Susan’s career as a writer spans more than 30 years. Her work has taken her from the editorial offices of Memphis magazine to the Green Room at the Today Show to the pages of the Washington Post. Her ghostwriting credits include an international bestseller and her own work—both books and feature writing—has been published under several different names.
Recently, things have gotten a lot less complicated. For one thing, she’s just writing fiction. “And I’m writing it under my given name—Susan Bacon—which feels really good,” she says. Her debut novel, The History Teacher, came out in 2019. A sequel—The Art Collector, a mystery set in Manhattan and the Deep South—was released on August 15, 2024. And she’s now at work on a new mystery/thriller that will complete the trilogy.
“I also have a novel coming out in 2025 that’s not part of this series,” she says. “It’s more in the realm of women’s fiction. But that’s another story.”
A graduate of Barnard College with degree in history, Susan grew up in Wilmington, Delaware and has lived in Manhattan, Washington, DC, and Memphis, Tennessee—all locales that are featured in her novels. “Well, they say write what you know,” she says. But then she backtracks.
“Actually, I tend to agree with writers who say they write what they want to know. I enjoy exploring something new, digging in, doing the research. To me, that’s part of the fun of writing,” she says. “Although it can wreak havoc on my workspace.”
Susan now lives in Memphis and is particularly proud of the fact that she recorded her audiobook for The History Teacher at the legendary Sam Phillips Recording studio there. She also seems to appreciate the city. In the Acknowledgements section of The Art Collector, she writes that Memphis “is a town full of interesting and creative people who make it a vibrant, supportive, inspiring place to live and work. And, for that, I am most grateful.”
She’s also grateful to her readers. And loves to hear from them. “And book clubs. I have really enjoyed meeting with book clubs,” she says. “It’s always interesting to get a reader’s perspective.”
To get in touch with Susan or to schedule a visit with your book club via Zoom or Facetime, please contact her by email at susan@susanbacon.com. And, if you want to get on her good side, be sure to ask about her dog.