Approximately two years ago, Susan Meachen‘s daughter claimed that her mother committed suicide and posted it on her mother’s Facebook group. Now the dead revealed herself and said she was alive and well.
It all started in 2020 when Susan Meachen’s daughter informed the people in The Ward about her mother’s passing. The post stated that Meachen committed suicide due to being a victim of bullying. This issue created a rift in the writing community.
Samantha A. Cole, a fellow writer that met Meachen online, expressed her shock about the news.
According to Cole, this issue caused a rift in the writing community. Discrimination against self-published books is increasing.
Meanwhile, T.E. Ridener, another romance writer, stated that the discrimination began in 2011 and continues to this day.
Many indie writers, like Meachen, self-publish their novels and are ignored or discriminated against. In the aftermath of her “death,” people close to her decided to honor her memory.
According to some sources, the writing community launched a campaign to address this issue. They held auctions and fundraisers to raise awareness about bullying.
It was a success because many people joined the cause and donated. Some authors are also donating money to Meachen’s family.
While the campaigns are ongoing, the Facebook group has kept fans updated on what’s happening, including the unpublishing of Meachen’s books.
According to a 2021 post, a user informed fans that Meachen’s book Love to Last a Lifetime would not be published. The user intended to raise awareness and stated that people should purchase copies to prevent the problem from occurring.
Love to Last a Lifetime is Meachen’s final book before she committed suicide.
Thought this was the end of the matter, but in January 2023, news broke that Meachen was alive and well after being dead for two years.
Meachen stated in a post that her mental health is improving, and she plans to resume writing.
She also stated that her family did the posts without her permission. She did, however, state that she attempted suicide and survived.
People are upset because they believe they have been duped.
Susan Meachen faking her own suicide and then wandering blithely back online because she “got bored” is so exquisitely insane. Romance writers really are operating on another plane of reality.
— Gretchen Felker-Martin (@scumbelievable) January 4, 2023
Ridener was one of them, and she expressed her disappointment at the news. She said that Meachen crossed a line by manipulating people and making mental illness a spectacle.
Other writers are looking into ways to get the money they donated to the family back. They are in contact with law enforcement.
Looks like another story will be written soon about Meachen.
