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YORKTOWN, N.Y. ? Susan Berliner left a 20-year career with the PennySaver only a few years ago, but on Oct. 8, the longtime Yorktown resident released her third novel in nearly as many years.
This is my third novel, but Ive been a writer my whole life, said Berliner, who has lived in Yorktown since 1972. I was at the PennySaver for like 20 years as a commercial manager. I was always looking for interesting things that I could use in the editorial stuff that I did.
One day Berliner came across an article about a "dust devil in Maine that piqued her interest. The article, which concluded with "sometimes the strangest things happen on clear days," inspired her to write her first novel, Dust. She also wrote the book before one of her idols, Stephen King, had the chance.
I thought, 'Hes going to write this book, hes going to see this little strange article,' " she said. I decided to write a story about a strange dust devil that was kind of evil and supernatural and created all this. And thats how I became a novelist.
Berliner said all her novels are based in reality with supernatural elements. Her second novel, Peachwood Lake, was inspired by an article about a fish that jumped out of the water. Her latest novel is a time-travel thriller called The Disappearance.
Everything about it is real, except for the fact that the characters are traveling through time, said Berliner. Theyre kind of real books, with the little sprinkled elements of supernatural. Theyre not set in fantasy land.
Berliner said her books have no true target audience and that she has received feedback from readers between 9 and 100 years old.
"Its actually for everyone, for all readers who like thrillers," she said.
Berliner will sign copies of her new novel Saturday at Somers' Harvest Festival and Super Tag Sale at St. Lukes Church & Bailey Park. Additional signings are listed on her website.
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