Susan Conley is the author of five critically acclaimed books, including fiction, memoir, and essays. Her most recent novel, "Landslide" (Knopf, 2021), was praised as "a spectacular tale of hardship and healing" by Lily King. Her previous novel, "Elsey Come Home" (Knopf, 2019), garnered widespread recognition as a Most Anticipated or Best Book by publications such as Oprah Magazine, Marie Claire, and Huffington Post. Conley's debut novel, "Paris Was the Place" (Knopf, 2013), was an Amazon Fall Big Books Pick and an Indie Next selection, while her memoir, "The Foremost Good Fortune" (Knopf, 2011), won the Maine Literary Award for Memoir and was a finalist for the Goodreads Choice Award.
Conley's writing has appeared in prominent publications including The New York Times Magazine, The Paris Review, and The Harvard Review. Her work often explores themes of displacement, resilience, and personal transformation. She has received fellowships from the MacDowell Colony, the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, and the Massachusetts Arts Council, among others. A dedicated educator, she has taught at institutions such as Emerson College, Colby College, and the University of Maine’s Stonecoast MFA Program, where she currently serves on the faculty.
In addition to her literary achievements, Conley is the co-founder of The Telling Room, a nonprofit creative writing center in Portland, Maine. Her contributions to the literary community have been recognized with awards such as the Maine Book Award and the Maine Award for Publishing Excellence. She has also delivered a widely viewed TEDx Talk titled "The Power of Story," further cementing her reputation as a compelling voice in contemporary literature.