Susan VanZanten (PhD, Emory University) is professor of English at Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, Washington, and leads faculty workshops and retreats across the country. She is the author or editor of seven books, including "Joining the Mission: A Guide for (Mainly) New College Faculty", "Mending a Tattered Faith: Devotions with Dickinson", and "Truth and Reconciliation: The Confessional Mode in South African Literature". She frequently reviews contemporary African fiction in" Books & Culture".