01 Mar 2025 Author of the Month: Susan Polk Van Dusen

By Susan L. Peterson

The children’s picture book “What’s so Special About a Tree?” was written by Susan Polk Van Dusen. What makes this book special is the story behind this father/daughter collaborative work. The book’s illustrations feature original art by Van Dusen’s father, the late John S. Polk.

Since its publication in March of 2024, the book has been well-received. “Together, the poetry and artistry of ‘What’s so Special About a Tree’ create a harmonious narrative that resonates with readers of all ages,” commented one online reviewer. 

Van Dusen grew up an only child in Hot Springs, where her father was a U.S. history and geography teacher. After retiring from teaching, he took a second career as a United Methodist minister.

He always enjoyed drawing and painting as a hobby, and when he retired, he became more serious about his work, taking classes and workshops. After becoming homebound with pulmonary fibrosis, he spent his days painting until he passed in 2020. He loved doing themes of landscapes, portraits, westerns, animals and still lifes, all of which fell to his daughter following her mother’s death in 2023.

Even as a child, Van Dusen loved books and writing. She earned her degree in communication arts at Austin College in Sherman, Texas. Soon after graduating, she and her husband relocated to Little Rock to be closer to family. She excelled in her career, serving as a writer and editor for Arkansas Business Publishing Group, producing and editing numerous publications, then directing communications for the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. She earned a master’s degree in professional and technical writing and a graduate certificate in online writing instruction from the University of Arkansas Little Rock, where she also taught online business writing and public relations courses.

Early in her career, one of her dreams was to write a children’s book. When her two daughters were young, she gave it a go by writing “Noah Zark,” a story about a boy and his many pets. But none of the publishers she contacted showed interest. When the book resurfaced while doing a deep cleaning following COVID-19, she took a second look at it and decided it was worth trying to self-publish.

She chose Scott Mattson of Conway to illustrate the book. Van Dusen had attended high school with Mattson and knew he was an artist. The final editing, illustrating and exacting detail work that self-publishing required was much more involved than she first imagined. She was thrilled with the results, but it was a time-consuming process, taking more than a year.

While working on publishing “Noah Zark,” Van Dusen inherited more than 400 pieces of her father’s work. She tackled the daunting project of photographing, cataloging and creating a web page. His extensive portfolio inspired her, and one day while looking at his illustrations of trees, she described them using a simple rhyme scheme. The words came quickly and effortlessly.

From there, “What’s So Special About a Tree?” was born. Written for ages 3-7, the book introduces children to the beauty of original art, which many kids may not have the chance to experience first-hand, and honors her father’s artistic talent.

“Noah Zark,” the theme of which is compromise and friendship, finally was published in September 2024 and has received numerous positive reviews.

Van Dusen now works part-time doing freelance work and proofreading. As the owner of Van Dusen Books, she plans to use her father’s work as illustrations in future books, calling it the Art and Verse picture book series. Coming out this month is “Our Friend the Cowboy: A Wild West Hero.” She aims to “bring joy to children and the grownups who love them.”

In her spare time, she and her husband, Tim, enjoy traveling, and she is an avid yoga practitioner. They live in Sherwood with their dog, a dachshund named Bones.

Her books are available in hardcover, paperback and digital formats at VanDusenBooks.com. Her father’s work may be viewed at PolkFineArt.Pixels.com.