Susan Stephens' Writing Diary

I didn't realise how much I would regret not going to conference this year until the mails started piling in... Looking forward to seeing you, Susan- except I won't be there...
You have no idea how much I regret my decision not to go to Reno this year for the fabulous RWA conference. (Romance Writers of America for those of you outside the US)
There is nothing quite like it, either for getting together with friends from across the globe, or for feeling the pulse of our industry.
Do I recommend you go? You betcha!

I'm going to be groaning and moaning all the way through to Atlanta next year, I fear!
Janie Porter's fabulous afternoon tea... Trish Morey and the fab' Lissa from OZ- Congrats on your Waldenbooks entries girls! (Trish made number one at Christmas- and if you haven't read Lillian Darcy's superromance books yet, you're really missing out on a treat- Lissa's at number three on Waldenbook's list right now- and her book doesn't even come out until tomorrow!! Way to go, girl!)
Lucy Monroe will be there, as well as the fantastic Nicola Cornick... And let's not forget that mountaineering bloke cum romance writer, Roger Sanderson, writing as Gill Sanderson for the fabulous Harlequin medical romances... I could go on and on, but I'm bound to miss a squad of people out, so I'm not even going to try to name everyone... Boo Hoo for me- that's all I've got to say about it...

Onwards and upwards mes braves!

Love to you all, and happy reading!
Susan

By far the most frequently asked question I receive is: From where do you get your inspiration, Susan?

Ask dh, who caused my- by now, almost blunt- paper scissors to hover above what remained of the Sunday newspapers this morning.

Yes, go and get yours now, retrieve them from the guinea pig cage, the stack on the floor, or the recycle bin... I promise you, you'll find at least a dozen ideas right there.
Now, don't just think- as I did for years- what a good idea, I'll remember that... Because you won't. Cut it out right now- even if you have to snatch the paper out of dh's hands, and then put your cutting away somewhere safe.... And by that I mean in a file neatly labelled, newspaper cutting of interest. Or, if you've got to my hoarding horrible stage- in a file marked 'Italian heroes' etc etc

Go to it, gals!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Happy reading and clipping everyone!
Love
Susan

To all my friends in Wales, many many congrats to your fab' rugby team!!

When I was a little girl no one played rugby like the Welsh, and then came a fallow time... Well those days are well and truly over- what an exciting game today- beating the French on their home territory... Sorry, LFG!! But the Welsh players were fantastic. Now if you want to see a decent pair of thighs on a man...

It always serves to remind me what a rich heritage we have in the United Kingdom, made up as we are of such distinct peoples... the Welsh, the Scots, the English, and the Irish... I love Ireland, but tomorrow I have to be rooting for the English when our two nations meet up for a match of the Titans.

(Sorry, to all of you who didn't realise that I am an ardent fan of rugby!)

Well, that's my weekend taken care of!!

Love to all, and happy reading!
Susan

Proof positive that I'm stark staring bonkers... Shot up in bed this morning, and informed dh- 'Who needs an alarm clock? I'm better than any alarm clock...'

Dh duly staggered out of bed to squint at the clock, unfortunately positioned at the opposite end of the bedroom (not that far away- just too far when you need a telescope to see anything these days!)

'It's three o' clock in the morning,' he roared.

Yes, he can roar- even half-asleep (he's an alpha male, remember?)

Well, I never said my internal alarm clock was accurate, did I?

Anyway, the day got better after that... started my new book with a dramatic first scene, and then slapped on some slap and some decent clothes- rather than the disreputable tracky bots, and sloppy stretched faded top I normally wear for writing, and headed out to the furthest reaches of my county to meet with Steam Clean Val' and our pal, Brenda. Hi gals!!
Had a great time shooting the breeze at a new eaterie... and then we visited Brenda's new and rather splendid home complete with pond,moorhens and ducks, before I shot back chez moi to touch base via e-mail with all my pals in Oz.
Boy, do I want to be there with you for conference next year, girls...

Have a great weekend everyone!!
Love to you all, and happy reading!
Susan

Having roused myself at 5 this morning to complete some work that had to be in for today, I was finished by two o' clock mentally,physically, and actually, with the work whizzing off via the ether to my Ed'.

Couldn't write or read another thing, so decided to something I haven't done for months... (if ever) Put my feet up and watch a film. Chose Howard's End.
Love Merchant Ivory films, unlike most films I'm not spoon fed, have to think- and they are always a feast of the cinematographer's art with visual treats in every scene.
Emma Thompson's costumes were ravishing. Understated, but with the most intricate detail and subtle use of colour.
The music too was so evocative... the whole film ending on an interrupted chord... so that you still had to think as the credits rolled. It was just like swooping in on the character's lives, and then swooping out again leaving the action to continue...
As you can gather, I loved it.

Tomorrow it's off on my travels to visit my 'steam clean' kitchen chum, Val', and then back to work with some exciting new ideas pressing in on my mind. Now I've had a good rest full of lots of things to think about, I'm raring to go again...

Love to all, and happy reading!
Susan

Look no further than the web log of fabulous romance author Penny Jordan for all your tips on plotting, along with a fabulous competition.
How would you like to win a year's subscription to the RNA? Well, this is your chance! What a fantastic prize, Penny!

Also, keep checking the Lachmuirghan website on www.lachmuirghan.com - There's going to be a new story up there very soon that will make you look at your shower a whole different way! And this is not for the faint-hearted either... don't say I didn't warn you!

Those are my tips for today- I'll be back again tomorrow with more news from the writing cave!

Happy reading and writing everyone!
love
Susan

Or words to that effect!!

And thank you to Miss Dynamo herself, fabulous author and good friend, Lucy Monroe for pointing out (good job someone gave me a prod!!) that The Greek's Seven-Day Seduction debuted on the Waldenbooks best seller list today.

I can't tell you how thrilled I am, or how lucky I am to have such great friends.
Thank you, Lucy, and thank you everyone who loves that naughty Greek as much as I do!!

Love to all, and happy reading!
Susan

There aren't many feelings better than finishing a book, but right now I'm really glowing, because at last I have put the finishing touches to 'Miranda's Story' (that's my working title, and it will be a good few weeks before I can give you an official title, I expect)

Soon after The Italian Prince's Proposal came out... way back in 2003, or early 2004, readers started asking me 'when do we get Miranda's story?' (Emily the heroine in TIPP was Miranda's identical twin sister)
Well, I can only say I'm sorry it's taken so long- and even now, I don't expect it will be on the shelves until 2006! I shall blame my lovely Eds for coming up with different projects for me. (thank you, thank you, lovely Eds!)
But I never lost faith in Miranda, and I hope you enjoy her story as much as I have.

And now a huge thank you BJ Deese at Romance Junkies for giving The Greek's Seven Day Seduction one of Romance Junkies prized Blue Ribbon Reviews.
If you haven't visited this site then, you really must, www.romancejunkies.com
You'll find in-depth, thoughtful reviews from some very talented contributors.
Thank you BJ for saying:
Iannis and Charlotte are both headstrong and passionate characters, and they make for one amazing love story...I especially like it where BJ notes, 'Iannis is like a super-sexy Greek god, and he really heats up the pages of this novel...'
BJ, you and me have the same taste in men!!
BJ goes on to say: Lots of compliments that make me blush...
Now you'll have to go check out the site and see!
You're very kind, BJ. I do care deeply about my characters. In fact, while I'm writing the book I am those characters...
I'm so thrilled you enjoyed reading TGSDS as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Happy reading and writing everyone!
Love
Susan

Just to say many many thanks to all those who have sent in their entries. Yes, they have arrived safely. Must confess, I began by replying to each one of you, but have been swamped!! That doesn't mean to say you've been forgotten, and I can assure you that Finlay is pawsed and ready (sorry, another of SS's bad jokes) to pick out the winner at Easter.

BTW thank you to so many of you for reminding me that yes, I do in fact have another book coming out next month! As well as The Greek's Seven Day Seduction arriving in the US stores on March 1st, there is of course, The Sheikh's Captive Bride arriving in the UK stores on March 4th.
Kahlil is everything I want an alpha male to be... hard, sexy, intelligent, sexy, good-looking, sexy, (you get the idea, I'm sure) and a great big challenge as well as all that(make that a huuuge challenge.) Which one of us girls can resist such a man?? Not me, that's for sure!
And I have given him my strongest heroine yet- just in case Kahlil thinks anything about this journey is going to be easy for him.

Will be back tomorrow with more news for you.

Enjoy what's left of your weekend everyone!
Happy reading (in the bath with Dragonfly in Amber right now, for me!)
Love
Susan

That's me!! And more of whirling dervishes in my next novel set in Turkey... and that leads me on to remembering that I have yet to fill you in on my visit to the Turkish exhibition at the Royal Academy in London.
As dh is about to feed me at our local restaurant, time is short, so suffice it to say for now, that if you have a chance to go before the exhibition ends on April 12th, you must.

What a showcase for Turkish culture... and at a most appropriate time, considering Turkey's position re the European union.

The exhibits are luminous... quite literally, in the case of the ancient manuscripts.
But jewellery and armour and pottery apart, what I found truly moving was the sight of ancient carpets, and knowing that those same patterns are available today thanks to the traditions that demand certain ways of weaving, as well as certain patterns are passed down in particular villages, if not families. Thus the carpet you buy today was available a thousand years ago... Now, there's a thought with which to conjur dreams.

I know I promised more snippets of reviews for The Greek's Seven Day Seduction, but time is short today, and what I think is even more important is to show support for all those reviewers who spend so much time and trouble on not only reading the book thoroughly, but on giving such in depth evaluations. Thank you all.

Love to all, and happy reading!
Susan

It worked, it worked, it worked!!!

When I wrote to you yesterday, I was out for the count... went to bed, one hour sleep between 2.30 and 3.30pm, and I awoke feeling as chirpy as a robin (And, believe me, they're chirpy... I've got a regular visitor to my garden, who bears that out!)
I got up, had a cup of refreshing herb 'energy' tea, and kept on until 7pm when dh returned with the hunger on him- fortunately, I had prepared a smoked salmon salad in advance of his arrival.
No wonder all those divine mediterranean heroes in Presents have so much energy!
Viva Siesta!!

And now, if you haven't discovered the fantastic web site We Write Romance at (surprisingly!) www.wewriteromance.com
Go see!!
And a great big thank you to 'AL' for loving the passionate journey undertaken by our two protagonists, Charlotte and Iannis.
I've given you a snippet below.
More fantastic review sites for all lovers of romance, as well as more reviews for The Greek's Seven Day Seduction tomorrow.

To me this book was about how looks can be deceiving and that no matter how much you might distrust someone, when you fall in love, it all goes out the window. I really don't want to say too much or it will give the plot away, but don't always be eager to believe first impressions.

The author of The Greek's Seven—Day Seduction wrote this book for all us women who love to be seduced and whisked off our feet—because that's what this book did. It had me wanting to visit a Greek island. They should use this book for advertising! This is a book that I will read again and again and again!

Love to all, and happy reading everyone! And don't forget to take that siesta!!
Susan

Am always recommending these to my heroine... and thought it was time I did some in depth research myself.

Now, don't get all excited, I'm quite alone, except for Finlay dog, and she's sleeping on her rug downstairs.

I'm just so b***** tired. Just realised it, and so am off to zizz for an hour before I get back to work.

Haven't forgotten I owe you all shed-loads of news. Just, not today!

Love to all, and, if you've got the strength for it, which I haven't right now, happy reading!!

Susan

Had to say Hi! Have so much to tell you, it's ridiculous, but am up between a rock and a hard place right now with uni' visits for minimus and an end of month deadline.

I'll be back... that goes for friends too!!! Especially my darling 'Aunty Kay' Haven't forgotten our lunch together.

I'm thrilled min has so many uni' offers... expect to be criss-crossing the country for the next couple of months while she makes up her mind.

Adore the book I'm writing, and will stay up 24/7 to get it just the way I want it, if necessary.

My trip to the Royal Academy to see the Turkish exhibition on monday was fantastic- that's a dozen blogs in itself... definitely expect some Turkish heroes coming down the line.

And last, but absolutely not least... thank you SO MUCH to all the reviewers who have taken the time and trouble to write such wonderful reviews for The Greek's Seven Day Seduction
You have all joined with me in loving Charlotte and Iannis. I wanted to create a heroine who was at the bottom, pit her against a absolute brute of a hero and have them find love - which seemed impossible to me too from time to time!!! Thank you for joining me on that journey.
Will post more on this too in subsequent blogs... BTW Why aren't there 48 hours in every day?!

Love to you all!
Must dash!
Susan

It must have been hideous for authors in the 'olden days' before the internet allowed for shopping after a long hard day.

That's why I wasn't here yesterday. I had a particularly long hard day, which recommenced pretty early this morning.
And it's Saturday, girls, and I want to shop.

So, I knocked off at 4 and browsed for shoes, natch. Imagine my douleur when I discovered that my target flatties for the summer months are all sold out!
Enter Wiggy, who has been in London on a case. I have dispatched her to Harrods poste haste!! I have to have them (husked in a deranged guttural tone of voice)
Anyway, I've bought a jacket on line, just in case.

Off to find a good chocolate site.

Love to you all, and happy shopping!
Love
Susan

Lots of...

Minimus passed her driving test today, so now I can stop worrying about whether she will pass, and start worrying that she has...
Uh, all those awful drivers on the road, what will she do? etc etc
Oh, the joys of being a parent.

Now then, on to Movements, as I promised yesterday... No, not bowels, we've done that, remember? I told you before, lots of green veg, plenty of fruit, and one of those cute little yoghurty drinkies each day, and you'll be fine.

What I mean is movement in your writing. What if starts the engine But why gets your creative juices moving forward

Have fun writing, and a fantastic weekend!

Oh, and I almost forgot, I'm pretty happy too...
Shannon Short of the Romantic Times Magazine just gave The Greek's Seven Day Seduction a glowing review and 4 stars
Don't forget 'He who must be Tamed', otherwise known as Iannis Kiriakos, will be with you in the US on March 1st!!

Love to all,
Susan

Yes, it's my lunchtime break, and no, I'm not going to relax. Instead I am taking to the road with minimus in the driving seat.
She will pass that test... She will pass that test...

Other than that, I shall return to my polishing of Miranda's story, which I'm really having fun writing... because even though Miranda has been through the mill she's still out there fighting. I love it. I just adore courageous heroines.

Talking of which... One more Hail to Ellen... Heroine sans pareil (should it have two ll's and an e? Sprog minor's LFG * will have words to say if I've got it wrong!)
* Lovely French Girlfriend to those of you who aren't regular's here.

And talking of regular... No, we won't get into that now- no time.
Back tomorrow with more talk of movements of the none musical variety!

Love to all, and be sure to tune in!
Susan

Took a really long break at lunchtime today to watch Ellen Macarthur sailing into Falmouth harbour after circumnavigating the globe.
What heroism and courage. What an inspiration to everyone of us.

I was lucky enough a few years ago to watch the yachts sailing out on the Volvo Ocean challenge so I know how colossal these brutes are, and to think of one woman of 5 foot 2, handling something 70 feet by 50 feet alone for so long, is absolutely mind-boggling.

Having followed the Volvo boats for a mile or so in a powerboat I followed their progress subsequently on the internet.
I so wanted to write a book...
Yep, you know that feeling!
But apparently books about sailors aren't all that popular. Too salty, perhaps?!
OK, poor joke... But it didn't do Hornblower any harm, now did it? (Books about sailors, I mean!)
Let's get up a petition for more books about salty heroes... If you had seen those hunky men standing high up on the mast and whatever the cross bits are called (my apologies to the sailors amongst you, I'm too tired to research right now) as the yachts sailed out you'd want a book too, believe me!

Following my thoughts on PACE yesterday... if your scene doesn't serve a real and valuable purpose, cut it out.And that's my last word to all of you, my friends, for today!

Love to all, and happy reading!
Susan

The magical ingredient in any book... but how do we inject pace into our story?

And it doesn't matter how great the concept- without the correct balance and pace any manuscipt is going be a flabby disaster (a bit like my belly, really)

However, I digress...

Just to remind ourselves what fabulous pace reads like, lets go back to one of my favourite authors, Diane Gabaldon. Every scene is like a self-contained drama drawing you a little deeper into the story. It's a bit like the Saturday matinee used to be when I was a child... You absolutely had to go back the following week to see the next episode of the serial, and you didn't have a clue how you were going to hold out until you claimed your favourite seat again and sat gazing at the screen sucking on your sherbet dab.

The only fault I find with Diane Gabaldon's books is that I have to knock off early from my own writing on the pretext of working out on the exercise bike (with a copy of Cross Stitch propped up on the handlebars)
Oh, Jamie... we love you. (Even if you were a virgin when we first met you... Now you're not, are you laddie? And even if you do have red hair...)
By the way, what's wrong with red hair, may I ask??

Love to all, and happy happy reading!
Susan

Now, don't laugh... or I won't come here again...

But...
I have followed Wendy's advice and bought myself (and let's keep this between friends) a Boom box to reside in dh's walk in closet, carefully out of sight from aquisitive sprogs.

Said Boom box (Oh, really Tesco, do you have to give a machine that plays music such an awful name?) contains my fave CD of Shania Twain, and is all set up ready for exercise to commence promptly at 6.30 am tomorrow morning.
'Man, I feel like a woman...'Well, a wreck, actually...
Or a wreck who intends to feel like a woman again before it is too late.

The cover photo of a very lovely Shania should spur me on... as long as I don't look in the mirror before I mount the exercise bike, and realise that a miracle of such momentous unliklihood may be somewhat out of reach.

Love to all, and enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Susan

I wonder if having been an only child with lots of time on my hands has had anything to do with my compulsion to write my thoughts down...

I recently found a whole pile of nonsense poems I wrote to amuse the sprogs when they were little- with no intention of ever trying to have them published.

I also found a similar bundle of (Cringe cringe) school essays my late mother had kept...

Certainly the fact that I write quickly has more to do with the stories racing through my head than an editor waiting for them. I have loads of stuff I write in between commissioned works simply because I have to write them down.

I was the same with the piano when I was at the Royal College, Wendy!! Remember, 8 hours a day every day...

But today, I took a day off!!
Love to all, and happy reading and writing!!
Susan

'How many words do you write each day... How long does it take you to write a book?'

Well, as you can see, I get up quite early!

I think I mentioned before that I write my first draft in a 'whirl of excitement'.

This is true... the scenes play out in my head like a film, and usually- being a hopeless typist- I can hardly get the words down fast enough- particularly the dialogue when the H and h are going at it hammer and tongues.
I sometimes have to break off to make notes as I think of something else they want to say to each other- and I have about 6 different coloured pens so these notes stand out in various levels of importance- shocking pink being my colour of main drama!

So, anything between 15-20 pages a day at first draft stage.

BUT You have no idea how much agonising, tweaking, polishing additions and deletions take place after first draft stage- that's when the real work begins.
Think, cutting room floor at a film studio... some scenes hit the floor, others are amended, changed in any number of ways.

So, how long does it take me to write a book... if we mean, finish a book, that's a very different kettle of romance.
The epilogue I wrote this week was for a book that began life as a concept discussion with the Senior Ed of my line in Dallas last year.

But since Dallas I have brought another two books up to the 3 chapter stage, and written numerous shorts.
Along with that I am bringing Miranda's story to a finish by the end of next week. I am particularly thrilled about writing Miranda's story as she is the twin sister of Emily in The Italian Prince's Proposal.

So, I'm afraid the honest answer to the question, how long does it take me to write a book is, I don't have a clue.

All I can tell you is that I love writing more than anything else in the world, family, friends and animals apart, and I'm off right now to exercise, shower, and get back to the writing cave.

Love to all, and happy reading and writing

Susan

Last night I received a deputation from the family asking either for me to issue visas for them to come and visit me in the writing cave, or for me to sally out for at least a couple of my waking hours...

Must admit, I have been falling asleep in the middle of the evening when I finally join them, though haven't quite managed to slump at the table with my face in my dinner yet.

Twelve hours a day in the writing cave is perhaps a little excessive. But I honestly think that most writers put in masses of time. How can you not if you care about your work, about your characters, and about telling their story the very best way you can?
Plus there are so many more stories knocking at the door-

OK, so maybe I'll consider the possibility of a five day week, rather than a seven day week- is that reasonable?

Temptation comes in the form of a shopping bag this weekend... Sprogs, newly recovered from the flu', are itching to exercise their credit cards...

Will I join them?
What do you think?!

Love to all, and happy reading!
Susan

ps Further to yesterday's mail... We just found half a lemon meringue pie in the cupboard where I keep the boring things like tea and dried pasta- and a six-pack of mini cheddars in the freezer
Going bonkers, me? What do you mean?!
Sx

Wiggy is home, and so is minimus, with the dreaded flu'

Have to remember to hide tweezers, emery boards, and low fat chocolate mousse from Marks and Spencer...
Trouble is, I forget where I've put them, and then I can't find them again until suspicious clumps of green mould spring out of cupboards (Oh! I've found the chocolate mousse!) And rust stains appear on the sinks behind the taps (great hiding place)... that would be my supposedly rust free stainless steel tweezers- and that soggy lump blocking up the drain is clearly my last emery board...

But, on the bright side... had an exciting chat with my Ed'. Is it just me, or are Eds in general the nicest, brightest girls around??
It's hard not to feel enthused after we speak- make that impossible! Even to turning round a 'same day' Epilogue for one of my ms's at her request.
Yes, you have excelled yourself Mrs S
Don't worry, I'm not about to start blowing my own trumpet... a penny whistle is more my line.

With love-
and wishing you all the happiest reading and writing ever!

Susan

Will sort out music to exercise to one day. Have to do it first thing- exercise, that is- as I work, with short breaks only for the rest of the day, and can't bear to break my routine.
(also sweat like a pig...sorry, glow like a lady- but it still drips down me and I definitely need a shower)
Earphones missing from bathroom cupboard, along with anything else deemed remotely useful by sprogs, although they have left me some dried up hair remover and a toothbrush covered in... let's not go there.

However, the design of my bike allows for a book to be balanced nicely, along with my forearms, on these bar-like things, so for now, the reading is going well.

Still on 15 minutes- Oh, and I do 100 tummy crunches, and lift weights, for those of you who are interested in such things.
Vanity, vanity, all is vanity...

Right, back to the writing cave...

LOVE TO ALL, AND HAPPY READING!

Susan