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Sue grew up in a small town in the rolling hills of rural Western Pennsylvania as the oldest of six kids. As the self-appointed overseer of the brood--four of whom were rambunctious brothers--much of her childhood was spent climbing trees and romping through the woods behind their house. Whether trying to save a baby squirrel fallen from its nest or searching for salamanders in the local crick, those early forays cemented her love of the outdoors, nature, wildlife, and adventure.
In a twist of fate after graduating high school, Sue moved south where she spent her days waterskiing through the alligator snake-infested waterways of South Carolina: a venture that fueled her wanderlust and sense of adventure. After returning to her hometown for several years, she again pulled up stakes to explore the wild magnificence of Alaska. Not only did she find unimaginable beauty and endless adventure, she found the man she chose to share her passion with.
Rick, an Alaskan bush pilot, grew up on a small cattle ranch in rural Idaho, thereby exposing her to a world of cattle ranching, prairie lands, rugged canyons, and mountainous wonder. Idaho, like Alaska, is filled with stunning beauty and unending adventure. After a few years, they moved to Idaho where they still reside today.
Sue loved writing from an early age, starting with journals and moving on to an annual book-like Christmas letter that allowed her to share her adventures, and plenty of misadventures, with family and friends. Although she never submitted any of her work for publication, the idea of a book percolated in the back of her mind. Finally, her Tanzanian safari lit a fire in her gut that drove her to put pen to paper.
Africa is a wondrous magical land. Yet it is also harsh, unforgiving, and complex. The dark continent has a way of seeping into the blood, capturing the soul, and stealing the heart of anyone who steps upon its soil. Sue was no different. She returned to the states a changed person, full of passion to preserve Africa’s wildlife and bring awareness to the struggles of rural Africans. It is with this emotion and deep sense of urgency that she wrote Cries of the Savanna. An adventure. An awakening. A journey to understanding African wildlife conservation.
Tidwell continues to live in rural Idaho with her husband Rick who tolerates her endless obsession with the faraway land. When not at the keyboard or pining for Africa, she can be found atop a paddleboard, enjoying her grandchildren’s antics, or engaged in her latest outdoor excursion.
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