Susan Stephens' Writing Diary

Rang my friend Liz this morning and had the jolliest chat with her... For the best part of an hour- You know how it is. You don't even know the time has past until you realise that your tea's gone cold.

And then we played this silly game as old friends do...

Liz: Where do you think I am?

Me: Oh, I don't know... in the garden?

Liz: Guess again

Me: In the car?

Liz: No

Me: The hairdressers?

Liz: I'll give you a clue... It's really sunny.

Me: Neh neh neh neh neh! It's really sunny here too

Liz: But cold?

Me: Probably no colder than where you are (sniff) (with only 30 miles between us my competetive juices are starting to flow)

Liz: Guess what I can see?

Me: (very sniffy now) Rain? (fingers crossed)

Liz: No... Table Mountain. (smug smile in place I have no doubt!)

Me: As in Table Mountain South Africa?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Liz: That's right! Jealous now, aren't you?!!!!!!!

Me: Breaking up, breaking up... Sorry Liz, have to go... There seems to
be a fault on the line...

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!
Susan

What is this, you ask?

White heather stuck into a potato, that's what!

I bet you didn't know that you can keep heather fresh by sticking it into a potato... (or maybe you did- I certainly didn't!)

And why heather today Susan?

Because I have just heard from Scotland that my sprigs of lucky white heather are ready to have their tartan bows attached and what colour would I like???????????

For everyone scratching their heads over coffee and wondering what on earth I am talking about... I shall be selling beautifully presented sprays of lucky Scottish white heather at the Romantic Times conference at Daytona in May in aid of SOS America.

I'm having the heather shipped over to the hotel (fingers crossed it arrives safely!!!) and then I shall have my tray like a cinema usherette of old- (at least, that's how I picture it!) - and will get around meeting as many of the attendees as possible- and hopefully persuade them to buy my heather!

If you're going to be there don't be afraid to come up and have a chat- I won't force you to buy anything! Honest!!! But it's for a really good cause, and the heather comes complete with the legend that is said to have inspired its 'lucky' badge... so for all you historical writers out there this is an absolute must!

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan

Xandra King has just mailed to remind me that we have the month of February updates to look forward to in the next few days as well as her weekly star chart, which is going up today in readiness for the week ahead.

Yippee! Am off to check out Scorpio... enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone!

Love to all
Susan

Yep, the change as you can see, is pretty dramatic. By late spring I expect to have traded a lush cottage garden, complete with stream and ducks, for the wilds of the moors.

But, I am quite excited, because imagine the pictures I can bring you of the changing seasons!

I shall miss my stream and the wonderful wildlife it attracts, but think of all the different species I will see in this very different countryside, and how clearly the seasons and the weather will be reflected as I gaze out of my *SOUTH* facing windows.

Life's an adventure! Hope to take you through mine- complete with moving chaos and- no doubt - amusing anecdotes.

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

Love Susan

New home, new cooker... New cooker for me can mean only one thing- AGA
Why? It means home to me, like a wood-burning stove and coffee brewing- and no I can't explain that, or even justify the expense.

When I was a little girl I remember by mother ripping out our Aga and standing back with glee as it was replaced with the latest in shiny electric gismos... In fairness, back then the Aga did have to be stoked up every night and sometimes relit in the morning, which meant getting up to a freezing kitchen where you had to chip ice off the single-glazed window panels!!

But for me, Aga rules (gas-fired, no stoking!)

Dh's opinion? It's a useless piece of tin. (said after he'd seen the bill)
Dh's opinion of the food that comes out of it: nothing tastes quite like food from an Aga, he admits grudgingly.

So, classic cream it is, four oven- natch- even though I have no intention of opening a guest house and could cater for 40 people on a whim. And don't even suggest I might have the new, 'modern' badge on the front.

And most important feature of all? (apart from the rail, where you hang sheets and such and the lovely warmth does the ironing for you)
See that oven, top right... that's the one you open and stick your bum inside on a cold day. Lovely!

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan

The passions that inspire us...












Well, I'm watching one of mine right now. My son and the LFF gave me the most fabulous Christmas gift- a boxed set of Fred Astaire and Ginger Roger movies, and tonight I'm watching Top Hat.
Words cannot begin to express my admiration for Fred Astaire, a man who could not draw breath without being stylish... and Ginger Rogers, his perfect partner, the h to his H, the match to his flame. I'm in heaven. Cue for a song, I do believe!

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan

Well, as you can see, I almost made it into the picture... but the LFF (please note elevation to Lovely French Fiancee, from LFG) is much prettier than me- even when she's scoffing sushi.

Yep, the gallery was great, but it wasn't long before canapes (even delicious ones) and champagne began to pall and we headed off to the nearest eaterie... a sushi bar. (much to the horror of DH, who loves his steak and chips)

As for the exhibition... some of it was thought provoking and incredible- viewing the world through someone else's eyes always is, don't you think?
But some of it made me wonder why I hadn't kept any of my son's art work from school- though some of that was still hanging on the walls a couple of years ago when I visited the grammar school. Blimey, it must be worth a mint now! Over here, Mr Saatchi, over here!!!!!

Anyhow, I thought the sushi delicious, dh was still complaining about his acid stomach when he woke up this morning (what the H is an acid stomach, BTW?) and the LFF was smiling brightly as all my girls do.

Love to you all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan

Received an interesting invitation to Saatchi exhibition and of course will be attending... art is my passion and I hardly every manage to visit somewhere without locating the nearest gallery.

Researching what I will see tonight I found the image above appealed to me as I hope it does to you... called 'World Headquarters' it is a witty depiction of 'the seat of power' seen through the eyes of the artist Ena Swansea. Born in North Carolina USA, Ena is an eloquent communicator who has created some provocative and thought-provoking work. To see some more you can visit www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk

More tomorrow on my visit to the gallery

Meanwhile, love to all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan

Just heard on the box that January 23rd is reckoned to be the most depressing day of the year. (and this probably doesn't apply in Australia, where you are almost certainly basking in fabulous sunshine!!!)

Apparently, it's all due to those credit card bills rolling in after Christmas and the Sales have taken their toll, and then there are all those failed New Year's resolutions- and if that wasn't bad enough, there's the awful weather to contend with...

Boo Hoo?

Not a bit of it! We come here to be cheerful and happy and smiley and... Hang on a minute, is that the post-woman I can see coming down the drive with a clutch of brown envelopes in her hand?

I'm going to hide under my desk and eat chocolate for the rest of the day!

Love to all and happy happy reading everyone!
Susan

Some of the most interesting research I do is into the traditional costumes of a particular country.

Here you can see minimus and friend Sarah- several years ago now, modelling the beautiful and extremely becoming costumes of Arabia

Enjoy your weekend, everyone!

Susan

Minimus conducting research for me in Oman with her bestest friend, Sarah...






One of the questions I was asked when I attended the creative writing class in Stockton Heath (see previous post for contact details) was: how much research do I do??

Lots.

That's the simple answer. And I try to keep all my reference books and (wildlife) DVDs and videos in some sort of order!
I also have language CDs so that my ear can become atuned to the rhythm of speech in a particular country. Is it guttural, or does it flow like Italian, like a song??
And as all of you know by now I travel extensively so that I can see the different qualities of light and inhale the scents particular to a setting and most important of all, perhaps... watch the people.

In my next UK release (April 2006), The Greek's Bridal Purchase, there is a line where the heroine- on arriving on a tiny Greek island- observes, 'The sun gave you license to raise your voice, to laugh out loud, to catch somebody's eye and greet them like a friend...'

And it's true!!

Oh, and Linda, in case you're reading this, the Greek island I was referring to when we were chatting and I had a senior moment was Lefkada, or Lefkas, as it is sometimes known!

More photos tomorrow. And thanks to my fab' friend Tess in Singapore for mailing them over to me! Hi Tess!!

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan

Look no further than Priestley College in Stockton Heath Cheshire for a fabulous creative writing course run by my great friend, Val Goulden.

If you are in the area and would like to join Val's class here are the details you need... www.priestley.ac.uk or telephone 01925 633591

Thank you Val for organising everything so splendidly- including our drinks and nibbles at half time- And thank you Linda! For arriving early and helping butterfingers me to transform the suitcase full of my books into the attractive display you can see in the picture!

In the picture you can see Val, Anthony, Linda, Liz and Julie with your author.
Val's group gave me a wonderful welcome. Didn't we have fun?!
And what a great photo boy and girls!
Here's to the next time!

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan

A HUGE HUG to all my fabulous readers for making Virgin for Sale such a runaway success!

I returned home from my talk at the creative writing class last night to find a mail waiting for me from my editor congratulating me.
But it is the backing of a wonderful team that allows my imagination to fly and you my readers who inspire me. So, thank you.

And though I think all three covers fabulous thanks to our wonderful art departments woof !woof! Australia is all I'm going to say!

More on the creative writing class tomorrow and I'm going to ask for the photographs taken during the evening to be mailed on to me - so fingers crossed!

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan

Yes, it has to be insanity that kept me awake last night with lines from my new book zooming through my head at breakneck speed. And all that with the theme of my talk to the creative writing class tomorrow being on the subject of plotting and planning before you write a word!

Physician, heal thyself?
I'm afraid my characters wouldn't let me wait, they couldn't care less if I'm sensible or not, they just want their story told. And so it was a 5 am start for me this morning, surrounded by the chaos I need to keep me in writing mode.

Hallelujah! I'm glad I'm crazy!

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!
(And don't you feel good, just looking at the tip in which I work? Your place can only be better organised and a whole lot tidier than mine!)

Yes, captured on film is a rare sighting of Steam Clean Val without her steam cleaner.

For those of you who are new to this blog, Steam Clean Val is one of my best chums and has a... now, how shall I put this? A rather draconian attitude towards any bacteria cheeky enough to think it can take up residence in her kitchen!

Get a life! Do I hear you yell?

Actually, SCV already has one. As a barbershop fanatic, Val can be heard singing on the latest Kaiser Chiefs recording with The Cheshire Cord Company... and has been heard with the choir and the KC'S on Radio 1 (our numero uno pop' music station to those of you outside the UK) And last night she was singing with the Cheshire Chords on television.
Watch out Columbus Ohio USA when Steam Clean Val and the Cheshire Chord Company head your way for the annual barbershop convention!!

Val also teaches creative writing classes and has invited me to talk to her students next week... and d'you know, I'm actually thinking about asking her if I can try out her steam cleaner with a view to possibly buying one...

Big smile and hugs all round... and congratulations to our blog-exclusive competition winner from Reddish UK who guessed that the people of Abadan would prize water more than oil after reading my Romantic Times nomination, The Sheikh's Captive Bride.

I'm bound to think up another competition question soon, so do check in to our blog so you don't miss out!

Have a fantastic weekend everyone and happy reading!

Susan

Our desert romance has a name...stand by to welcome Sheikh Shahin and Zara Kingston later this year or early next in Bedded By The Desert King
Can hardly wait- and I've included a fab' pic' of the desert at dawn to get us in the mood.

Enjoy your day everyone!

Love to all, and happy reading!

Susan

I thought you'd like to see how a fab' photo taken on one of my research trips to Italy becomes a Susan Stephens' goodie bag magnet.
I loved this shot so much I couldn't wait to transfer the image onto a magnet so that I could include it in along with all the other Susan Stephens' goodies in our winners' prize bundles.

The entries to our competitions are coming in thick and fast... And all you have to do for our Susan Stephens' web site prize is to give me the names of the twin sisters who are the heroines in 1) The Italian Prince's Proposal and 2) The Greek's Bridal Purchase to win our bumper Easter prize.

Our blog-exclusive competition still has until Saturday to run, so if you would like a signed copy of my Romantic Times nominated book, The Sheikh's Captive Bride all you have to do is to take a guess at this question... Do Sheikh Kahlil's subjects consider oil or water their most precious commodity in the desert kingdom of Abadan?
Finlay-dog is pawsed and waiting to pick a winner !!!

So, two prizes waiting to be won- one this week and one in time for Easter, and one Finlay-dog ready and eager to pick our lucky winners- PLEASE don't miss out!!!
(And yes, in reply to several mails, of course you can enter both!)


Love to all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan

Wanted you to see the beautiful island where I did much of the research for The Greek's Bridal Purchase. As you will see from my newsletter satellite shot, the Greek islands cluster together so the view from the shore is quite incredible.

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan

Not sure how long this blissful state will continue, but have just sent off my latest ms, which has been sitting under my desk since... well, you don't want to know that sort of detail, but sometimes my ed' has to holler really loud to get me to part with my beloved babies. And if she waited until I thought the ms was ready for her to read they would never make it into print!


The book you can see above however, is the UK library edition of my next release. The Greek's Bridal Purchase This is the sequel to The Italian Prince's Proposal... and follows the story of Emily's twin sister, Miranda, who was a world-class musician until a tragic accident wrecked her career. This is the story of Miranda's journey back and shows how she copes with a new life when she no longer has her exceptional musical gift to rely on.

As soon as Finlay-dog picks out a winner for my blog-exclusive competition to win a signed copy of The Sheikh's Captive Bride we're going to return to the Greek islands and all things Greek as we celebrate Miranda's story in The Greek's Bridal Purchase.

Back tomorrow with more news

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan

Don't miss out on love in the desert. Finlay-dog has heaps of replies to sort through already and she tells me she wants even more.

So... what do you think the citizens of a desert kingdom consider their most valuable commodity- oil, or water?

Send your answer with your snail mail address to win a signed copy of The Sheikh's Captive Bride.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone!

Susan

Okay, not a very subtle heading, but it's sand!
And Lucy Benson is about to discover that the desert isn't a nice safe beach, and nor is her attraction for a hard and dangerous man who just happens to be a sheikh named Kahlil...

For a chance to find out what I'm talking about just answer this question to win a signed copy of The Sheikh's Captive Bride, my Romantic Times Reviews'Choice nominated book.

Kahlil rules over a desert kingdom named Abadan... What do you think the people of Abadan consider their most valuable commodity... OIL or WATER?


And by the way, Lucy and Kahlil are exactly like oil and water as far as their personalities are concerned, so to find out more all you have to do is enter the competition.

Mail me with your answer at susanstephenshmb@yahoo.com
And don't forget to send Rosie your snail mail address so she can send you your prize!!!
Good luck everyone... I'll announce the winner at the end of next week.

Love to all, and have a great weekend everyone!

Susan

Here we are in Siena... a most exquisite ancient Italian city founded by the Romans in the time of Octavian Augustus. This explains one of the symbols shown on the heraldic arms taken by the medieval town... the she-wolf feeding Romulus and Remus.

You see me standing in the Piazza del Campo where the Palio horse race assembles. I would recommend at least a few days in Siena if your are to appreciate the atmosphere and artistic riches of this wonderful place.

If you book far enough in advance you may be lucky enough to snag a room to watch the world famous Palio race. The whole town is transformed for the Palio as this horse race takes place through the streets of Siena. There is much pageantry with parades through the streets, musicians in historical costume, and flags and banners hanging from every building. It is easy to think yourself back in another age and the rivalry between the opposing teams is intense.
The prize, the Palio, is a silk banner painted by both famous Italian and foreign artists and is given to the winning group or team... and not just the jockeys are judged, but their supporters... for their behaviour and for the skill of their musicians, their costumes and the artistry of the men who bear their banners.

I wonder if you like me yearn for the magic of this ancient time to touch our lives and make us strive for excellence and to believe always in the power not just of the individual, but of the team.

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan

And tomorrow I promise there's going to be a competition question to win a signed copy of my Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice nominated book, The Sheikh's Captive Bride , and so I look forward to talking to you again tomorrow!
Sx

OK, I agree... You would have to have the best eyesight in the world to spot what I'm up to! But believe me, it's on your behalf...
You can tell by my 'innocent' face that I've been 'caught in the act' and that I'm definitely up to no good!!

The one thing my family demand when we have a break is that I leave my laptop at home... (keep this to yourself, girls- but laptops are so small nowadays... they fit into the smallest spaces- however, even my teeniest tiniest laptop is hard to hide when I'm out in the open.)

So...

Yep, you've guessed it- that's a pencil and pad in my hand and I've been caught in the act of scribbling down a few notes for a new book when I'm supposed to be on holiday.
Well, I ask you, who wouldn't be inspired by such fabulous scenery?!
We may not get the weather here in the UK (for 'WEATHER', read sunshine), but we do get the rain! Oh, yes. And thank goodness for it, or our lush and very beautful Lake District National Park would not exist.
This particular lake, by the way, is called Lake Windermere.

Check in tomorrow for a view of the truly fabulous and historic Italian city of Siena. And I haven't forgotten our competition question to win a signed copy of my Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice nominated book, The Sheikh's Captive Bride, so don't miss out!!!

And thank you to everyone who has mailed to say my book, Virgin For Sale , first in the fab' Presents UnCut line is in store right now in the US and flying high!! I just love that book and hope you do too!

Look forward to being back with you tomorrow

Love and happy reading everyone!

Susan

You thought I was joking yesterday when I promised to show you the biggest fashion boob I ever made, didn't you? But at least you know now that you can rely on your author never to do things by halves. Yes, this is the worst jacket I have ever owned... but my trip on the Orient Express was another matter altogether. It was fabulous.

This was a short journey from a station in central London to another close to Leeds Castle in the South of England where I was going to hear the great maestro Paverotti sing. The food and champagne was great and I still use the champagne glass, which was presented to us after our trip and consider it my 'special' glass.

Of course, you can make a proper holiday of a train trip and it is possible to cross Europe on the Orient Express.I believe it is a wonderful experience with music and fine food and wine as well as good company to speed you on your way. It is also the tradition to 'dress up' on the Orient Express, and as there are so few opportunities to do this nowadays even that should be fun.
Perhaps another year...

Love to you all, and happy reading everyone!

(Check in tomorrow for a view of our very own glorious Lake District here in the UK and your author caught in the act on film doing something 'sneaky'!)

Susan

OK, here we go, opening our holiday week with a cheesy shot of me on a boat. Try keeping me away from the water! I even have a stream running through my garden at home.
You see I'm Scorpio, a water sign, and whatever your thoughts on astrology, I definitely conform to type. (Maybe that's why I love writing about the desert so much- taking the symbol of my sign rather than the element, I guess the desert is one of my natural habitats!)

Check out my Romantic Times Reviewers'nomination, The Sheikh's Captive Bride if you want a taste of desert romance with a sexy sheikh named Kahlil!)

And I have just sold another desert story to Harlequin Presents, which will be coming out early 2007. I will let you know the title just as soon as I have it.

So, happy holiday planning everyone! I hope I can help out by giving you some inspiration this week.
(and for the best in home grown holidays for the USA check out the second page of my American trip featuring the fabulous Tanque Verde ranch. (with real cowboys!!!)I love that place. And I adored Arizona.

And don't forget to check in tomorrow when you can see me on the Orient Express wearing the worst jacket in history. You think you've got bad clothes in your wardrobe? Wait 'til you see this!!!
Love to all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan

The moment the excitement of the holiday season is over we start looking for the next buzz... If I switch on the television every channel will be packed with ideas for holidays.

I thought it would be kitch and fun to show a week of holiday snaps, and somewhere in that week there's going to be a blog-exclusive competition question for your to answer with a prize of a signed copy of my RT nominated book, The Sheikh's Captive Bride.
Good luck everyone! And I hope you like my first shot of a beach and a recliner- what else do you need, other than a good book?!!!

Love to you all

Susan

With my warmest wishes to you and those you love for a wonderful 2006

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan