Susan Stephens' Writing Diary

Here's a friendly face for you. Considering my suspicion of all things muddy Bertie Bullock and I have struck up quite a friendship, as you can see. Thought it was time you met him too...


And now on with my post...

Hiya, chumblies!

Have just discovered sprog minimus has been using my pooter for MSN messenger. Would love to tell you that I have just discovered some pearls of wisdom... But in fact it consisted mostly of 'Urrrgh. Ugggh. BLAAAAAAAAH. You mean the Rentals are making you work over the break from uni. Bummmmeeeeeeeer.

Ah well, there's still time for them to develop.

Love to all, and happy reading everyone
Susan

Congratulations to Minna from Finland, who won the prize on Access Romance this week for suggesting a book to change my life... David Attenborough's autobiography, Life On Air. As DA has changed the way I look and think about the natural world, Minna's suggestion was irresistible... so, thank you again, Minna.

Before this Blog (on www.accessromance.com All-A-Blog) disappears into the archives do go and check out all the books suggested there. I have actually printed out a list and mean to read as many of them as I can find time for.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, everyone!
Susan

Okay, so these aren't my best photos yet, but they were taken under somewhat jostled conditions, and by an agent working for me.
Duh, duh, duUuUuUuh!
Here we have a float containing your breakfast and bearing the legend, Grandma makes good coffee... And at least there's an arm of a man in uniform for your delight and delectation.

Now we see the man in uniform is cute... We also see a plastic cyclist without a head. (Well done, darling, I always knew one of my children would make a world class photographer)



I'm not sure what the animals have to do with the race... perhaps they're representative of the casualties along the way. Those cyclists stop for no one!


Enjoy!
Sxxx

As a family we normally visit the mountains for skiing in the winter, but this year the sprogs decided to try out the various summers sports available.

Better than every! They exclaimed as one... white water rafting, boogie board races down the rapids, mountain climbing, swimming and canoeing on the lake... and best of all? 'Oh, you'd love this,' they assured me... Parapenting, which involves taking a running jump off the top of a mountain.

'Er, excuse me, but how well do you know me?' I felt bound to ask.
It took me long enough to pluck up the courage to skim over the mountains on a plank (ski lift) never mind take a running jump off a frozen peak. And strapped to someone I don't know? I don't think so!

Back tomorrow with some shots from the day the Tour de France went through the village. Men in lycra?
No, more like giant inflatables.
Can't wait?
I don't blame you!

Sxxx

It must be the heat, but I seem to be 72 hours behind with everything right now. I even forgot to tell you I have a Bookworm Blog on www.accessromance.com - or at least, I did yesterday!

BUT

The good news is I haven't picked a prize winner yet. I have printed out all the amazing suggestions for great reads and added them to my beg, borrow, or buy list, but I haven't got round to deciding who has made the most plangent comment, the one I just can't ignore and have to award a prize for... So, get cracking right now, it could still be you!

Gimme a breath of air, someone!

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!
Susan

YEP, I'm having one of them! For everyone who checked into All-A-Blog and found me there, it was a mistake- I will be up on Tuesday. My fault for not checking the date stamp box when I posted my Blog. Urgh. Sorry!
Sxx

Today is book day for me, and here's one I picked up and then thought, 'Hmm, not sure if I'm going to enjoy this...'

How wrong can you be?

There are rare occasions when I'm poleaxed by an author's writing style, and this is one of them. The Highest Tide is like an ode that stays in the memory like a well loved song. Jim Lynch the author, is a journalist from Washington State, and this is his first novel- Let's hope it's the first of many. I love this book... I love Jim Lynch's descriptions, and his spare writing style. The writing sends my imagination flying, and that's all I ever ask of a book.

And now here's some really good news for us bookworms... Our own lovely Jane Porter is achieving fantastic and well-deserved success with her book Flirting With Forty
Now in it's 4th printing and flying off the shelves, I can't recommend Flirting With Forty highly enough. If you don't have a copy yet, please please please don't miss out.

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!
Susan

Just got my head down for forty winks during my lunch break when I heard strange rumblings. This is what 20 tons of stone landing in your front yard sounds like, Susan.
Oh, is that right?
How the plants outside my front door survived I'll never know. Three cheers for our hale and hearty driver who managed to negotiate our gates with his megaton lorry and deliver the stone exactly on the hardboard provided!!!

And now my kitchen... or lack of one... lack of sitting room and dining room too- suddenly open plan doesn't seem like such a good idea!

But it's off to the pub for fish chips n' mushy peas tonight, so that's not so bad now, is it?!

And now it's back to work, with Radio One playing outside with the dry stone wallers and the singing decorators yodelling furiously inside (or are they killing a cat?).
Suddenly Radio One doesn't sound so bad, anyway!

Have a great day everyone!
Susanxx

Thank you for your patience. And if my mails have been sporadic for the past few days it's only because my elderly friend has been causing me much concern- not least because she has no family, and now I have moved away to the other side of the country, so its not so easy to be on hand to help out.

I was back in Cheshire yesterday trying to work out the best way forward. And for the next couple of weeks this is going to take up a lot of my time. So, please bear with me, as I know you will. I am around, and I am thinking constantly about all my readers- and my writing!!! Having just received a mail from my ed to say how much she enjoyed a pitch I did for another line, of course I am!

Yippee! And 'Ecky thump!', as they say up here in the north, I'm loving writing this book... I get to laugh and drool, (not dribble, you understand- drool over a gorgeous hunk called Galem- what could be better?! So don't worry, there will be time, for everything, I'll make sure of it.

Meanwhile, love to all, and happy reading everyone!
And tomorrow I'll post a shot of my 'kitchen' under wraps now the decorators have moved in! At least I don't have to think what to cook tonight, as I can't get at the cooker!!
Sxx

I am sitting here still half asleep after a restless night- no air-conditioning in our house here in the UK... no need for it during 'normal' summer weather. But this summer? This summer the temperatures are soaring and sleep is impossible.

But I'm not complaining, it's lovely to see the sun shining and so I thought I'd share some summery pics with you...

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!
Susan

Isn't life strange sometimes... The lovely lady who posted this review for In The Venetian's Bed comes from Malta, the tiny, friendly, sunny island in the Mediterranean where I spent so many happy years in the early days of my marriage.

Thank you, Julie, your comments mean so much to me. It's impossible to be sure if the things that moved me as I wrote the book will communicate to those who read it, so it's absolutely great to know they did.
You can find Julie's review here:

http://www.cataromance.com/reviews?type=&id=486


And don't forget to check out your sun signs... Xandra has just mailed to say she's posted them...

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!
Susan

You're so right, ladies. I always knew Jane could cook, but I had never been to one of her professional days before. I was blown away. I have been on cookery courses, as you know, but I have never experienced anything so professional, where the food was so delicious and the ambience so nurturing.

The secret of Jane's success is her own natural warmth, plus her ability to make things look easy. Jane goes to enormous trouble to make sure that all the ingredients are fresh and the best available, and she doesn't stint on anything...

You should have seen the flowers- all arranged by Jane, and picked fresh that day from her garden for our enjoyment. One of the most striking arrangements was giant artichokes, which she placed on one of the huge stone fireplaces.
Naturally the table linen was crisp and white, and on every napkin Jane had placed two stems of lavender.

Even in the bathroom Jane had lit scented candles and there were Christian Dior handtowels, plus an array of perfumes and more fresh flowers.
Talk about inspiration for Presents!!!

I really could go on and on about the fabulous day, and the trouble Jane went to to make it perfect for everyone, but what really made it special was a truly lovely woman. Jane, I salute you.

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!
Susan

Have just spent the most fantastic day at the home of my lovely friend, Jane.
What a fantastic cook. I cannot begin to describe how delicious and delectable Jane's food was... and to give you a flavour here's the programme of our day.


10am - 10.45 am coffee, tea and soft drinks with homemade cakes

10.45 Cookery demonstration.

Grissini Torinesi Italian bread sticks with rock salt and herbs

Kalamata olive tapenade

Veloute of white bean and spinach with white truffle oil

Carpaccio of fresh tuna on a salad of asparagus, chick peas and baby spinach, with lemon and olive oil

Raspberry and almond torte

Individual Stilton souffles with pears poached in port and an iced walnut cream (beyond fabulous- I have never tasted anything so delicious in all my life)

Loin of new season lamb with a red wine and rosemary jus, served with baby vegetables.

Individual frozen tiramisu with a coffee and marsala reduction

After the demonstration champagne was served with Grissini and Tapenade in the drawing room prior to lunch

Lunch: (and please remember we tasted everything that was made... Oh, yes, I am now officially size woolly mammoth again!)

Loin of lamb with a red wine and rosemary jus on a rosti potato with baby vegetables

Raspberry and almond torte served with creme fraiche

Individual iced tiramisu with a coffee and marsala reduction and fresh berries

Chilled white wine
Red wine
Coffee and homemade chocolates
Yumyumyumyumyumyumyumyumyumyumyumyum


But the day belonged to Jane's horse Basil, who refused to be left out of the picture!


Hi Basil!
And congratulations and huge huge thanks to Jane for a fabulous and memorable day.
Here's to the next time, Jane!

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!
Susan

Congratulations to Joyce, who won our contest on www.accessromance.com

Your thoughts on friendship were fantastic, Joyce. In fact, everyone's thoughts on friendship touched me, so thank you all for your participation.
The draw for the prize was completely random- it had to be, because I couldn't choose between you!

Don't forget to put the 25th July into your diary when we have a chance to chat again, and there will be another opportunity for you to win a prize at www.accessromance.com All-A-Blog.
I believe the Starbuck's voucher went down very well last time, together with the copy of my book and other goodies- A Perfect Partnership, I was told (Sounds like a great title to me!!!)




I'm off on a cookery course today with my youngest... visiting the home of one of my chums from the research 'cooking' trip to Rome. Jane- end of the line, next door but one to me- is not only a great chum, but a fantastic professional chef, so I'm sure I'm going to pick up some great tips to share with you.

I have never steamed asparagus since Jane told me to break off the woody bits and then bake it in the oven for 20 mins after sprinkling it with good quality olive oil, seasoning and slices of garlic... More flavour than I could imagine. Fantastic. So look in tomorrow to see if I've picked up some more ideas!

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan

I hear what you're all saying... And btw, I don't hear of any plans to change the Australian covers- When I did my comparison at the library recently of one title with 3 covers... UK US and Australia, the audience thought the Australian cover was fantastic.

Regarding the library edition I posted yesterday I personally love the 'new' pink. I've posted my two most recent covers side by side so you can compare...

I also love the way the designer has incorporated the rose of romance and it helps to have such a good looking couple on the front... some of my men on the UK covers have looked very young and some... Well, some are...
Again, and this is only a personal opinion, I find views on covers interesting and they certainly tempt me to buy the book...
Eg The Rialto Bridge in Venice etc

As soon as I receive the paperback editions I will post those so we can see if there are any changes... but that will be in around 2 months time- and I'll have a lot to say before then, no doubt!!

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!
(and don't forget there's still time to enter my competition on www.accessromance.com All-A-Blog)
Susan

I hope you agree that the art department has excelled itself this time!
Even youngest sprog commented, 'Wow, he's really hot... Can I read it now?'

Yep, I think you can safely say that the designers at headquarters have found Sheikh Shahin and put him on the cover. And Zara Kingston? Absolutely! Go girl!

For a chance to win a preview copy of Shahin and Zara' hot hot story, go to www.accessromance.com now!

Check out www.accessromance.com All-A-Blog for an extra Blog from yours truly, and also a chance to win another super prize.

Happy Monday everyone!
Love to all, and happy reading!
Susan

Or some such- Anyway, the French are doing very well at football right now, which pleases the LFF no end, and keeps out family interest alive in the World Cup.
Here is the LFF's handsome papa, taking the sun with the beautiful Cathy... (setting up camp in a rock pool, mes copains- eez that wise! What about those great big horny French crabs?!) However, it all looks splendid and makes me Grrh, as it is cloudy here today in the UK

Cathy et Jean are in Bastia in Corsica, an island I can't wait to visit... All those brigands and fair maidens waiting for a story.
Both Cathy and Napoleon Bonaparte were born in Corsica, though Cathy is hugely prettier, and a good deal nicer to the English than Napoleon ever was!

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan

Here's a new book for you written by a dear friend of mine, Jane Porter. Jane is as beautiful inside as she is out and she's also one heck of a writer.

You will know Jane from her emotionally intense Presents books, and also from her debut novel, 'The Frog Prince', but her latest, Flirting with Forty is one I couldn't bear for you to miss out on.

I received my copy yesterday and I haven't been able to put it down, which as I told Jane in a mail, is darned inconvenient when I need to sleep, eat and clean my teeth!

Please please please don't deny yourself this treat. Jane is one of life's genuinely lovely people, and it shows in the way she writes her books- You're going to laugh, you're going to cry, you're going to love it.

Love to all, and I know you're going to have happy reading everyone!
Susan

We're just off to celebrate sproglatina's b'day, as yes, she is a Yankee Doodle Dandee... a song, believe it or not, your truly once sang- complete with fishnet tights and top hat- on board the QE2. And yes, they paid me- these days they'd pay me not to. (How cruel the years can be to thighs once clothed in fishnet!!!)

And for no other reason than I love a good barbie with corn and tuna and salad and salmon and stuff, that's our photo for today.

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!
Susan

Have just been adding a scene to my book that plummets me back to the lovely medieval city of Siena... so I thought you'd like to see this pic' of the research trip I took.
The Palio is a horse race with a lot of history. It involves rivalries and all sorts of scheming, which fit in just fine with my story about Niroli... and 'The Richest Royal Family in the World'

Believe it or not, 50,000 people squish into Siena for the race... and the walled city ain't that big. 'Give me a breath of air someone...'

The horse race is a fantastic spectacle- it's dangerous, it's exciting, and it pits one man against another... horse to horse, rider to rider.
All you have to do to win is for your horse to cross the line with its headpiece intact- if the jockey falls off, or is pushed off, no one cares, which gave me lots of scope for an exciting ending to the race for our hero, Nico!
The Palio only takes around 70 seconds, but a lot can happen in that time...

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!
Susan