The Swing

A Muse's Memoir about Keeping the Artist Alive

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Pub Date 10 Jul 2021 | Archive Date 29 Sep 2021

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Description

After one heck of a first date with an ill artist, Susan was all in for a wild race against the clock.

She knew what she was getting into...sort of. Charlie was frailer than she realized and only twenty-seven. But it was clear from day one that he was in search of his own brand of perfection. She'd watch his work magically evolve while his body slipped away. She'd summon unfettered wiliness, hope, and forgiveness, while still managing to find raw, wicked humor in almost every dark corner. Decades later, over a million images were shot in the field, thousands were carefully cataloged, and hundreds were printed by the artist before he died. Art won. Love won. Illness lost.

The Swing by Susan Dennis opens in the dangerous days of Detroit's 1980s gang wars, and spans the twenty-four-year marriage of a muse and a photographer - a man with an inexplicable illness, and an equally inexplicable lifelong passion for mastering the union of nature with a lens.

After one heck of a first date with an ill artist, Susan was all in for a wild race against the clock.

She knew what she was getting into...sort of. Charlie was frailer than she realized and only...


A Note From the Publisher

Susan Dennis lives in Hillsborough, North Carolina. For the last twelve years, she has been sharing her stories about her life with Charlie and exhibiting his work before enthusiastic gatherings. She runs a management consultancy that designs and produces work for public health research, named Susan Charles Prints, Inc.—the company named by Charlie shortly before his death. The Swing is her first published book.

For more about Susan and to view a selection of Charlie’s prints, please visit her website at http://theswing.charlesdennisphotography.com/.

Susan Dennis lives in Hillsborough, North Carolina. For the last twelve years, she has been sharing her stories about her life with Charlie and exhibiting his work before enthusiastic gatherings. She...


Advance Praise

"This charming and brilliant memoir explores the joys and complications of loving a passionate artist, who created despite a relentless physical illness. While its focus is on the life and love of an artist, this memoir would be valuable to anyone witnessing their loved one battle for life." — Independent Book Review


"Susan Dennis truly outdid herself with this brilliant memoir...While the romance aspect is swoon-worthy, I felt that Charlie's passion for his art makes this book stand out. His story has me wondering whether I'm using my time for something worthwhile." — Readers' Favorite

"This charming and brilliant memoir explores the joys and complications of loving a passionate artist, who created despite a relentless physical illness. While its focus is on the life and love of an...


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Featured Reviews

For most of this book, I cried and cried. Because it hit home. I wanted to not read it, but I had to. Thank you to author for sharing her story.

Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free, it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

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The Swing by Susan Dennis is a beautifully written memoir of a long-lasting loving relationship. When that relationship is challenged by ill health and setbacks. This relationship defies the odds. I really felt for Susan and understood her self-denial. Her memoir will help many people facing similar obstacles in their lives.

Was this review helpful?

After one heck of a first date with an ill artist, Susan was all in for a wild race against the clock.

She knew what she was getting into...sort of. Charlie was frailer than she realized and only twenty-seven. But it was clear from day one that he was in search of his own brand of perfection. She'd watch his work magically evolve while his body slipped away. She'd summon unfettered wiliness, hope, and forgiveness, while still managing to find raw, wicked humor in almost every dark corner. Decades later, over a million images were shot in the field, thousands were carefully cataloged, and hundreds were printed by the artist before he died. Art won. Love won. Illness lost.

Was this review helpful?

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