Susan Samadi’s debut novel, Dreams of Crimson Plague, blends post-apocalyptic dread with nightmares that bleed into reality, broken people trying to survive them, and just enough light to keep the darkness from winning.

As a U.S. Air Force Reservist and aircraft mechanic, Susan writes because her imagination refused to stay quiet. Her stories walk the line between beauty and brutality, often exploring characters who are cracked but still reaching for something better.

When she’s not writing or homeschooling her daughter, she’s probably overthinking, drinking tea that’s gone cold, or trying to convince her cats they’re not in charge. She believes in stories that linger, in the complexity of those we call villains, and in the healing that comes from feeling seen, even in a fictional world.