Vale Susan Duncan

Journalist and author Susan Duncan has died.

Allen & Unwin writes:

The much-admired and respected journalist and writer Susan Duncan died last weekend at her beloved home on Pittwater. Susan was a former editor of the Australian Women’s Weekly and of New Idea, before publishing her first book in 2006 with Random House. This book, a memoir called Salvation Creek, enjoyed wildly successful sales and critical acclaim. She followed that with three more nonfiction books: The House at Salvation Creek, A Life on Pittwater and The House on the Hill.

In 2011, Susan, always up for a challenge, published the first of her fabulous novels based on the kindness of the community in which she lived. The first was The Briny Café, followed by Gone Fishing. After a 10-year gap, Susan returned to fiction and her much-loved Pittwater community with Sleepless in Stringybark Bay and Finding Joy in Oyster Bay. These final two novels were published at Allen & Unwin, and it is such a sadness that Susan was not able to see Finding Joy in Oyster Bay make its way in the world, as she died just days before publication.

Susan showed great courage and true resilience in facing the many adversities of her life. She was a remarkable person with whom to work—kind, encouraging, so funny, straightforward and honest. She will be much missed by all her publishing colleagues. Vale Susan.

Photo credit: David Hahn.

Category: Obituaries