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Author Susan Clawson: On What Inspired Her to Create the Captivating and Relatable Five-Book Dystopian-Drama Series, the ‘better lands’

The COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly took the whole world by surprise with its sheer impact and devastation. For the better part of 2020, everyone was confined to their homes either due to government-mandated restrictions or from self-imposed isolation out of fear of contracting the deadly virus. With so much time on their hands, many tried looking for ways to kill boredom, and Susan Clawson was no exception.

However, unlike others, the creative author found a more productive way to pass the time by pursuing her passion for writing. In fact, within the last couple of years, she has already published the first three books of her five-part series better lands. The story initially starts in Burlington, Vermont, just as the world had lost over two-thirds of its breathing population and infrastructure. A third wave was making its way around. The saga follows a 16-year-old protagonist, Rosa Wells, who leads some pandemic survivors on a 45-day tempestuous foot journey to the inland peninsula of Kentucky in search of virus-free lands. 

Susan shared that while her fictional creation is inspired by real-life events, it is a gripping tale that incorporates imaginary elements with realistic flavors of dystopia, apocalypse, and drama, concentrating on the human aspect of the relatable treacherous times. But most importantly, what makes the books so captivating is how the story can resonate with all types of readers. In fact, the brilliant writer has found a way to encapsulate situations that people can identify with and even reflect upon if ever thrust into similar scenarios. 

When asked what motivated her to select such a relevant and timely theme, the insightful author answered, “Because of what our world has recently been through and what may lie ahead in the future. It certainly makes one think about what we would do if we were thrust into something similar. In some small way, maybe it can help us prepare and understand that we can survive as long as we stay resilient. After all, we’ve done it for centuries and will continue to do so in the future.”

She then added, “Let me further explain. better lands is a timeless story about human resilience in the most treacherous times. Folks are thrust together with others that they normally would not invite into their lives. They live, love, fight, kill and reflect as they try to survive in an environment that they have little to no control over. The underlying message can be related to even earlier than biblical times and thousands of years into the future. It will never waiver as, unfortunately, there is always a circumstance that is a cause for pause in the world. No matter who you are, you will find some common ground within the pages.”

Because of the manuscript’s captivating nature, its first book, ‘THE DISCOVERIES,’ is already slated for a film adaptation, while the others are expected to follow suit. Aside from that, Susan is also working on the last two books, which she plans to publish soon. 

Outside of being a fantastic novelist, the remarkable author lives with her husband in the New England area. They have five grown children and three grandchildren. Susan loves the occasional travel and cruises. In addition, she also works part-time recruiting and training reps across the country for a financial firm. But, of course, staying true to her imaginative nature, she also spends time on her favorite hobby: tending to her two collector dollhouses.

 

Website: www.susanclawson-author.com

Email: author.sclawson@gmail.com

Find the first 3 books here: www.amazon.com/author/betterlands

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