Event Recording: Suzanne Leal
We were privileged to welcome Suzanne Leal as she launched her latest YA novel “The Year We Escaped”.
Suzanne Leal and James O’Loghlin were absolutely brilliant together. They showed up and dazzled. No stuffy lecture, no pretentious waffle. Just real talk about why stories matter, especially the ones that drag history out of textbooks and into our guts.
James, with his knack for asking just the right questions, helped us see how these stories matter today. Honestly the man could interview a brick and make it fascinating.
Suzanne brought her particular brand of magic. With warmth and thoughtful answers, she gave us colour and insight into her process – how she brings characters to life, the research that anchors them and why these stories bridge generations so powerfully.
And our audience were perfect. Leaning in, throwing back laughs, asking questions that showed how dialed in everyone was. That energy – that’s why we do this. This talk once again proved exactly why spaces like SMSA matter – it’s a space where stories can breathe and find new life in our collective imagination.
You can explore Suzanne’s published books HERE
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