In Slices of Life: Inspirations and Understandings, Susan Lannan Hicks shares stories, essays and poems arranged in themes, including Freshman Lessons, Saying No, Pondering Life and Death, and Listen to Your Body or It Might Get Loud.

Stories describe early experiences that shaped the author's interests and development during her freshman year of college in the upheaval years of 1967-68. Her entry into life beyond the familial familiarity saw her navigating through the university system amid a world marred by assassinations and a growing military conflict in Vietnam.

Other stories relate family history, of grandparents who emigrated from Scotland to Canada and parents raised during the Great Depression and World War II, to help younger generations learn a bit about their ancestors and to help all readers enjoy portraits of lifestyles and times long past.

Essays include writings inspired by talking friends through hard times. Hicks realized that concepts shared might be of value to others, so here she relates some experiences from her own journey to develop mental and spiritual strength. Raised in the Catholic tradition, Hicks spent years after college reading various spiritual and religious texts, and she has come to a very personal understanding of and application of prayer. Other essays describe her work to regain and retain health, after a young life disrupted by injury and repeated infections.

The poems Hicks shares here, from sonnets to free verse, are expressions of joy, love, sorrow and inspiration, gathered through the years.

Slices of Life: Inspirations and Understandings is the first book published by this author, who now resides in Waynesville, North Carolina. Susan Lannan Hicks plans to write a series of books, drawn from a lifetime of experience in a variety of communities, her work in education and in a spectrum of social service agencies, and volunteer contributions to environmental safety and historic preservation projects.