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The romance novelist who faked her own death to take a break from social media

Home> News

Updated 16:38 8 Jan 2023 GMTPublished 16:39 8 Jan 2023 GMT

The romance novelist who faked her own death to take a break from social media

Talk about a plot twist!

Ali Condon

Ali Condon

A fiction writer who's death was announced over two years ago has suddenly reemerged in one of the biggest plot twists the literary world has seen.

You couldn't write this sort of stuff... Or, well, maybe you could in this case.

Fans of romance writer Susan Meachen were devastated in 2020 when it was announced by someone claiming to be her daughter that she had died by suicide.

Except, that wasn't the case at all.

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Because just earlier this week, Susan bizarrely reemerged online - sending shockwaves through the community of fans and fellow authors that had mourned her so deeply.

The indie romance author faked her own death.
Amazon

In Susan's memory, fundraisers were set up and group members splashed out on Susan's books to support her 'mourning' family's expenses.

That's why everyone was so shocked this week when Susan was inexplicably resurrected and shared a post to social media to announce her return.

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According to screenshots of the announcement taken by members of the Facebook group, Susan wrote: "I debated on how to do this a million times and still not sure if it's right or not.

"There's going to be tons of questions and a lot of people leaving the group I'd guess. But my family did what they thought was best for me and I can't fault them for it.

"I almost died again at my own hand and they had to go through all that hell again. Returning to The Ward (her Facebook group) doesn't mean much but I am in a good place now and I am hoping to write again. Let the fun begin."

Of course, when grieving fans and friends saw Susan's post they were furious.

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Susan revealed she had been alive the whole time.
Facebook

Fellow author Samantha Cole, who had been heartbroken when she found out about Susan's death, messaged Susan to try and get her head around what had happened.

"What is going on????" asked Samantha in messages she later shared screenshots of to Facebook.

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Susan replied: "Nothing. I simply want my life back. My family was in a bad place and did what they thought was best for me."

In another message from the newly-revived Susan to her confused friend, she explained: "My books haven't sold at all. I stayed silent [while] I worked with my psychiatrist and therapist to get in a better place."

"I think she believed that if she died, her books would get attention," Samantha told the BBC this week.

"Now, this is a new gamble: 'Hey, if I come back, that will get everybody stirred up and maybe that will get my books popular', instead of just being a good author."

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Just after Susan's supposed passing, Susan's assistant shared a link to Susan's newest book to the Facebook group, accompanied by the caption: "Before Susan Meachen passed away, she had written her last book Love to Last a Lifetime.

"She wanted to have it published by her daughter's wedding. This is it!! It is on pre-order now for $1.99."

Susan's book, Love to Last a Lifetime, was released soon after her supposed death.
Amazon

Now, those who bought the book in support of Susan's family or contributed money to fundraisers are wondering if they'll be getting their money back.

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In a response supposedly from Susan, shared to Upstream Reviews, the author said: "To those who donated I would again stress this wasn't demanded of them.

"I'm sorry they feel wronged but they chose to DONATE. It doesn't magically become a loan because they regret it now.

"And WHY do they? Because an Author told a Story? The only difference now vs before is I'm alive. They'd rather I be dead?

"Then they'd be happy about donating? That's what it seems like they're saying, they're cruelly wishing death on me."

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That's certainly one way to spin it.

UNILAD has attempted to contact Susan Meachen for comment.

If you’ve been affected by any issues in this article and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123

Featured Image Credit: Igor Mojzes / Alamy Stock Photo/thodsapol thongdeekhieo / Alamy Stock Photo/

Topics: US News, News

Ali Condon
Ali Condon

Ali is a journalist for LADbible Group, writing on all things film, music, and entertainment across Tyla, LADbible and UNILAD. You can contact Ali at [email protected].

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@alicondon

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