Susannah grew up on the Florida panhandle in the 1970s and 80s. She began writing stories, poems, and plays as a child and fell in love with the worlds that came alive in the books she read. Wanting to share this love with others, and knowing that reading makes better humans, she decided to become a teacher while continuing to write when she could.

Susannah has been teaching middle and high school English and reading since 1989. She started the Advanced Placement Augmentation program at Berkeley High School and was named Distinguished Educator for this effort by the Berkeley Schools Foundation in 2008. She has also taught special education and has been a program director, professional development coordinator, teacher leader and school administrator.