Books
Hello There!
Welcome to my Book Nook and thanks for dropping by.
Susan Billings Mitchell here, at your service. If you are looking for true stories about real people you’ve come to the right place.
Learning true-life stories about our kin and other worthy persons of influence inspires and empowers our lives.
Check out my books and please feel free to contact me anytime.
Welcome
My mission is to find, preserve and share true stories from the past that inspire, motivate, and empower hearts of the present.
Books by Susan B. Mitchell
Volume 1: A Time of Discovery in OHIO
The original version of Forever Stalwart was too large and heavy to read in bed! This volume about three pioneer families reveals the excitement, challenges, and a new way of life in Ohio.
Volume 2: A Time of Testing in MISSOURI
This volume discloses an authentic account of the heartache, trials, and testing of a humble people determined to do the will of the Lord no matter the cost.
Volume 3: A Time of Sacrifice in ILLINOIS
With actual names this volume witnesses the true joys and deep sorrows that were experienced by early Saints in the state of Illinois.
Volume 4: A Time of Enduring in Iowa, Nebraska, and Wyoming:
With actual names this volume details in part the perplexing and often perilous journey of a faithful people who pioneered their way West seeking safety and religious freedom.
Volume 5: A Time of Refining in UTAH:
With actual names this volume documents the struggles, rewards and blessings of a faithful people determined to tame the Wild West in Utah.
Volume 6: A Time of Remembrance DOCUMENTS
A collection of treasured photos, maps, letters, deeds, and other official documents pertaining to and about the three pioneer families recognized in the Forever Stalwart series.
Forever Stalwart
A true and documented account of three pioneer families (took 3 decades to research). The BIG BOOK!
Talking Tulips
A true and inspiring World War II incident shared by my Army Air Corp father.
Noah Knew It
Written in verse and illustrated with what my husband calls my “pop bottle people” drawings.
Lupus Lou:
Never Give UP!
Lupus Lou is the true story of a young woman’s courageous journey through terminal illness.
Pure Parenting
Tidbits contained herein reflect a lifetime of struggle, experimentation, trial and error, successes, and failures.
Favorite Stories
Favorite Stories for the 12 Days of Christmas
True/original Christmas stories – one for each of the 12 Days of Christmas.
The original version of Forever Stalwart was too large and heavy to read in bed! With actual names, this volume about three pioneer families reveals the excitement, challenges, and discovery of a new way of life in Ohio.
About the Author:
I grew up knowing that a relative was the second person baptized in Kirtland, Ohio. When at last I visited the place, Visitor Center missionaries pointed to a huge photograph of my great-great-grandfather, Titus Billings, stating just that. Someone asked who was first. They had no idea. Well, that piqued my interest. I always like to discover the rest of the story.
~ Susan Billings Mitchell
Available in hardcover and paperback.
With actual names this volume discloses an authentic account of the heartache, trials, and testing of a humble people determined to do the will of the Lord no matter the cost in the state of Missouri.
About the Author
My parents purchased a piece of the Titus Billings stewardship property in Independence and built a beautiful home with a Titus Billings pioneer guestroom in the basement. I spent hours studying and writing about grandpa in that guestroom on that sacred land. My father, Evan A. Billings, loved the place and the people. He befriended many who taught him much about the local history, much of what is detailed in this volume. He wanted it shared.
~ Susan Billings Mitchell
Coming soon!
With actual names this volume witnesses the true joys and deep sorrows experienced by early Saints in the state of Illinois.
About the Author:
I cannot get enough of Nauvoo. I love to visit there enjoying the authentic shops, live plays in the old time Cultural Hall theater, a taste from the bakery (Edward Tuttle had a bakery there too), and a sacred walk through the grove. With reverence I stand on the Titus Billings’ property where he built a home across the street from his beloved friend, Heber C. Kimball, and where Diantha stood with tears in her eyes as the Prophet tipped his hat to her when he rode past for the last time on his way to Carthage. Two of our grandsons were sealed to us in the Nauvoo Temple. My father served in that temple for a short time. Oh yes, I love Nauvoo because I love what it represents and what it helps us to remember.
~Susan Billings Mitchell
Coming soon!
With actual names this volume details in part the perplexing and often perilous journey of a faithful people who pioneered their way West seeking safety and religious freedom.
About the Author
Winter Quarters is a sacred place to me. Edward Tuttle is buried there. His story is detailed in this volume and our finding his burial spot story is referenced in the Historical Notes. I took a photograph there hoping it to be the correct location. This was way before cell phone cameras. Back home, after the film was developed, I was thrilled at the way a ray of sunshine seemed to mark the spot.
~ Susan Billings Mitchell
Coming soon!
With actual names this volume documents the struggles, rewards and blessings of a faithful people determined to tame the Wild West in Utah.
About the Author:
I have always loved Mormon Pioneer stories and feel privileged to have grown up in Utah where their long journey ended, and a new life began. I was born in Provo the town where Titus died and is buried. When my husband retired from teaching at the LDS Business College Institute (now called Ensign) we were living in West Bountiful. Titus first settled in Sessions Settlement which became Bountiful. My parents were married in Manti, a town settled by Titus and Isaac. When they adopted another brother, we all went to the Manti temple for his sealing. Guess you could say that much of my life-refining occurred in Utah as well.
~ Susan Billings Mitchelll
Coming soon!
This volume is a collection of treasured photos, maps, letters, deeds, and other official documents pertaining to and about the three pioneer families recognized in the Forever Stalwart series. An appendix is dedicated to each family and a full bibliography of the entire series is included in the back.
About the Author
“A picture is worth a thousand words,” they say. I agree and have included all the treasures I could find for each of these faithful pioneer families: Titus Billings, Isaac Morley, and Edward Tuttle. The bibliography for the entire collection is included as well. Hope you find these as meaningful as I do.
~ Susan Billings Mitchell
Coming soon!
True stories from the past ignite present faith and inflame future courage.
With actual names this true-life account of three pioneer families whose lives span LDS Church History all the way from Kirtland to Manti authenticates actual events with maps, photos, and original documents.
When asked by her father to research and write the biography of an ancestor, Titus Billings, she had no idea the project would take a lifetime. In truth his story cannot be told without including a beloved brother-in-law, Isaac Morley, thus more research, and re-writes. But wait, Edward Tuttle is vital to this story too, so his family was added as well.
With over 800 pages the original one volume version of Forever Stalwart was “too large to read in bed!” One precious reader carefully slit the paperback book in half so she could hold it with her arthritic hands. Such feedback prompted a six-volume series, COMING SOON!
Nineteen-year-old American airman Evan looks out the window of his B-17 Bomber as seven-year-old Mette looks out her cottage window below. Their paths are about to cross during World War II, but the path is one of love and kindness.
This beautifully illustrated true story demonstrates how, while war affects innocent people, those involved can choose to remain good and grateful during difficult times.
Happy to be a Member of Conservative Children’s Books
Available in hardcover, paperback and as an ebook on Kindle.
This delightful book about the Prophet Noah, his family and all the animals was illustrated with what her husband lovingly calls “pop-bottle people.” Susan Billings Mitchell first painted large poster sized watercolors which were reduced with color separations and at last found themselves in a printed book.
A dream comes true!
Would you believe it? Seeing this book in print at last — and I mean l-o-n-g last, is indeed a dream come true.
Back in 1974 my brother challenged me to write and illustrate children’s books. This one has been simmering for a very long time. At last, we have a way to share it.
Hope you enjoy.
Available in hardcover and paperback.
“Be thankful it’s not Lupus!” they told us time and again. Then, after nine months of kidney failure complications and admittance into three different hospitals we heard, “Did the other doctor tell you we think she has Lupus?” The diagnosis was disappointing, but it helps to know what you are fighting.
Lupus Lou is the true story of a young woman’s courageous journey through terminal illness.
It is hoped that readers will be inspired by the life of a courageous, determined, and cheerful-no-matter-what little girl whose name means: “Little Follower of Christ.”
Coming soon!
Tidbits contained herein reflect a lifetime of struggle, experimentation, trial and error, successes, and failures.
It is important to learn from the failures. I hope my experiences will be helpful to you, so you don’t have to make the same mistakes I made.
Don’t expect to master everything at once. Even the Savior learned line upon line, precept upon precept. And remember, no one is perfect: no parent, no child. We all flub-the-dub sometimes, but I feel like I am a winner on days when I do or say more right things than wrong things.
Bottom line is you and I cannot save our children. We can’t even save ourselves. Only the Savior can save. That is His work, and He paid a dear price for the privilege. Our work is to love. Love your children more than life itself for they are your Eternal Life, your everlasting joy!
Nothing warms the heart like a good story.
Catch the Spirit of Christmas with these delightful, clever, faith-promoting stories as you share them (one for each of the 12 days of Christmas) around the Christmas tree while you make new memories of your own.
