Suzanne Strempek Shea is the author of five novels, including "Selling the Lite of Heaven," "Hoopi Shoopi Donna," "Lily of the Valley," "Around Again," and "Becoming Finola," all published by Washington Square Press. She has also written three memoirs: "Songs From a Lead-lined Room: Notes - High and Low - From My Journey Through Breast Cancer and Radiation," "Shelf Life: Romance, Mystery, Drama and Other Page-Turning Adventures From a Year in a Bookstore," and "Sundays in America: A Yearlong Road Trip in Search of Christian Faith," published by Beacon Press. Her nonfiction works include "This is Paradise," a book about Mags Riordan and the Billy Riordan Memorial Clinic in Malawi, and "140 Years of Providential Care," co-written with her husband and historian Michele P. Barker. Her sixth novel, "Make a Wish But Not for Money," was published in 2014.
She began her writing career as a journalist for the Springfield Newspapers and The Providence Journal before transitioning to fiction. Winner of the 2000 New England Book Award for her contributions to regional literature, Shea's work spans genres including literary fiction, memoir, and journalism. Her essays and articles have appeared in publications such as Yankee, The Boston Globe, ESPN the Magazine, and Obit. Known for her keen observational style, Shea often explores themes of faith, community, and personal resilience.
A dedicated educator, Shea has taught creative writing at the University of Southern Maine's Stonecoast MFA program, Bay Path University, Emerson College, and the University of South Florida. She has also led writing workshops in Ireland through the Stonecoast Ireland residency and the Curlew Writers Conferences. She resides in Bondsville, Massachusetts, with her husband, journalist Tommy Shea, and their dogs.