Meet the Member: Author Suzanne Loebl on 15 Books, 50 Years in ASJA, and a Lifetime of Writing
Suzanne Loebl is at a stage of life when many people devote time on hobbies, family, or undertaking other leisure pursuits. Loebl does those things—and continues to write.
The 50-year ASJA member and ASJA career achievement recipient recently completed her 15th book, “Plunder and Survival: Stories of Loss, Theft, Recovery, and Migration of Nazi-Uprooted Art” written with Abigail Wilentz and published by Bloomsbury Publishing in October. In its review, Kirkus called the book a rich portrait of the fate of art and artists in the shadow of Hitler, and “a work that stands out from the immense and ever-growing shelf of World War II literature.”
When Loebl joined, publishing was different—and so was ASJA. The organization that had been founded as the Society of Magazine Writers had just changed its name to the American Society of Journalists and Authors to reflect opening up membership to nonfiction book authors. Prospective members still needed a sponsor to recommend them. According to Loebl, who lived and still lives in New York, ASJA was small enough, and restaurants were affordable enough, that the organization used to host monthly dinner meetings in the city.
“In 1980, several of us attended a trade show to investigate these devilish, new-fangled ‘personal computers’ that threatened to displace our typewriters,” she wrote in an email to ASJA earlier this year. “I served as secretary and treasurer, and one year I was in charge of a smashing Christmas party, held in a free space offered to us by McGraw Hill. Another year, I organized the first-ever trade show at the annual conference.
“My career is a testament to the incredible power of ASJA’s work.”
To accompany her new book, Loebl launched a free, biweekly Substack of the same name–Plunder and Survival–to keep an eye on the world of looted and migrant art.
I caught up with Loebl recently to find out more about her path to writing, her freelance career and books, and why she’s still writing after all this time. Her responses have been edited for clarity.
How did you get started as a writer?
I was trained as a chemist and worked as a laboratory technician. After my chemistry professor and I had children, I wanted to work from home. Since I was trilingual and a trained biochemist, I decided to try my hand at scientific translations, preparation of research, and technical reports. This morphed rapidly into a new specialty of science and medical writing. I had a natural aptitude to explain complex topics to lay readers.
When did you start freelancing?
I wrote a young adult science book—my children were the right age—and sold it on my third submission to Abelard-Schuman, then a very reputable publisher. “Fighting the Unseen: The Story of Viruses,” was published in 1967. It was a success and the following year earned me a Sloan Science Writing Fellowship at Columbia University’s School of Journalism.
After that, I took a full-time job as science editor of the National Arthritis Foundation. I loved my job. I bonded with patients, physicians, and researchers. The foundation published what I wrote, and I made serious money that helped pay for our children’s college education.
I kept freelancing on the side. Among my books was “The Nurses Drug Handbook,” a 1,000+ page text reference book that went through seven editions. When the Arthritis Foundation moved to Atlanta, I regretfully returned to freelancing.
You’ve written about many subjects over the years. What’s something you’re especially proud of?
All my books occupy a special place in my life. My three juvenile science books, as well as my book about infertility, are most creative. “The Nurses Drug Handbook” hopefully helped save lives. My three self-help books on infertility, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis were well received.
My two memoirs are the most personal writing and may be my best. “At the Mercy of Strangers: Growing Up on the Edge of the Holocaust” is partially based on a diary I kept while hiding in Brussels during WWII. “The Mother’s Group: Of Love, Loss, and AIDS,” is about how a group of women and I helped our sons who were living through and dying of AIDS.
My two art books, “Americas Art Museums: A Traveler’s Guide to Great Collection Large and Small,” and “America’s Medicis: The Rockefellers Amazing Contribution to American Culture,” allowed me to immerse myself in my passion for art.
How did your latest book come about?
My latest book “Plunder and Survival: Stories of Loss, Theft, Recovery, and Migration of Nazi-Uprooted Art,” is a newborn. It was an outgrowth of my passionate interest in art and my very interesting life. The book garnered excellent reviews, a most enjoyable occurrence.
When did you join ASJA and why?
As science editor of the Arthritis Foundation, I was aware of ASJA and admired it. I was overjoyed that the organization accepted me. ASJA member Ruth Winter was my sponsor. It turned out that the organization was extremely beneficial to my professional development. Many of its members became my close personal friends. We held monthly dinner meetings and also hosted one another. We had an out-of-town B & B program. We learned about computers, and mounted a banned book campaign and the ASJA writers’ conference.
What’s one of your favorite ASJA memories?
My favorite memory is reading from the banned “The Diary of Anne Frank” on the steps of the Public Library in New York.
You received an ASJA career achievement award – how did that come to pass?
Bonnie Remsberg nominated me in 2012. I keep her nomination handy when I need comfort. It reads in part: “Suzanne understands the basic writer’s lesson of turning one’s own experiences, joys, griefs, etc., into prose. She is a survivor of the Holocaust, she wrote a book about it. She lost her beloved son David early in the AIDS epidemic. She wrote a book about it. Her mother-in-law died from a fatal drug interaction prescribed by a physician. She spent five years writing the first edition of ‘The Nurses Drug Handbook’ to teach nurses about drugs. The seven editions of the book have sold more than 350,000 copies.”
You’ve continued to write past the age when many people choose to retire. What drives you?
I am happiest when I write and research a topic that I am interested in, and I do not see why I should stop. It took a long time for me to complete my last book. It received excellent reviews, which is gratifying. My age keeps me from activities like traveling, hiking, or swimming. Many of my friends are gone. So far, nature has not impaired my mental abilities, so writing helps me participate in the world.
When you’re not writing, what do you do for fun?
I read. I have a lovely and devoted family as well as a companion. I go to museums and am able to spend summers in my lovely camp in Maine, located amidst pine trees on the shore of a small lake.
**
Michelle Rafter is a Portland, Oregon, ghostwriter specializing in business and thought leadership books, reports, and other content. She wrote ASJA’s members-only free e-book, “Building an Independent Writing Business.”