped the course of my life.
It gave me direction at an early age, but it also affirmed something I already felt. I had always been drawn to writing. As a child, I filled diaries, finding comfort in putting thoughts and feelings into words.
Over time, that early encouragement became a foundation. Through every stage of my career, writing remained the constant. What began as something personal grew into something professional, and eventually into the work that defines my life.
Today, that work centers on helping others heal—often through the quiet, healing presence of their dogs.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be tenacious about what matters to you. If you believe in something—whether it’s your work, your purpose, or simply your ability to keep going—don’t give up on it.
For me, that has meant writing, even when it took ten years and countless rejections to publish my first book. It has also meant learning to stay with myself through difficult seasons, often with my dogs beside me. They’ve been a steady reminder that you don’t have to have everything figured out. You just have to keep showing up.
Tenacity isn’t always loud or dramatic. Sometimes it looks like continuing quietly, one step at a time, even when no one else sees it. It’s choosing to stay, to try again, to believe in what matters to you—even when it’s hard.
Stay with it. Stay with yourself. Don’t give up on what matters.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think the biggest challenge for writers is actually getting the words onto the page. That’s the hardest part. There’s a saying among writers: get your butt in the chair. Even if you’re staring at a blank page, showing up is the work. Starting—whether it’s the first page or the beginning of something new—can feel like the biggest hurdle.
But once you move into that space where your mind shifts and time starts to disappear, it becomes deeply rewarding. Hours can pass without you noticing, and that’s when you know you’re in it.
Another challenge is the financial reality. Writing doesn’t always provide steady income, so it’s important to have the resources or flexibility to navigate slower periods. I’ve approached this by using my skills in different ways, including professional blogging, to create stability while continuing my own work.
On the opportunity side, I see something meaningful happening. There is a growing recognition of the human–animal bond. More people are openly saying that their dogs give their lives structure and purpose. To some, that might sound surprising. To me, it feels honest and hopeful.
Dogs offer something powerful. They get us outside, connect us with others, and provide steady, unconditional companionship. They help regulate us in ways we don’t always fully understand.
That’s why I’ve created Sit With Me, a series of dog-centered meditations. I believe they can be deeply beneficial for people who already have dogs and may not realize how much support is already available to them. Sometimes it’s not about adding something new. It’s about learning how to access what’s already there.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that matter most to me are authenticity, compassion, and perseverance. I want my work to be honest and real—something people can recognize themselves in. I don’t believe in writing just to impress; I write to connect.
Compassion is at the center of both my work and my life, especially through my relationship with my dogs and my work as a therapy dog handler. They’ve taught me that presence and quiet support can be more powerful than anything we say.
And perseverance has shaped my entire path. Whether it was ten years of rejection before publishing my first book or continuing to write through difficult life experiences, I’ve learned that staying with what matters is everything.
