Meet Susan Nefzger
More than 30 years after first falling in love with Ansley Park, author, photographer, coach, freelance writer, and founder of Awareness Writing Co. Susan Nefzger is returning to the community that inspired her creativity, nurtured lifelong friendships, and quietly became part of her life's story.
Susan with friend, Olivia in Paris at Le Grand Colbert
Where It All Began
Sometimes the places that shape our lives are the ones we never truly leave behind.
For Susan Nefzger, Ansley Park has always been one of those places.
Her love affair with the community began in the early 1990s while she was part of the startup team that launched the Georgia Lottery Corporation. Living on Peachtree Street, Susan found herself walking through Ansley Park almost every day on her way to Piedmont Park.
Those walks quickly became much more than part of her daily routine.
"I remember discovering the neighborhood as I walked through to Piedmont Park," she says. "It was so lush with trees, gardens and beauty that I became addicted to walking daily."
Over time, she came to know every winding street, admire countless gardens, and appreciate the timeless architecture that has made Ansley Park one of Atlanta's most treasured neighborhoods. Those early walks sparked a connection that would remain with her long after life carried her elsewhere.
A Life Built Around Stories
A graduate of the University of Florida, where she majored in English with a minor in Journalism, Susan built a successful career telling stories long before she became an author.
She spent nearly 30 years in public relations, including working on the startup team for the Georgia Lottery, before following a new path centered on writing, coaching, and creativity.
Today, Susan is the Founder of Awareness Writing Co., where she works full time as an author, Focus & Self-Awareness Coach, freelance writer, and workshop leader. Through one-on-one coaching, workshops, retreats, and her writing, she helps others develop greater clarity, self-awareness, and purpose.
Writing has become a natural extension of that work.
Susan has published three books, with her fourth, A Practical Guide to Love & Relationships, scheduled for release later this summer. Together, her books provide readers with practical tools for developing greater self-awareness, courage, stronger relationships, and personal growth.
In addition to her books, Susan writes food and travel features for Beyondish, combining her love of storytelling with her appreciation for memorable destinations and exceptional dining experiences.
Whether she's coaching clients, writing an article, or working on her next book, Susan believes that growth begins with understanding ourselves.
Seeing Beauty Through the Lens
Writing isn't Susan's only creative passion.
Photography has become another way she tells stories, capturing the quiet beauty that often goes unnoticed in everyday life.
Earlier this year, Stroll Ansley Park readers enjoyed Susan's beautiful two-page photographic feature, "The Essence of Ansley," capturing the beauty of Ansley Park through her lens. Her images celebrated everything from magnificent historic homes and colorful gardens to quiet pathways, towering trees, and the changing seasons that make the neighborhood such a remarkable place to experience.
Those photographs reflected the same appreciation that first drew her into Ansley Park more than three decades ago.
Whether she's holding a camera, leading a coaching session, or writing her next story, Susan has a gift for helping others see beyond the ordinary.
She also enjoys encouraging fellow creatives, serving as a volunteer mentor with the Atlanta Writers Club and as a member of Atlanta's Analog To Digital (A2D) Photography Group. Founded more than 26 years ago, A2D is a vibrant community dedicated to learning, mentoring, artistic growth, and fellowship. This fall, Susan's photography will be featured in the group's exhibition, Moments In Light, at the Chastain Park Arts Center & Gallery, on display September 10 through October 10.
Healing Through Community
Although Susan eventually left Atlanta, Ansley Park never completely left her heart.
After being away for nearly twenty years, she returned to the Midtown area in 2018 following her divorce. Looking back, she now realizes that returning gave her far more than a familiar place.
"The interesting and surprising part of Ansley Park's influence has mainly been the friendships and the healing that came along with living here," she says.
Those years became especially meaningful during the COVID-19 pandemic. Surrounded by supportive friends and a strong sense of community, Susan found both inspiration and healing as she completed her third book while rediscovering the peace she had first experienced during those early walks through Ansley Park.
It became a powerful reminder that sometimes the places we love give us exactly what we need when we need it most.
The Next Chapter
This September marks another exciting beginning.
Susan is returning to the community that first captured her heart more than thirty years ago while celebrating the release of her newest book. At the same time, her son will be relocating from Florida to attend school in Atlanta, making this a meaningful new chapter for them both.
"The decision to move back was centered around family," she says. "Right now, it's the best hub for my travels and work, and my son is attending school in Atlanta."
Once settled, Susan looks forward to reconnecting with old friends, continuing her coaching practice, writing, traveling, photographing the places she loves, and sharing her newest work with readers. She will also appear at The Book Bird in Avondale Estates on September 24 as part of her book launch.
Home Again
Ask Susan what she loves most about Ansley Park today, and her answer sounds remarkably similar to what it would have been more than thirty years ago.
Walking beneath the neighborhood's magnificent tree canopy.
Exploring Piedmont Park and the Atlanta Botanical Garden.
Enjoying the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the High Museum of Art, Colony Square, and the many restaurants and cultural experiences that make Midtown such a vibrant place to live.
But perhaps most importantly, she looks forward to something much simpler.
Seeing old friends more often.
Making new ones.
And once again becoming part of the community that first welcomed her all those years ago.
Susan hopes others, like she did years ago, will slow down long enough to discover the beauty, friendships, and quiet moments that make Ansley Park such a special place.
For Susan, Ansley Park has never simply been a beautiful place to visit.
It has been a source of inspiration.
A place of healing.
A home for enduring friendships.
And now, more than thirty years after first falling in love with its tree-lined streets and timeless beauty, it is once again becoming part of the next chapter of her story.
Sometimes the places that shape us never really leave us. We simply find our way back.
CONTACT
Phone: (561) 632-9525
Email: snefzgerpr@gmail.com
Website: www.seeingbeyondtheordinary.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/snefzgerpr
Instagram: Personal: @snefzgerpr Coaching: @the_clarity_architect