Website Content

    •  How to Purchase The Morning Star & Life in the Fast Lane
    •  About the Books
    •  About the Author
    •  Lectures, Seminars & Other Events

How to Purchase Books

The Morning Star and Life in the Fast Lane can be purchased online and at the following  bookstores in the San Francisco and Monterey Bay Areas.
The Morning Star (ISBN 0-9766489-0-3)  Life in the Fast Lane (ISBN 0-9766489-1-1)
Online:  
Amazon.com
Menlo Park:
Vallombrosa Bookshop, Oak Grove Avenue
Mountain View:  
East West Bookshop, 324 Castro Street, Mountain View  CA
customerservice@eastwest.com
San Jose:
Ave Maria Community Book Center, 1084 S. DeAnza Blvd

Santa Cruz:  
Agnus Dei Christian Books, 138 Walnut Street, Santa Cruz  CA
agnusdeibookstore@gmail.com
St. Joseph's Shrine Bookstore, 544 West Cliff Drive

About the Books

The Morning Star and Life in the Fast Lane are poetry books that touch the soul, lift the heart, and remind us of the importance of taking time to live.  The poems have rhythm and rhyme and readers comment that they enjoy reading them aloud. 

Author Susan Cabrera has held poetry readings and book signings, appeared on local television programs, and given lectures on her books and writing experiences.  She is honored that internationally known neurosurgeon and author Dr. Norman Shealy, M.D., Ph.D., has included four of her poems in his book Energy Medicine--The Future of Health.

Here are a few words about each book along with the prefaces, tables of contents, and title poems.

The Morning Star  (ISBN 0-9766489-0-3)

This book's contemplative poems are meant to lift the soul and inspire the reader through poetic images, sensitivity and humor.  Themes include universal topics such as love, challenges, spirituality, nature and relationships.  

Preface to The Morning Star  

In August 2003, I was at a dinner party where a friend recited a poem he’d written about a mountain lion.  I was deeply touched by his depth of feeling and felt a strong desire to write a poem.

While driving home that night and listening to the radio, I kept thinking I wanted to write a poem.  Maybe I’d start when I got home if I wasn’t too tired.  Then, the disc jockey said, “Be sure to enter our poetry contest.  Check out our website for details.”

I couldn't believe my ears--a poetry contest on a radio station?  That seemed incongruous, but it was just too much of a coincidence.  I took it as a message that I should definitely write a poem that evening.  So, though it was late when I arrived, I took pen in hand and wrote "Petals on the Moon."  It felt good to express myself poetically.  The next day, I checked the radio’s website and learned that the poem was much too long to enter.  But it was already written and such was the birth of my poetry. I hope you enjoy this book, The Morning Star.  I found joy and inspiration in writing it and hope you find joy and inspiration in reading it.    -    L. Susan Cabrera

Poems in The Morning Star

        Petals on the Moon
        True Courage
        No Turn on Red
        ’Twas the Day after Christmas
        It’s Like
        The Fearsome Dream
        Where Was That Path?
        A Prayerful Life
        The Body Temple
        The Morning Star
        If I Were to Die Tomorrow
        More Than You Can Chew
        The Punching Bag
        Let God Choose the Bus
        To Those Who Have Loved and Lost
        Can Love Be?
        God Speaks to Me
        When, Then
        We’re Meant to Live
        Are You Really You?
        What I Don’t Know
        Be "In" the World But Not "Of" It

Title Poem from The Morning Star

The Morning Star

“Sometimes I feel like giving up,”
A sailor said to me.
“I sit and question life itself
And stare upon the sea. 

“I do not wish for miracles
Or any wondrous sign,
But life does not have meaning now.
No happiness is mine. 

“I’ve spent my life upon the seas
’Cross every ocean deep
But never had true human bonds
Or promises to keep. 

“I feel my life has been a waste,
Alive these years for what?
Sometimes I feel like giving up
And almost end it, but— 

“There is a star, the Morning Star,
That greets me every day.
I see its brightness emanate
From space so far away.  

“Oh early star with sweetest light,
The start of each new day,
Is there a purpose to my life?
‘Yes,’ I can hear it say.

“And with celestial force so faint,
It reaches in my soul
And touches me with tenderness
That I can scarce behold. 

“So now I sit and talk with you,
My listener and friend.
I’m off to sea, but will return
For us to meet again.”

Life in the Fast Lane  (ISBN 0-9766489-1-1)

This book's contemporary poems take a mindful and humorous look at some of the dilemmas we create by our fast-paced lives--ones in which we sometimes forget to live.  The messages are similar to those in The Morning Star; however, it is of a less spiritual nature.

Preface to Life in the Fast Lane

I was born, raised, and lived much of my life in the beautiful city of Palo Alto, California.  Palo Alto is the home of Stanford University and rests in the heart of “the world’s first high technology region.”   Three blocks from where I grew up, two young men, Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard, began developing the audio oscillator in their small residential garage back in 1938.  This venture eventually became the world-renowned Hewlett-Packard Company.  The state refers to this historic site as “the birthplace of Silicon Valley.”

Silicon Valley has been the start-up location of many innovative, celebrated and lucrative high technology companies such as Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Advanced Micro Devices, Google, Varian, Yahoo, Apple, Cisco Systems, and eBay.  Along with the stimulation and excitement of such ventures can come round-the-clock hours, fierce competition, financial pressures, and no time or energy for family, friends and self.

Whether we live in Silicon Valley or elsewhere, our many obligations as employees, family members, friends and citizens can be overwhelming.  Before we know it, our lives are passing us by and we haven’t really had the chance to live them.  It’s so easy to be thrown off balance and lose sight of who we are as human beings.

I enjoyed writing these poems which take a mindful and humorous look at some of the dilemmas we create by our fast-paced lives.  I hope you enjoy Life in the Fast Lane.    
-    L. Susan Cabrera

Poems in Life in the Fast Lane

        My Body Won’t Cooperate
        More Time with His Mercedes
        Closet Cleaning Phobia
        Life in the Fast Lane
        Cellphonitis
        Parceled Out for Everyone Else
        A Day at the Races
        Take a Break
        Give Me a Pill
        Remember the Kid
        Just Try Some Kindness
        Fantasy Island
        Whining and Dining
        The Holiday Vow
        The Stressing Match
        The Crumb de la Crumb
        Stopping on the Way
        Slow Down
        I Can’t Wait!
        I’ve Lost My Calendar
        The Convention of Conventions
        The Crazy List Loop
                    No Turn on Red
        When, Then
        Are You Somebody Else?
        More Than You Can Chew 

Title Poem from Life in the Fast Lane
 
Life in the Fast Lane

Life in the fast lane—you have to be faster.
If you slow down, it will be a disaster.
Life in the fast lane—you have to be speeding.
If you slow down, someone else might be leading.
Life in the fast lane—you have to be higher.
If you slow down, they might make you retire.
Life in the fast lane—you have to be spinning.
But, in this whirlwind, are you really winning?

About the Author 

Hi, everyone.  So, what does the "L" stand for?  My mother wanted Linda and my father wanted Susan.  My father got second billing, but he actually won.

I was born and raised in Palo Alto, California, and have lived in the San Francisco and Monterey Bay Areas.  I have two degrees from Stanford University, a bachelor’s in English Literature and a master’s in Counseling Psychology with emphasis in behavior modification.  This excellent educational background has been of great value to me throughout the years.

My fascinating and rewarding professional life has included working with a wide variety of individuals from heroin addicts to elected officials.  I have held positions in human resources, psychiatric clinical research, education, and community relations.  Several years ago, I established my own executive management consultant business.  My clients are primarily county governments in the San Francisco and Monterey Bay Areas.

In addition to writing, my pastimes include giving lectures and conducting seminars on psychological and spiritual topics such as forgiveness and maintaining balance in life.  Venues for lectures and seminars have included retreat centers, group meetings, churches, and community television stations.  Some events appear below.

I am also committed to volunteerism and serve on non-profit boards and committees to assist with management and fundraising that impact the poor, seniors, youth, the illiterate, prisoners and their families, the mentally challenged, and students. 

To contact me, write to P.O Box 334, Capitola, CA  95010. 

Lectures, Seminars & Events 

"Patience in a Hectic World" Lecture 

Sunday, December 16, 2018, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Humanist Forum of Silicon Valley
Hacker Dojo
2062, 3350 Thomas Road #150
Santa Clara, CA  95054

In our fast-paced lives, we often feel impatient.  We want things done as quickly as possible and are intolerant of delays.  This talk will look at the quality of patience from a psychological point of view including the concepts of delayed gratification, emotional intelligence, and self-control.  Also included will be examples of when to be patient and when to take action.  Susan Cabrera has her master's degree in Counseling Psychology from Stanford with emphasis in behavior modification.  She has been a counselor at the Stanford Institute for Behavioral Counseling and a clinical researcher at the Stanford Department of Psychiatry.  Susan's poetry book Life in the Fast Lane will be available for sale after the talk.

Forgiveness Retreat 

Saturday, May 18, 2019
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Christians in Commerce, Fresno Council
Santa Cruz, CA
This retreat is for the leadership team of Women Christians in Commerce from Fresno.  The day will focus on forgiveness, an essential foundation block of Jesus' teachings.

"The Heart of Ministry" Retreat 
Saturday, August 17, 2019
9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (doors open at 9:00 a.m.)
St. Joseph Parish Hall
435 Monterey Avenue, Capitola, CA
Whether you're a follow of Christ who participates in church ministries or one who prefers to minister to others privately, Jesus calls upon all of us to lovingly serve each other.  "The Heart of Ministry" is a half-day retreat focusing on the spiritual and psychological aspects of ministry.  It is open to the public.  Father Mike Marinin and Susan Cabrera, MA, will present this.  Refreshments will be served.  Sponsored by the St. Vincent de Paul Sociaty of Santa Cruz County.  No charge, donations will be accepted.

"Be the Difference" Awards Luncheon
October 2019
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Cocoanut Grove, Santa Cruz Boardwalk
Santa Cruz, CA
Come to honor individuals, groups and businesses that make a difference in our community.  This event recognizes volunteers from throughout the county who are nominated by the general public.  It is sponsored by the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County.  For more information, visit www.scvolunteercenter.org.

Human Race Fundraiser
March through May 2020
Online Fundraiser for 150 Non-Profits
Sponsored by Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County, CA
Come raise money for your favorite non-profits in Santa Cruz County.  Over 150 agencies represented.  This is normally a walk starting at Natural Bridges along the coast, but due to COVID-19, the physical walk has been cancelled.  Instead, agencies are doing fundraising through the Human Race website https://scvolunteercenter.org/events-2/human-race/  Hope you can participate!

____________________________

Oceans of Love

Looking out from the precipice of life,
Your fields of diamonds sparkle on the sea
Waiting to be harvested by my sight.
They glisten, dancing, as the sun playfully dips
Onto the soft peaks and valleys of the undulating morning waters.

So precious are these diamonds in your ocean of love
That they hold the very spark of life itself.
The beginning of life.
The continuance of life.
The movement of life.
The nourishment of life.
The beauty of life.
The profundity of life.

Each precious diamond ignites my soul
With an ember of appreciation, of wholeness, of joy.
These gems are mine without asking and without price.
Their bounty belongs to everyone and everything.
They shine for the viewing and doing and undoing
Of whatever I imagine or whatever life brings.
I am filled with riches beyond what I can hold.

Your fields of diamonds sparkle on your ocean of love
Waiting to be harvested by my sight.

By Susan Cabrera
January 2015