Emily Suess
Author. Zentangle enthusiast. Brain cancer haver.
Zentangle
Drawing is a beautiful distraction. See my doodle art and learn how to draw Zentangles with me.
Memoir
Who You Gonna Believe is a webserial memoir, and I’m spilling the tea one chapter at a time.
Blog
Writing, Zentangling, misdiagnosis, insurance and navigating disability—I blog about it all.
About My Channel
Draw with Me on YouTube
After a brain cancer diagnosis, brain surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, I needed a new hobby to help me relax, avoid existential angst, and flex what was left of my creative muscle. That’s when I found Zentangling. I do my best to post Zentangle videos regularly on my YouTube channel, but sometimes my cat Izzy and chronic illness get in the way.
Videos
Subscribers
patterns
needy cat
YOUTUBE
Zentangle Playlists
One Zentangle a Day
Following the Book
My videos aren’t a replacement for Beckah Krahula’s wonderful book, but they do give you a preview of its contents and a place to start. This is how I started Zentangling.
9 Easy Zentangle Patterns
Ongoing Series
In this video series I’m curating easy-to-draw Zentangle pattern sets. The first three pattern sets include organics and botanicals, lines and orbs, and hearts drawn on official Bijou tiles.
Tangled Talk
let’s hang out
Tangled Talk episodes are a tutorial-vlog hybrid where I fill you in on what’s happening with me. WARNING: Personal opinions included.
Who You Gonna Believe
WYGB is a monthly webserial memoir supported by Patrons. I didn’t know it at the time, but being married to a compulsive liar for four years taught me a survival skill that would later save my life.
Join me on Patreon!
Special perks and exclusive content are waiting for you! My Patrons receive early, ad-free access to my YouTube videos and exclusive content including my memoir, Who You Gonna Believe. Check out available perks, or read a sample chapter.
POPULAR
Featured Posts
Inktober 2020 Zentangle Tutorials
Inktober 2020 has come and gone, but you can complete my unofficial prompt list at any time and at any pace you like.
100 Things About Me
Many, many years ago the “100 Things About Me” post was was an absolute must for bloggers. I’ve updated mine in case it, like bell bottoms, makes a comeback.
Tangled Talk Video Index
A complete index of my Tangled Talk videos, with detail pages that include human-generated transcripts and a list of the supplies I’ve used in the video.
One Zentangle a Day Video Index
A complete index of my One Zentangle a Day videos, listing the Zentangle patterns covered for each day.
INTERVIEWS
In My Own Words
Figuring Out the Future When Illness is Your New Normal
Before my anyone knew what was really wrong with me, when doctors had misdiagnosed me with fibromyalgia, I did an interview for WHYY’s The Pulse podcast. In hindsight, I’ve come to loathe the phrase “new normal.”
Brain Cancer Diaries: Jumping Cancer Hurdles with Emily Suess
Rudy, the host of Brain Cancer Diaries, and I are practically diagnostic twinsies. Both diagnosed with grade 2 astrocytomas, we chat about brain cancer, health care costs, and the vultures of the disability insurance industry.
No End in Sight: Episode 72 - Emily
I had a chance to talk with Brianne Benness for No End in Sight, a podcast on chronic illness. We discussed brain cancer, misdiagnosis, and finding community online with other patients when we don’t fit neatly into diagnostic categories.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Zentangle?
Zentangle is a method of drawing developed by Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts. It’s a relaxing and enjoyable kind of art built on learning basic patterns that I find highly therapeutic. I recommend you visit the official site at Zentangle.com to learn more.
Are you a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT)?
Nope. I’m just a huge fan of Zentangle who likes to share what I’ve learned and connect with other fans.
When were you diagnosed with brain cancer?
I was diagnosed with a diffuse astrocytoma on my brain stem in 2017. That diagnosis came after a years-long struggle with progressive disability. (I was originally misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2014.)
What did you do BEFORE?
Before the brain tumor got in the way of everything, I was a professional writer. I wrote technical copy for a software company and had a freelance writing business on the side. I earned a B.A. in English from IUPUI.
