Susan Isaacs

Susan Isaacs is an American author known for her diverse works, which include mystery novels, espionage thrillers, fiction, and nonfiction.

Susan Isaacs was born in Brooklyn, New York. She received her education at Queens College, majored in English, and minored in economics.

After taking an aptitude test to become a computer programmer and not succeeding, Susan found herself offered a position at Seventeen magazine based on her college paper writing experience.

Her early career involved writing advice columns and articles for Seventeen, focusing on topics like "How to Write a Letter to a Boy" and advice to the lovelorn. However, Susan found this work less fulfilling. She began writing political speeches in her spare time.

This eventually led to her meeting and marrying Elkan Abramowitz, a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York. Together, they had two children, Andrew and Elizabeth.

Susan Isaacs left her job at Seventeen to raise her children but continued to write speeches and magazine pieces. In her spare time, she developed a passion for reading mysteries, which inspired her to try writing.

This decision gave birth to her debut novel, Compromising Positions, a whodunit featuring a housewife-detective, Judith Singer, her most beloved character. Set on Long Island, the story became a Book-of-the-Month Club Main Selection, being adapted into a film, translated into numerous languages, and becoming a bestseller.

Susan Isaacs continued to write, with about half of her works falling into the mystery genre and others spanning espionage and regular novels. Several of her books have earned spots on the New York Times bestsellers list.

In addition to her writing career, Susan has been recognized for her contributions to the literary community. She has received awards, such as the Writers for Writers Award, the Marymount Manhattan Writing Center Award, and the John Steinbeck Award.

Susan Isaacs also served as the chairman of the board of the Poets & Writers and as the president of Mystery Writers of America. She is a member of various professional associations, including the National Book Critics Circle, PEN, and the American Society of Journalists and Authors.

Isaacs is also has been involved in campaigns against censorship. She is passionate about public higher education and has served as a trustee emerita of the Queens College Foundation.

Susan Isaacs is a grandmother and continues to live on Long Island with her husband, Elkan Abramowitz.

Photo credit: www.susanisaacs.com