Author Susan Meachen, who faked her own death, left red flags that she was still alive, the editor claims

The former book editor of romance novelist Susan Meachen, who faked her own death for two years, says she’s seen red flags that the author is still alive – and claims the author has been on TikTok and on Facebook under the alias all along TN Steele posted.

Meachen has been presumed dead since September 2020, when someone claiming to be her daughter posted from her Facebook account that she had died of suicide.

But on January 2 of this year, Meachen’s story made headlines when the same Facebook account posted on a private fan group, claiming that Meachen’s family faked her death while she was going through a mental health crisis, and revealed that she continues to use the alias published by TN Steele.

Meachen’s former editor, author Kasey Hill, has now revealed she had suspicions about her “suicide” and said the first red flag was the announcement that Meachen was leaving the “book world”.

“We spoke the day before her death, which she told me she was committing herself to [to a mental health institution] the next day,” Hill told DailyMail.com.

She also noted that Meachen’s Facebook account promoted her books in a familiar style of writing and spelling. Hill said, “Everything looked just like how Susan messaged me and how Susan wrote her books.”

Novelist Susan Meachen faked her death in September 2020 and revealed to the world that she was alive last week

When Hill learned it was a hoax, she told DailyMail.com that she “crashed” and then turned to Meacham to find out what the truth really was. “I felt hurt, betrayed…every emotion you can imagine”

Finding Faith (pictured) was Meachen’s last release before her supposed death

Another telltale sign was the way she spelled the word “allegedly,” which Hill said she often misspelled. She also noted that when she went online to find information about Meachen’s death, nothing was showing.

And when the news broke that Meachen was actually alive, Hill said the author was posting on TikTok “all the time,” she told the US Sun.

She told DailyMail.com that she also created a pseudonymous account on Facebook called TN Steele in October 2020 – less than a month after her alleged death – and befriended people on it.

“No one knew it was her, but she admitted to me that TN Steele was actually her,” she said. “She erased it when she got out alive.”

A first search for Meachen on the social media platform was unsuccessful.

Hill told DailyMail.com the couple became friends last year after Meachen bought her book, Surviving Sarah, about a girl who was driven to suicide.

She said she helped edit three of her books – His Wicked Way, Losing Him and Finding Faith.

She said the couple became close and often spoke about their personal struggles with depression. Upon learning that Meachen had taken his own life on September 8, 2020, she admitted that she was wracked with guilt and mourning the loss.

“I had surgery this month and was in and out of the ER, so I couldn’t invest in her mental health and I felt like I let her down,” Hill said.

When news of her death made headlines two days later, fans of the romance world were shaken, and money was raised to pay for her funeral.

Meachen shockingly returned to social media on January 2, telling her fans she was alive and appearing to imply that her family was responsible for announcing her death two years ago.

“I’ve debated how to do this a million times and I’m still not sure if it’s right or not,” the post reads.

“My family did what they felt was best for me and I can’t blame them.

“I am in a good place now and I hope to be able to write again. Let the fun begin.’

Upon learning it was a hoax, Hill said she “caught” before reaching out to Meacham to find out what the truth really was.

Meachen has published 10 romance novels, including titles such as Losing Him & Finding You and Chance Encounters.

“I felt hurt, betrayed…every emotion you can imagine.”

Hill said the news hit her particularly hard because she suffers from seasonal depression and bipolar disorder herself, along with a host of other mental health issues.

Hill said Meachen has denied allegations that she faked her own death – and has shown no remorse for her actions.

“She just said what is true and what isn’t. She didn’t apologize at all. Her answers were very narcissistic.’

Hill said they haven’t spoken to each other since, and she doesn’t plan to either.

She said their working relationship revolves around editing some of their books, but their friendship is more intimate.

“We both suffer from bipolar affective disorder. If she was manic, I talked to her,” she said.

“She always asked me how I got through it and I even told her that I prayed even though I’m not religious.”

Meachen became manic when writing because many of her characters died in love and this triggered her past memories.

Hill said Meachen revealed to her that she once shot herself and was hospitalized during a suicide attempt.

She also shared that weeks before Meachen faked her death, she was put on a 72-hour suspension. Part of the reason, Hill said, was due to the wrong medications she was taking.