I’m a writer currently living in Portland, Oregon. I most recently worked as a staff reporter and managing editor for special sections at a beloved alt-weekly, the Missoula Independent, which was closed in September 2018. For the vast majority of my writing career I’ve been a freelancer. I’ve written about college football and free speech, stripping during the Bakken boom, I helped found Tits and Sass and I’m on Twitter. Here’s a brief current resume.

My email address is susan at susanshepard dot com. I’m available for jobs, contract gigs and freelance work. My interests outside of work include cats, hot springs and breakfast tacos. If I tell you I grew up in Austin, Texas and you say something about how it’s not really Texas, I will not shut up for the next five minutes about how wrong that statement is.

Fun Facts

Born: Harlingen, TX.

High School: Austin Westlake, home of Drew Brees and Nick Foles.

College: I got a BA in English from The University of Texas, but I spent most of my time at the Daily Texan, KVRX, and the Hole in the Wall.

Places I’ve lived: Harlingen, Austin, Cincinnati (2005), Portland OR (2005-2008), Missoula MT (2008-2011), Austin (2011-2014), Portland (2014-2017), Missoula (2017-2019), Portland (2019-present). You could say there’s a pattern. I’d like to live in Philadelphia sometime, too.

Personal: I live with my husband, who is also a writer, and a black cat named Bubbles.

Social media: I used to be funnier on Twitter but I’m still a decent follow.