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On the Road to Jericho: A Novel
By Sue Meredith Mann
A Substack “Top in Fiction” featured serial and debut novel. (Break). Rise. Thrive. Repeat.
Stories of adventure, misadventure and hope in South Africa, the Middle East and beyond.
Bombs couldn't break her in South Africa.
War couldn't stop her in Palestine.
But on an ordinary Tuesday in corporate America, crumpled on the office bathroom floor, Eleanor Williams discovers sometimes the most violent weapons are words.
And that the hardest part of survival isn't staying alive—it's staying yourself.
Eleanor Williams has always had impeccable—or terrible—timing, depending on how you look at it. She launches her diplomatic career during Nelson Mandela's inauguration in South Africa, moves to Palestine as the peace process begins to crumble and arrives in America just before 9/11.
From the ashes of apartheid to the complexities of the Middle East, Eleanor discovers that resilience isn't about never breaking—it's about how you put yourself back together. And that the most powerful act of resistance is simply being yourself in a world that wants something else.
If you enjoy stories about complex characters—sometimes lovable, sometimes unlikeable, always fascinating—the story of Eleanor Williams is for you.
Start reading and join her on her incredible journey.
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One night. Two lives.
In the hushed corridors of an empty office, despair seeps through the cracks as one soul grapples with the weight of failure and the haunting echoes of harsh words, while the other heads home to pot roast.
Table of Contents
On the Road to Jericho: A Story from the Heart...Shared with Yours
A message from me, Sue
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Other questions and answers
What does “serialize a novel” even mean?
It simply means the book will come out a little bit at a time, rather than all at once. So yeah, no binge reading will be possible!
What days will installments release?
Thursdays and Saturdays.
How long will each installment be?
From a few paragraphs to full length chapters.
What if I miss an installment? Or I’m joining the read-along later?
We’ve got you! Every installment will include a link to previous chapters—so if you want to catch up, you can.
You can also check out the Table of Contents and Chapter Summaries.
But you don’t have to. You can just pick the story up wherever you join us.
Why serialize a debut novel on Substack?
To answer the question: is this something others want to read? My beta readers love the book —but they all know me in some capacity. Does the book have merit in its own right, just as a story? Only readers (you!) can tell me that.
Speed/currency: While this story touches on historical events, it relates to what is happening in the world now. My beta readers wanted to see this get into the world asap. Substack is the fastest way to do this (that also meets my other goals).
Feedback/feedforward: This is the first time I’ve written a novel. I’m writing it for you. Your thoughts, as readers, matter to me. It helps me hone my writing. So I can make this a better book — for you.
A platform that values writers and creators: Substack believes good writing still has value in the world. And they’ve built a platform just for that.
Creative control: Traditional publishing comes with no out of pocket cost to the author, but there’s a price for that: loss of rights and loss of creative control. There’s a reason more and more fiction authors are moving to independent publishing, just sayin’. (And I’m an independent thinking woman who has had enough of being controlled by big corporates…😆)
Why is it called On the Road to Jericho? Is it a Christian book? Is it actually set in Jericho?
Yes, there’s an actual walk to the actual Jericho in modern day Palestine. No, not all of the book is set in Jericho. No, it’s not a Christian book. And for the rest…you’ll just have to read it! More would give away too much of the plot.😁🤗
Why fiction and not memoir?
Because I want to play with different points of view. Eleanor Williams has her own unique take on the world. But so does everyone else. What happens when those match-up? What happens when they don’t? Fiction allows me to explore that.
Who is likely to enjoy reading On the Road to Jericho:
Those who:
Love good writing and a good story
Enjoy a book with depth and soul, where the story is as much about character as plot
Want to discover fresh new voices and perspectives
Read memoir, history, politics, and current affairs
Are interested in South Africa, apartheid, and the Israel-Palestine conflict
Are curious about systems of power, othering, belonging, DEI, and the immigrant experience in the US
Are studying world affairs and/or organizational behavior/business management at high school or university
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One night. Two lives.
In the hushed corridors of an empty office, despair seeps through the cracks as one soul grapples with the weight of failure and the haunting echoes of harsh words, while the other heads home to pot roast.
Sue Meredith Mann
From former South African diplomat in Palestine to slayer of corporate monsters, my career has been thoroughly non-linear. Adventurer. Post-PTSD thriver. And can I just say it, rocker of a bad-ass phoenix tattoo. 😁
All of this is weaved into my debut historical fiction novel On the Road to Jericho.
In my working life, I partner with organizations to empower their people to rise and thrive in challenging times & difficult situations. Learn more at: https://sansurising.com/
In my adventuring life, I climb mountains, ski with adaptive skiers, and occasionally dip in freezing cold lakes. I do other silly things like family sleepovers inside snow caves, ice-climbing (it is seriously how I met my husband), or dressing up as an elf princess from time to time.
When cozy at home, and with a cat on my lap, good sci-fi shows seriously challenge my binge watching discipline (or lack thereof!).
I live in Ithaca, NY with my husband and son.
You can listen to my story here: https://sansurising.com/mystory/
I’m really enjoying listening to this. It’s lovely to hear it in the author’s voice – it feels very authentic and real. The writing really captures the landscape, the climate, the time and Eleanor's optimism tinged with burden.
Sue— I am really enjoying the pace of listening to you read twice a week esp. as my days have been overfilled with to-do's. I love being read to. And OTRTJ really does suit the format because each segment is so nicely self-contained. Instead of living in suspense to find out what happens next, I take it in and carry it around with me for a few days.