Susan Stephens' Writing Diary

Who are these saddos (sp?)n who keep sending me info re super erection drugs?

Always draw a murmured, 'Hmm, not sure that would help...' from me before I Spam them.

I think spammers are similar to the silent phone call brigade- sitting in their squalid pad, or yes, maybe in their shiny office, crouched over the computer/phone going 'tee hee'... meanwhile, they have really serious issues with personal hygiene and haven't washed their knickers for at least a week...

But that's just my take on the situ!

My late mother did have one amusing brush with a silent phone caller who suddenly decided to speak... the conversation went thus:

Saddo: 'Are you Mrs Eagle?'
Mother: 'No...'
Saddo: 'But I bet you're a bloody big bird....'

Oh, how we laughed.

Well, as you can tell I'm pretty thrilled with the way 'Venice' is turning out, I think I can safely say it's the hottest thing I've ever written (and with my first book in a new hotter than hot Presents miniseries coming out Dec UK and Jan US, that's saying something!!)- see what you think and let me know when it comes out.
I had to go and have a cold shower and a walk round the garden... because these Italian doctors really know what they're doing!

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan

Wanted to heat up a scene... and it all came to me in bed last night- something I've never done before, something hot- no, scorching... something I think is entirely appropriate to this book set in Venice...

No, not making out on a gondola... everyone does that (except for me, of course) Let's just say my hero is far more inventive.

Yum yum!

Off to write it now!

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan

Well, I'm feeling great, but the weather, for those of you who care about such things, is absolutely miserable here in the UK, with rain sheeting down. So, rejoice all of you who live in sunnier climes- I have the central heating on, and all the lights in the cottage blazing away.

What can I tell you?
I have the best editors in the world... but you know that already. They mailed me, basically to say, chin up, this story is what your readers have been asking for, you've just kept too much of it in your head, so get it onto the page!!

My re-write is around page 130 of 200 or so, and I am loving the act of 'panning for gold' I didn't realise there was so much to say...!

So, don't forget to enter mny summer competition- there are still a few days to go to celebrate The Sheikh's Captive Bride reaching number two on the Waldenbook's list in the US.
All you have to do is give me the name of that naughty sheikh's most trusted advisor in the body of the mail along with your full name and snail mail address, in an e-mail through my web site to stand a chance of winning the beautiful dainty Murano glass heart I brought back with me from Venice.

Good luck everyone!
Will be picking out a winner with help from the cosmos and my astrological guide this time!

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!
Susan

By 'eck! 'Worn out'? That's a grand northern expression.

But what I really mean to say is..Do you know how tired I am?

Answer: No, you can't, because even I don't know how tired I am. Something has to give... but not my book, not my characters, not my commitment to my readers to give them the best realisation of the story that lives in my head... which means I don't sleep properly because I'm weighing up which parts of the story really need to make it to the page, I rise at dawn or before, because I need to get 'at it', and my whole life is ruled by the fact tht my eds need to start copyediting by the end of this week, and they rely on me to come up with some copy-editing-able material that makes my spine tingle. And until I tell it right my spine don't tingle.

Now, I'm getting out of bed and into the writing cave before the owls go to bed tomorrow- so this is my mail for the 23rd August everyone!

If anyone had told me how exhausting, how draining, how utterly eye-reddening and emotionally zapping this story-telling palaver was going to be, I would still say... Oh, wow! This is the best job in the world!

Happy reading everyone!

Love Susan

Am getting so 'revision-happy' have just chopped a whole chapter and now realise am 3000 words short for book that has to be in this week.

But hang on a mo', doesn't that give me chance to examine my heroine's trust issues in more detail?
And aren't I the one who's always complaining 55.000 words aren't enough?

So, have cut one character, most of the humour and a whole chapter... Hmmm There's going to be some midnight oil burning around here again, one suspects!

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan

IS A TIP

COME AND HELP ME SOMEBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There has never, in all the history of man been such a disorganised working space-

No, just a minute, there was Wiggy's professor at university whom she used to find hidden behind stacks of newspapers and unmarked scripts covered in coffee stains and spider webs... maybe he was a little bit worse- but only because I mostly drink herb tea.

Ocasionally I venture out to these chi chi office furniture places where they promise to fit me out in solid oak- or beech veneer, if modom is feeling the financial pinch. Well, modom can't make her mind up about what would help and suspects nothing would- except perhaps a full-time team of Mary Poppins' type individuals who could sort all the scraps of paper on my floor into sensible folder-like jobbies etc etc... Oh, and they wouldn't be allowed to dance or sing, of course!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone!

Happy tidying up, if like me this is the only day you get the chance!

Love Susan

Why I trust my editors...

Because it isn't what my H and h do it's how they react to each situation, how they feel inside, what makes them tick, what they learn from each other's reactions to various challenges.

Particularly in short books I think it's important not to have too many events going on, but to concentrate your efforts as a writer in examining the motives, actions and thoughts of the main protagonists.

Do they learn? Have they grown? Are the two of them together bigger than the sum of their individual qualities?

Have they taken a journey?

Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone- the sun is shining here! Hooray!!!

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan

Not too much writing, but a lot of excitement with minimus gaining a coveted place in the university of her choice.

To top that, as if you could, she won a competition, which assures her of two tickets for a music festival (the type where I'd need ear-protectors), a funky tent covered in flowers (yes, I know, what happened to good old sludge green!) and £100 of make-up. Not bad, eh?
Ever the optimist, I pointed out that there are people who have houses, cars and fortunes in the bank from entering competitions...

Ah well, back to the writing cave to try and catch up, and before you ask... no, I have never won anything!

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan

Received revisions yesterday.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!
But
1) Trust my editors
2) they're right
3) want to write the best book possible
4) owe it to my characters to tell their story- all of it, the best way I can

This last point is perhaps the most relevant... so much of their story lives in my head that it doesn't always make it to the page.

Well, I have 5 days to rectify the situation, which pretty much means rewriting three quarters of the book...

Off the the writing cave.

Believe it's going to be sunny here today too...! Never mind.

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan

Why isn't that story buzzing like you meant it to when it first popped into your head?
Yes, the H and h are struggling along the rock road to romance, climbing ever higher hills to earn the right to a lifetime together... but still it all feels a bit hollow.

This is what I call the 'greater cause' moment... when something bigger than both of them must prove to be a mutual goal- though of course they don't recognise it as such right away!

It adds another layer to the plot and allows you as the writer to expose many more of your protagonists' inner strengths, fears and strategies for coping with those fears...

Happy writing everyone! And can I just say that one of the best things about my competitions is the way they always herald the return of old friends. I love to receive your messages- I read every one of them- and with more pleasure than I can express- so keep 'em coming! I love to hear about your dogs, your cats, your family, and even your cooking disasters (makes me feel better about mine!) Like I always say, it can get lonely in the writing cave.

Let me know if you intend visiting Daytona or Atlanta in 2006 for the Romantic Times and RWA conventions respectively...

Meanwhile, there's still a couple of weeks to enter my summer competition- so get mailing! And please don't forget to add your full name and snail mail address in the body of the mail along with your answer.

Happy reading everyone!

Love

Susan

Congratulations to Annie, from Dallas Texas USA, who wins our small blog exclusive competition this week. Annie knew that one of my books containing the word, 'Greek's' just had to be 'The Greek's Seven-Day Seduction'
Are we quite sure we want to let that naughty Greek, Iannis Kiriakos, out of his box, girls? I'm not sure I've got the strength for him after a busy weekend!!

Anyway, Annie, some goodies will be on their way to you later today, and thank you for helping me to celebrate the birth of 'Venice' (as soon as I know the title of this latest book, I'll let you know)

Well, it's back to the writing cave to do battle with my sexy lawyer. He's a bad one.
And little does Lorenzo know that amongst the girls he's known as Maximus
Now who's been peeping through that shower curtain? Surely not our chaste young heroine?
I certainly hope not!!

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan

OK, so I know it's Sunday, and I know I intended to claim the weekends back- but as dh is out on his ladders cutting the hedge this seems like as good a time as any to reach for the post-it notes.

I've written a new start to my longer book (based on one of the shorter books I submitted, which editorial thinks has a longer story in it), which now establishes the characters to run through the rest of the adventure and gives the hero a chance to get his foot in the door so we can all take a look at him.
But as time is short I'm thinking let's not take any chances here... Some authors work on a table... other, more sensible types, work on a desk... I work on a wall.

Why?

Because I like to see the flow of my story. I like to look at it and read the flow in one long line. I add post-its up or down to highlight emotion, dark spots, new discovery etc etc
By the end the wall is festooned with multicoloured notes- it may look like a crazy jumble to everyone else, but it helps me... and it looks pretty!

Will pick out a winner tonight and post the name tomorrow to celebrate sending in my last manuscript. You can still enter, and here's what you do:
Head your mail with the name of one of my books that has the word, 'Greek's' in it, then send your mail to susanstephenshmb@yahoo.com In the body of the mail put your full name and snail mail address. That's it!

There's still plenty of time to enter my summer competition, as that one doesn't finish until the end of the month- instructions on my web site.

Enjoy what remains of the weekend everyone!

Happy reading!

Love

Susan

To one of my favourite people, who has just had her 'young adult' book taken beneath the wing of the Trident Media group in the USA...

This is a very talented writer we're going to be hearing a lot more of, and as soon as I get the go ahead, I'll give you some more details. The book- as related to me over treacle tart and custard- sounds fantastic. The idea is original and zany, and will I know pull in loads of new fans to this fast-growing genre.

Off to replot my book to allow for the changes and developments consistent with a longer word count...

And for those of you who are in a position to gloat right now- I'm back in winter clothes with rain pouring down outside the window.
When the sun shines England is the most beautiful country in the world (nuff said!)

Love to all, and enjoy your weekend everyone!

Susan

Well, not completely, perhaps... BUT Fin is responding in the most positive way to Chocolate caramel shortbread
Yes, folks, it really does work- and it's a lot cheaper than the vet!

For bright eyes, waggy tail and alert expression... look no further! Chocolate caramel shortbread... It's the new miracle pet-cure.


Have a great weekend everyone, and remember... we want to hear from you!!
Enter this week's weblog diary-specific competition by giving me one simple answer... One of my book titles contains the word, 'Greek's'
Head your mail with the title of the book, and don't forget to include your full name and snail mail address in the body of the mail...
GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

Happy reading to you all!

Susan

Thrilled to see The Sheikh's Captive Bride riding high on the Waldenbooks list over in the US. Of course, the RWA conference interrupted the schedule of the lady who so kindly compiles that list for us, so there are two weeks in July missing. None the less, Sheikh Kahlil's still there, still running amok in a book store near you!!

Don't forget to enter this weblog exclusive competition... All you have to do this week is give me the title of one of my books that contains the word, 'Greek's...' That's it!
Put the title in the heading of your mail, which you send to www.susanstepheneshmb@yahoo.com and please please, please, don't foget to include your full name and snail mail address in the body of the mail.

Today I'm starting work on a new book that has to be in for the end of September... so the race starts again- so much to say, and so little time in which to say it.
How to go about it?

Discipline

Carefully plot and plan as if I had to storyboard a film. There's no time for sitting in front of a blank screen scratching my head, and absolutely no time for a luxury like writers' block... Blimey, just think of it... all my characters locked up in a box in my head with no hope of escape- I couldn't possibly do that to them, now could I??

So, it's off to write the first chapter, and then a lovely outing with Aunty Kay, who hasn't been feeling too well recently- but at eighty-seven you're allowed your below-par days... there's no excuse for me!!

Big hugs and waves everyone- and don't forget you can still enter my summer competition too!

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan

Had one of those days where even my favourite Treacle tart and custard tasted too sweet and gooey.

The best news of the day was when one of my friends confided that her book is on the last lap of being considered by 2 top agents. This is a really talented woman and one of my favourite people, so I have everything crossed- though I think I hardly need to (but I will) especially as her little girl was the inspiration for 'Molly' in my latest book...

Don't forget I'm having a special contest exclusive to this blog to celebrate sending off my latest book.
If you would like to enter just head your mail with the title of one of my books that has 'Greek's' in the title. And don't forget to add your full name and snail mail address.

EG Head your mail 'The Greeks........'
In the body of the mail add Full Name & Snail Mail address

Good luck everyone!
Happy reading!
Susan

Am recovered. Thank you all so much for all your good wishes,

And thank you to Cindy and the labs in Australia for such a lovely mail thanking me for her prize in our last 'weblog exclusive' competition.

Sprog minor (son) has just returned from Oz with the most amazing set of pics taken with his new digital camera, purchased, natch', in Singapore... Australia is gorgeous! And that's official... the sunset from Fitzroy Island has to be seen to be believed.

Breakfast at Tiffany's was AMAZING... but how good is CSI Miama? And what is it about 'H' Is it Horatio's affected drawl... his dyed black eyelashes, or the subtle sweep of light blue eyeshadow??? I don't know what it is, girls, but I find that man fascinating!

The girls and I- minimus and Wiggy- watch all the CSI programmes, but we're agreed that Miami is definitely the best.

My next task this morning is to send in my checked copy edits for The Greek's Bridal Purchase, which I'm guessing will be a 2006 book. This is the long-awaited sequel to The Italian Prince's Proposal (whaddya mean it took me 3 years!?! - that wasn't long to pin down the perfect man for Miranda- she wasn't going to settle for Mr Ordinary when her twin sister had married a prince, now was she?!)

To enter this week's web-log exclusive competition just head your mail with the name of another of my books that has 'Greek's' in the title.
That's it!
Don't forget to include your name and snail mail address in the mail or you won't be entered.

Love to everyone, good luck! And happy reading everyone!
Susan

Recovering from having legs give way beneath me in kitchen yesterday- quite a surprise... guess fourteen hour shifts really are too much!

Booked week in Greek Islands to cheer me up... Captain Corelli, here I come!

Soothing mind by revisiting Breakfast at Tiffany's... surely Audrey Hepburn must be one of the most beautiful women who ever lived?
And those clothes!!!
And as for George Peppard- leave me now girls- I need a little swoon time...

Back with competition tomorrow...

Love and happy reading everyone!

Susan

Let me see, what time is it? Six o' clock in the evening? Then that's precisely fourteen hours straight!

Told you I'd have to pay for my day off yesterday!!

Was working at 4am so can't think of anything at the moment, can hardly hold head off the keyboard...

BUT

the good news is, the book just went in. On Time!!!

So, give me a day or so, and we'll celebrate...

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan

What do you do when you're back's against the wall, you haven't done your final read through or written the end of your book and your deadline is tomorrow?

Well, depending on the weather and availability of sprogs, you do what I do- on a beautiful sunny Sunday when my youngest is 'available'

You head for the hills, congratulate yourself on living in such a beautiful country, and wallow in the delights of an up-market English 'pub' and a loving family, followed by a long stroll to give that hayfever a bit of a work out!!

Always was a rebel- and hey, what's wrong with burning a little midnight oil?

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!!

Susan

ps

Of course, if I don't get it finished we can't have that competition to celebrate next week, can we?!

Back tomorrow with a progress report!
Sx

'Hot meals? Are you insane? And don't even mention the 'S' word!'

Nuff said?
Back to the writing cave...

Enjoy your weekend everyone, and think of me, please.

If you do there will be a competition when I finally give birth to this monster

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!
Susan

It's the same every time... angst aaaaaaaaaaargh ego-zapping, self-confidence-whacking, deadline time is here again.

And for those of you who watch those 'transformation' shows on TV...
'Today, my friends, I am not Susan Stephens, I am Susan Stephens' editor...'
(nightmare!)

Next week I shall be almost human- after final touches on Monday, of course-
shall see Aunty Kay and probably have a competition just for readers of this diary to celebrate- before getting stuck into my next book, which is almost finished (another 30,000 words to go) and has to be in end September!
(to think I thought my 10,000 word thesis was demanding when I took my Masters! 10,000 words? Poof!)

BTW Big news!!! Cataromance has given 4 1/2 stars to
The Sheikh's Captive Bride

I couldn't be more thrilled as this comes hot on the heels of their Reviewers' Award for The Spanish Billionaire's Mistress

If I were a clever techno-wizz like my wonderful web gals' I'd be able to give you a link... (sigh)
If you'd like to read the review, do go visit Cataromance.com. Go visit anyway, because it's an exceptional site of huge interest to readers and authors alike.

Love to all and happy reading everyone!

Susan

Back against the wall with Monday deadline and copy edits to check for The Greek's Contract Bride (a 2006 release) just plopping through the letter-box... well, thumping, actually... was looking for the all important inspiration to make the penultimate scene of 'Venice' ding dong as Lesley Philips would say...

As many of you know, my beautiful cottage is on the market... we had two offers at the asking price and I finally flipped at the thought of selling it. Withdrew it from sale on Monday... on Tuesday I had a visitor.

The gates of the citadel were briefly open as the gardeners were hard at work (I may like to look out, but...) I heard a knock on the back door and left my desk to investigate
Your author was hard at work- hair awry, no make-up (essential when you are a white-eyelashed redhead, even if do vainly dye them ) clothes/old, top/stained pumps, (pumps?!!) filthy... when into my kitchen came a lovely lady (immaculately coiffed and attired)
This was one of my prospective purchasers. She came with a truly honest and eloquent letter (in case I hadn't been in) asking if there was any chance I might change my mind.

How is this connected to my writing, you ask...

Her opening words were, 'I have to have closure before I can move on to look at another house...'

Hence: 'Why are you here, Luca?'
'I must have closure on this Nell...'

Well, it's a start to the scene, for which I was struggling- after pushing them so far apart they had Mount Everest between them! And yes, I know it looks simple now, but sometimes- and you're just going to have to believe me on this one- it ain't easy at all!

Love to all and happy reading and writing everyone!
Susan

Argentina Croatia, Thailand, New Zealand, Mexico and anyone else who may be new to this web site. It's so good to have you here.

Hi US buddies! And Hi Australia!
Hi UK!
Hi absolutely everyone!


Wish we could bring the whole world closer so I could meet you all in person. I just love getting those mails, so do keep them coming... and remember my competition to win a dainty glass heart all the way from Venice is still open until the end of this month. All you have to do is head your mail Summer Competition, and please please please don't forget to add your name and snail mail address in the body of the mail!
Then tell me the answer to this question, who is Sheikh Kahlil's most trusted advisor in The Sheikh's Captive Bride??
That's it! And someone has to win... it could be YOU

Now, about those Korean editions of my books... Come on, I know you're out there... And I love hearing from my far-flung friends in Singapore, China, Japan, and all points east, so please don't be shy.
I think I have some books in Greek available too- so if you'd like one just mail in and don't forget to tell me which language you require!


Addition to my 'Glossary'
All children are sprogs... hence Wiggy Sprog, Minor Sprog, and minimus.
Clear?
As mud?
Brilliant!

One other point I should mention- I adore all those mentioned in my 'glossary'; any suggestion that I don't have a huge grin on my face when I write about them will be contested in court by my very own legal eagle, Wiggy Sprog
(Thinks...) now I just need a doctor and an accountant... who said I'm a pushy mother?

Love to all, and happy reading in every language everyone!
Hugs to all wherever you may be...
Susan

Wiggy's had an offer...

From her best (male) friend.

If they haven't met anyone by the time they're forty-five they're going to get married... BF rather spoiled the offer by adding that he had suggested the age of forty-five as he wanted to give absolutely everyone chance to bag her first!

Who said the age of chivalry was dead?!

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan

PS... here's a glossary for all our new friends!!

Wiggy is barrister daughter
Minimus is younger daughter
Son is adored bringer of light and mud... go figure
dh is fatso, or darling husband, depending on the success or otherwise of our latest shopping expedition
LFG is my son's Lovely French Girlfriend- no joking here, I'm frightened of her
Fin is beloved dog... slightly above the rank of all the people living with me at crazy-cottage
Steam Clean Val' is great friend who hates bugs and zaps em' with a steam machine
Aunty Kay is beloved 87 year old friend
If I mention Penny- it is none other than mega-fab author, Penny Jordan, dear friend and mentor.
Likewise, Anne is the fantabulous Anne Hampson, lovely friend and legendary M&B author, who gave me her own copy of the very first Presents ever- how about that for a gift and a half!

Welcome- if you like a little craziness, you're sure to find it here.

And if you want to know what I'm doing in the writing cave- apart from this displacement therapy, of course... Aaaaaaaaaaaaaargh! Final draft of my book set in Venice, which has to be in on the 8th August...
Will she make it?Let's see, shall we?

Love again- and if you're out shopping today don't forget to take home a copy of that red-hot sheikh, because Sheikh Kahlil is in a store near you right now! Just look for the gold bed-spread and a lucious man, and you've found...
The Sheikh's Captive Bride
Or, if you prefer a sheikh delivered to your door, try Barnes and Noble, or Amazon- I hear they're happy to oblige!

Back tomorrow

Big waves and hugs to all
Susan

Hi, it's great to have you here!

I hope you agree we have fun together here on the Susan Stephens readers/writers/crazy-fun-happy people-from-everywhere site!

Stay tuned for news of prizes... because we sometimes have contests exclusive to this diary.

I want to offer hugs and thanks to gorgeous Roger Sanderson, who writes as Gill Sanderson for Harlequin Medical line... If you haven't read Gill Sanderson's books yet, give yourself a treat!
It was Roger who took charge of my little gifts to you and made sure they reached the 'Goodie' room safely in Reno... I'm only sorry I couldn't be there this year to meet you in person... But next year, in Atlanta?! See you there, I hope.

Also warm greetings to all my NEW readers in South Africa, China and U.A.E. I love hearing from you too. Great to have you here!
In fact great to have everyone here from right across the planet! Welcome to my wild and wacky world... and to my dogs, of course!

Woof, and welcome from Susan and Fin! (chief spokes-dog)

And happy reading everyone!

Fin spent a miserable day yesterday- has been licking ant powder off her feet, I suspect.
Tore into dh for his over-enthusiastic use of pesticide.


Oh, dear... he found a solution- environmentally friendly too.

Tap-dancing- You work it out- fifteen stone of muscle (well, we're reconciled after the shopping incident, so I'm being kind) against an ant...

Happy reading everyone!

Susan