An Amber Heart

"Do you believe ignorance is bliss?" Even as she ponders the question, events conspire to test Susan’s tightly guarded image of a blissful, perfect world. Forced to admit that her image of perfection hides a deep sense of shame and self-hatred, she faces a choice: hold on to the perceived dream and lose everything, or, let the dream go, and embark on the most daunting of adventures — to transform and open her heart. This is the tale of that adventure — a memoir wrapped within the magical folds of mythic storytelling — the journey of an unlikely heroine, who is guided by an antique amber heart, reflecting the petrified state of her own heart which she now wants to awaken. She’s aided on her journey by a stellar cast of characters, is introduced to the world of Eastern medicine, and explores the viewpoint that physical symptoms are clues to deeper issues. Navigating the labyrinths of society, religion, relationships, and preconditioned beliefs, reveals a surprising paradox: The challenge isn’t in remembering past stories that inform who she is today, but, rather, once identified, can she let her stories go? In a tale that unfolds while contemplating an amber-hued sunset, from a mountainside overlooking the Big Sur coastline — AN AMBER HEART chronicles the revolutionary power of a heart that aspires to break free and simply love.


Although a California-based writer for nearly three decades, Susan Tossman Blue maintains an abiding affection for her midwestern roots. A native hoosier, Susan has, since early childhood, pursued her passion for writing. As the partner of a Los Angeles-based communications company, her career has touched literature, theatre, television, music, and film. While presently at work on a sequel to AN AMBER HEART, she is also assisting with the development of several TV shows, and is co-producing a documentary with her husband.