How’s this for a plot twist? In 2020, the daughter of romance book author Susan Meachen announced on Facebook that her mother had committed suicide. Meachen was much admired in the indie romance book community, with thoughts and prayers pouring in.
Meachen published ten romantic novels. Her “last” book, Love to last a lifetimewas supposedly published posthumously in October 2020 with final rewrites by her daughter.
Fans were encouraged to order the book on Facebook. “Susan wanted it published at her daughter’s wedding,” read an emotional post.
In the years that followed, Meacham’s daughter posted from time to time, encouraging people to purchase her mother’s books using discount codes or to donate to suicide prevention organizations.
There was only one problem: it was all a lie.
Susan Meachen is alive and well. This week she appeared again in a private writer’s Facebook group called The Ward, writing:
“I’ve debated a million times on how to do this and I’m still not sure if it’s right or not. There will be a lot of questions and a lot of people will leave the group I think. But my family did what they thought that was the best for me and i can’t blame them for it i almost died again by my own doing and they had to go through all that hell again coming back to The Ward doesn’t mean much but i’m on a good place, and I hope to write again. Let the fun begin.”
Author Susan Meachen died by suicide 2 years ago. Turns out she didn’t. What an absolute piece of shit #authors #MentalHealth Matters pic.twitter.com/nNU0LCEU3i
– Be a lot cooler if you did ??? (@Draggerofliars) January 4, 2023
Not only is Meachen alive and well, but she’s also been publishing books under a pseudonym, TN Steele, for two years.
“I don’t know who to trust anymore.”
The outcry was swift and strong, with fans and former mourners taking to online to express their anger.
“What an absolute piece of s$%,” tweeted @ Draggerofliars.
“Use ‘Let the fun begin.’ If your signature when you announce you didn’t actually kill yourself is anything. No notes,” tweeted @megantastic
Fellow author Samantha A. Cole, who was friends with Meachen online, said in a Facebook video“That’s beyond psychotic, whether it was Susan herself or her daughter making these comments, to knowingly mislead someone who is grieving.”
Later, in a private Facebook chat with Meachen’s account, Cole wrote, “I’m glad she’s alive because I don’t want to wish anyone dead. But I can’t condone what she did, and I can’t forgive what she did .”
Cole continued: “‘I hope the book world can heal from this, it will take time,’ added the author. ‘I don’t know who to trust anymore, except the people I have met, who I am.”
So far, neither Meachen nor her family have commented publicly.
