All her life, Michelle Sussman has developed a love for reading and learning new things. Her dedication to her myriad interests never ceases to amaze those around her. Most importantly, people value her for her kindness.      In her debut poetry collection, Character Matters, she weaves her interests in literature, history, politics, nature, languages, foreign countries, and music into a series of poems that reveal some crucial life lessons in a chaotic world. Manifesting the Golden Rule through plants, animals, and humans (real and fictional), Sussman addresses the importance of considering the impact of one’s actions and words.