Emily Suess

Author. Certified Zentangle Teacher. Brain cancer haver.

 

My Zentangle Art

Drawing is a beautiful distraction. See my doodle art and learn how to draw Zentangles with me.

My Memoir

Who You Gonna Believe is a webserial memoir better than reality TV. I’m spilling tea for free!

My Blog

Writing, Zentangling, chemo, insurance, moving, and 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. It’s been a while since I published my last Zentangle video, but as a newly minted CZT, more are on the way! Stay tuned, and subscribe to my channel on YouTube if you want to be notified when I post new content there.

Videos

Subscribers

patterns

needy cat

Coffee and Cake

Let's start with the good news that isn't about coffee and cake. (We'll get to that though.) I woke up before noon today---10:00 am! I've been having a hard time falling asleep this week. I mostly blame the weather, but there are other factors....
Featured photo for Signs of Life: Project Pack 10 L5 spread

Signs of Life

One of the ways I can tell I'm feeling better is that I am getting things done again. That includes posting a new Zentangle video that went live this morning. Also I'm already thinking about new ones to create. Signs of life. My hands are unsteady...
From to do to done did: picture of a desktop with a to-do list and a cup of coffee

From To-Do to Done-Did

Today, Super Bowl Sunday, I didn't get much of anything done. I was awake until 4:00 a.m. and spent a nice chunk of my afternoon napping. Yesterday, though, that's when I switched a few list items from To-Do to Done-Did. I: Transferred a balance I...
Black and white photo of picture of two chubby fraternal twin babies for blog post "Today was OK"

Today was OK

I hesitate to say today was OK, because what counts as OK for me requires a lot of expectation management on the part of everyone else. But you know what? That's not my problem. I don't know why I continue to feel like I need to be understood by...
Dog begging for a cookie. Are you going to eat that?

Are you going to eat that?

Judging by the intensity of my cravings today, I'm running headlong into another mig--- By the way, are you going to eat that last brownie? (Some have hypothesized that cravings are part of prodrome, not a trigger for migraine headaches. And, you...
YOUTUBE

Zentangle Playlists

Open One Zentangle playlist on YouTube

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.

Open 9 Easy Zentangle Patterns  playlist on YouTube

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. All drawn on Zentangle Bijou tiles.

Open Tangled Talk playlist on YouTube

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 Cover

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.

POPULAR

Featured Posts

Inktober zentangle tutorials

Inktober 2020 Zentangle Tutorials

Another Inktober 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 icon image

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

On Living with Chronic Illness

Figuring Out the Future When Illness is Your New Normal (Podcast)

Before 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 (Video)

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 (Podcast)

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.
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Bankruptcy the Norm for American Cancer Patients (Article)

In an interview with Hub News contributor Laurie Garlington, I discuss my experiences with health and disability insurance in the United States as the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) considers changes to its publicly funded model.

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No Patient Left Behind (Article)

I was interviewed by Jeffrey Billman for a feature on No Patient Left Behind. We discussed how the healthcare system in the United States added an extra layer of financial traumaeven though I was insuredon top of the day-to-day challenges of living a life with brain cancer.

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)?

Yes! I became a CZT on September 19, 2022. I’m a huge fan of Zentangle who likes to share what I’ve learned and connect with other tanglers.

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.

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