Anger as author reveals her ‘suicide’ was work of fiction

A ROMANCE novelist has been accused of faking her own suicide more than two years ago after revealing she is not actually dead.

Susan Meachen sparked a furious reaction from other writers after announcing she was alive and had simply needed a break from social media.

“I debated on how to do this a million times and still not sure if it’s right or not,” the self-styled “author of perfectly flawed romances”, said on Facebook.

“I am in a good place now and I am hoping to write again. Let the fun begin,” the Tennessee author said as the controversy enraged novelists in the US.

Mrs Meachen’s Facebook page was used to announce her death in October 2020. A post blamed her suicide on harassment and bullying from other members of the book community.

The page was later used to give away audiobook codes of her novels, raise funds for charities, and to source editors for her unpublished work.

In 2021, a Facebook post by someone claiming to be Mrs Meachen’s daughter said her mother’s books would be “unpublished” unless sales increased.

Love to Last a Lifetime, the tale of a man born to riches who falls for his best friend’s girlfriend, was published and put on sale shortly after her “death”. The writer of titles such as His Wicked

Way and Chance Encounter added: “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.”

Rival romance authors said Mrs Meachen could be guilty of fraud.

Candace Adams, author of “dark paranormal romances” including Snares of the Devil and The Showman’s Ghost, demanded Mrs Meachen pay back donations to the charity auction for her funeral.

However, Mrs Meachen denied there had ever been any fundraisers after Ms Adams asked her on social media if she should hire lawyers if she didn’t get her money back.

Fellow author Samantha A Cole wrote on Facebook she felt “horrified and livid” like she’d been “kicked in the gut and chest at the same time”.

Mrs Meachen has not responded to requests for comment from US media.