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Susan Ruff

Susan Ruff became hooked on fantasy books the first time she read The Hobbit as a child. As she grew older, she dabbled in writing her own fantasy stories and novels, but really became serious about writing after she retired from her day job in 2015. She writes as a team with her husband John -- Susan does the actual writing, while John helps with plotting and characterization. They published their first full-length epic fantasy novel 60th Hour in 2020.

By far, their most popular work is the The Doorway to Magic, a sword and sorcery trilogy consisting of the books The Keyhole Wizard, The Door Ajar, and the Grand Door.

Recently, they've tried their hand at cozy fantasy, with their novel Recipes for the Copper Snake (published under the penname J.S. Ruff) published in December 2024. They are currently working on the sequel to that book and hope to have it published in 2025.

Susan loves hiking, travel, archaeology, history, role-playing games (both table-top and video), and anime. her blog Travels, Walks, and Tales comes out on the first Friday of each month.

Contact Information:

Email Address: susanruff@emeraldcovepress.com


Books By Susan Ruff

Word Count: 74000

Summary: A cozy high fantasy full of food, fun, and friendship. Here is the official blurb: Cooking, magic, and scandal. When a good deed boils into a mystery, can this talented artificer keep an innocent from going down for the crime? Dana Everet is loyal to a fault. Moving to a remote village to help a good friend make a fresh start, the celebrated magical inventor is certain her grannie’s cookbooks contain the perfect formula for delighting the locals with treats. But the surefire plan turns out half-baked when a search of her late grandmother’s old restaurant turns up nothing but crumbs. Suspecting the town innkeeper of the theft, Dana grows frustrated when the woman denies the charges and the local sheriff refuses to get involved. And with her supernatural power running low, the resident gossip vanishing, and her pal’s buried secret landing her on the suspect list, she scrambles to find the real culprit before it’s too late. Can Dana serve up justice, or will she be left with burnt offerings? Recipes for the Copper Snake is the charming first book in the Post Host cozy fantasy series. If you like big-hearted protagonists, quirky townsfolk, and chasing down clues, then you’ll love J.S. Ruff’s smorgasbord of fun.

Book Cover: Recipes for the Copper Snake
Recipes for the Copper Snake
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Word Count: Information not available

Summary: Fabren Lacalian never foresaw consequences like this. Teaming with his master for a vengeful prank, the half-human magician forged a false prophecy to embarrass the wizards who belittled them. But after his teacher is murdered by a sinister pretender claiming to be the heir they foretold, the terrified apprentice flees for his life as the sole custodian of the truth. Riddled with guilt and hunted by assassins, Fabren finds an unlikely ally in an archivist who believes wholeheartedly in the escalating lie. And with only his meager keyhole magic to protect them from the vile usurper’s minions, the sham seer may be the author of everyone’s destruction. Can Fabren end the madness before the realm falls to its doom? The Keyhole Wizard is the thrilling first book in The Doorway to Magic high fantasy series. If you like underdog heroes, dire stakes, and unique systems of sorcery, then you’ll love Susan and John Ruff’s dive into destiny.

Book Cover: The Keyhole Wizard
The Keyhole Wizard
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