A romance author was believed to be dead. When she appeared to return, the story got more complicated – CNN
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In September 2020, fans and friends of Susan Meachen received devastating news. The romance writer’s Facebook account posted a message saying she had died. A later post claimed she had taken her own life and suggested her actions were the results of online bullying by others in her thriving, close-knit online writing group.
Over the next two years, her fellow writers and loyal followers helped keep her memory alive through her published works. However, her Facebook account made a shocking claim this month: Meachen was still alive, and she wanted to return to writing.
“Let the fun begin,” the post concluded.
The bizarre post plunged Meachen’s fans and fellow writers into confusion and rage. Did the woman they had considered a friend, a colleague and a mentor stage a devastating, years-long ruse? Those who spoke to CNN say the scandal has threatened to upend the trust and collaboration that keeps their independent publishing community going. More than that, their search for answers after years of mourning has only turned up more questions.
In the world of independent publishing, community is everything. It’s not unusual for writers in similar genres to form strong bonds over the course of years, even if they’ve never met each other in person. That’s how Candace Adams, a paranormal and suspense romance writer, met Meachen online in 2019.
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