Suzanne Parry
A former European security specialist, Suzanne now writes historical fiction about the Soviet Union. She studied Russian at Purdue University and the Pushkin Institute in Moscow. After earning a Master’s from Princeton University, she began a career in public service with the US Department of Defense focused on Europe and the Soviet Union. While at the Pentagon she helped negotiate the Conference on Disarmament in Europe, the first security agreement of the Gorbachev era. She raised a large family and taught university, eventually landing in the wonderful and welcoming city of Portland, Oregon. There, she coached high school cross country and track for fifteen years before embarking on a writing career. A veteran of several dozen marathons on six continents, Suzanne now runs slowly and not very far. She remains convinced that raising four children was as difficult as negotiating with the Soviets.
What period of history do you wish you knew more about?
The 1800’s in Europe and Russia.
Vacation druthers…City or rural destination? Why?
When I need to decompress, I will take a mountain or beach vacation, but usually I want to learn something when I travel. And that means a city destination. Museums, historical sites, architecture, restaurants, the sound of a foreign language on the streets. Perfect.
Is there another profession you would like to try?
After I worked at the Pentagon as a civilian, I realized that I would have been well suited to a military career. At the time, I was so interested in developing an expertise in foreign policy, especially regarding the Soviet Union and Europe, that I ignored the signs that I might have missed my true calling.
What brings you great joy?
I am a happy, optimistic person and get joy from simple things that I do alone, like going for a run or working on a jigsaw puzzle. But I also like being connected to people and am often at my happiest at family gatherings or when my adult children and grandchildren vacation together which we try to do for a week every year.
Do you speak a second language? Do you think differently in that language? Does it influence your writing?
For many years I had a basic knowledge of Russian, French, and German. I haven’t used those skills much in the last twenty years so whatever knowledge I possess is quite stale. I no longer think in any language but English, although I do still dream in Russian once in a while. When I’m writing, certain phrases of Russian sometimes pop into my head and I try to use them. It seems very natural since I write about Russians and the Soviet Union, but I wouldn’t say the language influences my writing.
