A New Venture and a new web page

Hello everyone. Something creative is afoot. I'm working again, and I'm loving it. My dear friend Michael Putman , Putman Illustration & Design is the wind beneath the wings of my joy as through his incredible talents in the collaboration of a book - MuseRiverProductions is born!

Please check out our new web page and look for further information on The Adventures of Yin & Yang: Snoepje and the Pizza Box which will be available this fall! I am so happy. And I know Martijn's spirit is too.

An Illustrated Book to Honor Martijn

The Adventures of Yin and Yang: Snoepje and the Pizza Box

Written by Susan Hermse Schaefer

Illustrated by Michael Bower Putman

Translated into Dutch by Juliette Van de Aa

Martijn slipped his human coils two years ago on July 25, 2008 but his spirit still fills me and many others with the joy he created. In 1999 I penned a simple story for Martijn as a gift for father's day - a tale of three tails - the story of how we became a family via loving our precious furry critters, Yin, Yang and the saucy kitten Snoepje. Now my friend, brother-in-spirit, and collaborator, Michael Bower Putman has breathed new life into my amateur drawings. The Adventures of Yin and Yang: Snoepje and the Pizza Box will soon become a published book with Michael's vivid illustrations. And, the text will be in English and Dutch, Martijn's mother tongue. Martijn adored the original book as he adored life itself. And the Adventures of Yin and Yang honors that lifeforce - quiet yet dynamic. If all goes well, this will be the first of a series of tales of tails. A portion of profits will support animal rescue, something Martijn truly would have appreciated. So on this second anniversary of Martijn's passing I'm finding the light and love and support to transform my sorrow into creativity.

On Martijn's 58th Birthday

Happy Birthday, my love. Today Martijn would be 58. This photo taken by our dear friend, David F, at one of the many good bye parties hosted for out leave-taking from Minneapolis when we headed to Maastricht in the summer of 2004. David resent me the photo with this lovely thought: "This picture always fills me with the joy of Martijn's playful, easy presence. It is one of life's great mysteries that I feel it still, as I know you do, my dear Suze. On this day of days, let us bask and be grateful that we were - and are - so blessed." Let us raise a glass to all of of our dear ones whose presence continues to evoke so much joy.