Susan Stephens' Writing Diary

Thought you'd like to meet my critique partners...

Actually, I have a flotilla of helpers and may even give one of them away at some later date (not all have shared the secrets of SS's bath and are still in the carrier bag in which they were purchased.)
Well, I couldn't resist the little duckies. There weren't enough shops in the area of Daytona where I was staying earlier this year for the RT conference, so I had to shop where I could...

What do you mean 50 plastic ducks are 49 too many?!

Quack! Quack!

I hope you know which is my duck...

the serene one, with a tiara, of course!

And dh...? Check this out, girls:




Remind you of anyone!







Have a great weekend, y'all!

Love and happy reading everyone!

Susan

There's no telling what might happen next around here!

So, the craziness continues. That's reassuring.

The general message to yours truly in London was write more, Blog less.
What a dilemma!
I have decided compromise is the only answer, and so I will be checking in with you two or three times each week rather than every day.
This doesn't affect our prize competitions one little bit btw, so keep those entries flooding in.

Meanwhile, thank you Stephanie Schneider of The Romantic Times, who awarded Bedded By The Desert King, and our hero Shahin, 4*'s

'Their passion cannot be denied...'

You're so right, Stephanie!








Love to all, and happy reading everyone!
Susan

There's no telling what might happen next around here!

So, the craziness continues. That's reassuring.

The general message to yours truly in London was write more, Blog less.
What a dilemma!
I have decided compromise is the only answer, and so I will be checking in with you two or three times each week rather than every day.
This doesn't affect our prize competitions one little bit btw, so keep those entries flooding in.

Meanwhile, thank you Stephanie Schneider of The Romantic Times, who awarded Bedded By The Desert King, and our hero Shahin, 4*'s

'Their passion cannot be denied...'

You're so right, Stephanie!








Love to all, and happy reading everyone!
Susan

Now it's raining- rained off- my shoe search is rained off. (please imagine heart-wrenching sobs at this point)

And I can't find that pair I want in the right size. This happened to me last year so I bought a pair a size too small, which I then ended up giving to a friend. It took all my self-control not to scratch her eyes out each time I saw her proudly wearing them.

Can't do it again, girls. But I can see them, I can smell the soft black leather, and I can feel them caressing my feet. Nothing, nothing else will do. There is no comfort for me anywhere. Woe is me.

Aaargh!

Gazing despondently into the far distance where everyone but me is wearing fabulous shoes...

Your friend and shoe-less author Susanxxx

Whaddya think of my golf pro then? Slick, eh? And shiny. And very, very thin. (That's from all her fretting about me; I may be her first failure)

Where am I?
London.
Whose idea was it to put me in an hotel within walking distance of Selfridges???

I have shopped and dropped and now I'm going to have a bath and go to meet my fellow authors, trying not to look too guilty as I do so.

Two pairs of boots, Susan??? How many pairs of feet do you have?

AND I walked for an hour to track down a pair of shoes in my size that I'd seen somewhere else- to no avail today... but there's still tomorrow. I may have to miss the various meetings. Oh, well...

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan

What should an author have in her back pocket? This was just one question that came up at a recent library talk I gave...

Not what, who... or should that be whom? (Yep Copy editors are more fabulous people in my writing world!)

The person I tuck away in my back pocket is the uber-fabulous Leena Hyat... and now Lee has a site all her own, which is being launched on October 1st. But we're getting a sneak preview right now
Check this out:

http://www.authorsoundrelations.com/concept.htm

Just remember some of the pages are still under construction and you'll get a better idea of how good this site is going to be.

If you need advice on the business side of writing head straight over there.
Why?
Because there's no one quite like Lee for bringing readers and authors together. There's no one quite like Lee for lifting you up when you feel down.
There's no one quite like Lee for spending money wisely...
(And boy, do I need someone like that in my back pocket!!!)

I wouldn't trust just anyone to handle my business, design my banners, or spend my money...



Bottom line... Do you think I'd trust Shahin with just anyone?!

Tomorrow I'll try to bring you a pic' of my golf pro- another fabulous person. And no ladies, before you get excited, my golf pro is a lady too!

That's it for today...

So love and happy reading everyone!
Susan

You will have to excuse me for having a 'starry' moment, girls...
I have the best hairdresser in the world- no contest, but David is in the process of opening a new salon and I'm off to London on Thursday for a gathering of the romance clan...

'You'd better have a haircut before you go,' says dh in his usual tactful manner.

Do I need one?

Now, ladies, when we're young we stare in the mirror twenty times each hour, at least... as we get older we stare in it once every twenty days, at most. (and that's only when we're feeling brave)

I looked. And groaned. Tangled old sheep, moi?
No, not nearly so well groomed.

I placed emergency call on web site of said hairdresser www.davidrozman.co.uk
(David doesn't open his new salon until next week)
And whaddya know, girls? David is comimg to me... to do My Hair at My House.

I feel like a celebrity.

(Get over it, Susan)
(Not just yet, if you don't mind/firming her jaw)
Okay then, just don't make a habit of it (inner voice slinking off)

And here's David's web site again... www.davidrozman.co.uk

Sign up girls, he'd worth the trip- even an international one, that I promise you. (plus you get the fab' Aveda salon treatments too)
(Well, if David doesn't deserve a little plug, who does?)

Love to all, and happy haircuts everyone!
Susanxxx

Congrats to May from Singapore, who is a worthy winner of my Blog considering she is lady insanity and I am one insane lady. There's definite synergy there!

If you're in the mood for some armchair travel here are some tempting shots of Singapore...





Beam me up, Scotty!

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan

Hey, girls, don't miss the chat on www.accessromance.com All-A-Blog.

And for those of you who are writers, this may be especially relevant.

I say this because I have compiled a list of questions to ask my characters so I can find out what makes them tick- and my interview with Zara Kingston, the heroine in my November release Bedded By The Desert King is printed in full over on Access Romance.



I've rec'd a few messages to say this looks like a helpful writing tool, so take a look and see what you think.





Meanwhile I am giving my characters heart (real heart/even more of it) in my second draft of my first Modern X-tra. In my first draft I get the story down as fast as I can, and in the second draft I start taking a look at what's going on inside my characters heads.

I can reveal that the village where all the fun takes place is called, Hawkshead, and here's the emblem I have chosen for the village.



The hawk certainly mirrors the complex nature of my alpha (Oh, yes he's alpha)
I find images as well as words help me to develop a novel- we all have different techniques. Bottom line: we love what we do, every second of it.

Have a good one, ladies!

Hope to see you over at Access Romance. I won't be announcing the winner of today's AR All-A-Blog prize until Monday, so you have plenty of opportunity to chat over there.

Hugs all round
Susan

You'll note I have carefully left a '!' or '?' off my heading.
That's because I'm going to leave you to decide!!!

When women meet up do we have a 'cook-off', or a 'knit to the death'?


Here we see my adored male child meeting with his prospective father-in-law.
What happened to a nice game of chess, or a safe discussion about the weather?

No, the alpha male has to prove a point. It goes something like this: Aaargh!! Urgh!! Thwack!!



(You'll always be King of my castle baby boy)

(Just don't ask me to dance up and down with a shoe on my head again)

(Yep, that's a whole 'nother story, girls!)

BTW Don't forget to take a trip to www.accessromance.com where you can learn more about my heroine, Zara in Bedded By The Desert King,
and also chat and maybe win a prize!






Love to all, and happy reading everyone! Susan xXx

There is nothing, absolutely nothing better for an author than knowing people have enjoyed your book- so thank you all for your lovely comments.

My idea for Bedded By The Desert King came while I was reading a travel brochure and dreaming about a resort in the desert that I hope to visit some day.



Here's the exact quote...

The desert sands of Arabia are very much alive. Far from being a barren empty wilderness, they are filled with a wealth of flora and fauna which has adapted to the desert eco-system.

Activities include falconry, guided nature walks, horse riding and camel safaris, you will also have chance to see the rare Arabian Oryx...

Instantly I wasn't me any longer, I was my heroine Zara, aching to put things right. I was on a quest, a mission, hurting inside, bruised and longing to be loved, suspicious, yet bold, and yes, a little impetuous (but weren't we all when we were young!)

Read more about Zara in my blog on www.accessromance.com All-A-Blog tomorrow... join in the chat and you'll have another chance to win a prize!

And please don't worry about when is the right time to join in our Super Contest on this diary... because anytime is the answer. Just post a comment up to our end date of November 19th and you have a chance of winning a prize right here!

Once again, thank you from the bottom of my heart, because without you I'd have no one to share my dreams with...

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan... and before I go a huge thank you and very big hug to Wendy my fantastic web mistress from Artemis Web Design who has posted my autumn changes on the Susan Stephens site during what I know has been a very difficult time for her. Thank you, Wendy. ((xxx))

Have just received notice of my first review for lover-lee Shahin (okay, weak, I know, but I'm only just getting into my stride, remember!)



The five heart review will appear some time soon on www.loveromancesandmore.com and as soon as it's up and I have a link I'll let you know.

(And yes, I'm totally blown away and thrilled to receive five hearts)

Meanwhile here's yet another chance to win a prize... that makes *3* fab' chances...

1) My monthly competition on www.susanstephens.net
2) My Super-Contest, for which you need only to post a comment on this blog to be entered
3) Thursday 14th September on www.accessromance.com All-A-Blog

I look forward to chatting with everyone on Thursday- hope to see you there!!!

(And for those of you with Rachel Gibson on your tbr pile- don't deny yourself a special treat a moment longer!)

(I ran a great blog on All-A-Blog where we all suggested a favourite book- it was fantastic, and increased my tbr pile by 500% But we could do it here- that's a good way to enter the Super-Contest... just share a book you love.)

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!
Susan

Hey, Wendy, I'm thinking of asking you to put 'Dessert' King back, for after all, what's a man like Shahin for, if not for pudding. Yum Yum indeed!

And I think I speak for all of us when I say a huge thank you to the Art Dept at Harlequin for finding us someone worth coating in chocolate!!


We're having a real Indian summer here in the UK, which is lovely, but distracting. (Weather forecaster just said its going to be the hottest September say since bustles were in fashion) With one chapter to go on my countryside romp for X-tra I really need to get back to work, but the sun is shining, and...
okay, for Galem I'll retreat into the writing cave!

Just reading Sex, Lies and Online Dating by a great US author called Rachel Gibson. I'm new to Rachel Gibson's work and only discovered this book through sproglatina... the imprint is called 'Little Black Dress' (not sure if that's worldwide) I LOVE RG already. There are so many truly great authors out there and so many more for me to discover... I love this job. I love writing. And I love reading- more than I can say. Seeing the world through someone else's eyes is addictive.

As addictive as Shahin?
There's only one...


Love to all, and happy Monday morning everyone!
We're all smiling, right?! ;-))
Susanxxx

Why do I love writing about sheikhs?






Because they're all-powerful. A sheikh is the biggest challenge of all for my heroine.

Sheikhs inhabit a mysterious world that we mere mortals may only catch a glimpse of through a silken curtain...

But my heroine steps through that curtain...

In this new magical world she inhales heady scents... sandalwood, vanilla, musk and myrrh... and sees sights that make her gasp. She eats fruit fed to her by the sheikh's hand, and yet still she must tame him...

And then there's the desert itself... beautiful, ever-changing and very dangerous.

('Scuse me, girls, I feel a book coming on!)

But before I do, what I'm getting to is this...
We're going to double your chances of winning a prize right up to the 19th November.

Alongside my existing monthly competition we're going to run a Super Contest.

To enter the extra Super Contest all you have to do is leave a comment on this Writing Diary each week until then. You could start by sharing why you love sheikhs (or why you don't)

Don't confine yourself to that- let your imaginations run free... Perhaps it will be a simple comment related to my blog that day, or maybe you've got a yummy recipe you'd like to share...

Let's have a real forum where we can share our ideas, our loves and hates, and if you've got a problem share that too... maybe The Group can come up with some suggestions to help you out...

Don't be glum; I don't want you to spend a single day feeling lonely or cheesed off. Instead, I'd really love you to join us here and share the laughter, cyber coffee and smiles.

I'm going to ask my ask my fab' assistant Lee to pick our Super Contest winner entirely at random on the 19th November.

Stay tuned for more news, including info' of special prizes...

Love to all, and good luck with your entries everyone!

And PS for Jennifer... The Dessert King- How about that? I love it!!!
Any man who wants to make me a pudding has to be a winner!

Also noted spelling mistake in my heading, which I have just corrected... apparently my Super Contest was 'coning' Already?! It hasn't even had a chance!!!
LOL

But goofs notwithstanding... There's Still Only One Shahin! ;-) ((XxXx))

Here you can see a true to life representation of the LFF- otherwise known as Froggggggeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee- has been added to our family portrait hanging in the baronial hall at Trog Castle. Also the addition of a belly and belly button has added a certain veritas to another member of the dynasty... plus you will note sproglatina's arm is extended in its customary manner - stretching towards pater's wallet- I just knew you would appreciate these improvements.
(I haven't added the hairy chin, warty nose and pointy hat to myself just yet...)

Okay, so here's the real LFF
(What is she doing posing on the floor like this? Truth is, she's just as crazy as the rest of us, which is why she fits in so well.)
















Thank you, 2paw!! Do we think he's cute? Do we want to start a Tron-club?

(or are we rather worried about what's going on beneath all that rubber?)





But let us not lose sight of the man of the moment- not even for one second
Because... (loudly, girls, after me...)
THERE IS ONLY ONE SHAHIN!!!


Ooh, and Ann, my plans for Shahin include a lot of Haagen Daz and very little restraint...

Love and fun to everyone!
Susanxxx

Understanding our quest for the definitive alpha male Princess Wiggy has thrown her hat into the ring with this stonking shot of Electric Man...

Don't all scream at once, ladies
(the doors that way!)
Sxxx

PS There's only one Shahin...

PPS I'm loving your comments ladies... Lol 2paw! Compete with Shahin?
Nope, I've got other plans for him...

Sxxx

You can never have too many sheikhs in my opinion! And Sheikh Shahin is so delicious I may just have to pour some chocolate sauce over him and eat him all up.




Now, now, Susan, you're a responsible woman with children.

And?

Apologies for sharing that thought with you, but I got a little heated under my neat Peter Pan collar when the paperback editions of Bedded By The Desert King, both US and UK thunked through my letterbox...

Shahin is delicious, and that's official. And when we get a little nearer the time for him to reveal himself, so to speak, I'm going to share some insights with you on the birth of the book including passionate desert nights, royal blue velvet skies... and Shahin.

Will I get any work done today?

Doubt it!

Sxxx

Okay, I promised you a chortle, and here it is...
There's nothing quite like a university G&S society (Gilbert and Sullivan) to bring out the passion in the soul. (harumph!)

Here I am playing Patience ( a milkmaid) in the operetta Patience, with Bunthorne- one of my suitors (in the operetta, I hasten to add)
As for young Strephon, the successful suitor (in the operetta), he was another story altogether... He ended up as a MD par excellence specialising in paediatric anaesthesia... try spelling that before you're fully awake!

And girls, please note the beads in my hair.
Boho, moi? Okay, just a little, but no muddy fields or anything unpleasant, I can assure you!

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan

Actually, I have a very good excuse for being late with my autumn updates to the SS site. And let me say right away the delay has nothing at all to do with my lovely web mistress, Wendy of Artemis Web Design, but is all yours truly's fault.

You see it's time to change my Pic and my Bio (thank you, Lee!) and this is holding things up as we decide which pic to use.
Above you can see one of the rejects, and over on Access Romance 'Scrapbook' any time now, you will be able to see what happened when my gorgeous pooch decided to take a chunk out of my top! (sweater, not me, I hasten to add!) Must have dribbled something really yummy down it!

Susan, please!!!

Anyway, that's it for this Monday morning,

Have a good one, everyone! Back tomorrow with another blast from the past to set you chortling.

Susanxxx

Red!
There's no getting away with it, my hair was red. And to prove it I had a hank cut off when gamin came 'in' and a friend of mine who was doing a hairdressing course at the time made it up into a false piece for me. Of course it might look a bit odd now...
A bit? Susan, are you joking?!

And the gentleman in the picture with me is my adored 'Daddy Jim', the very best of stepfathers and sorely missed for his wise advice and practical skills in just about anything that could be hammered, plumbed,wired or built with two hands-
And DJ worked in the Dutch resistance movement in WW2 so he was a genuine hero too... but that's a whole 'nother story, as they say. (You can tell he was a Guardsman, can't you... I think they still have a minimum height guide for applicants)

Oh, and girls, what do you think of the shiny black leather trousers? Cool, eh?!
Go on, you know you want a pair ;-)

Love to all, and happy happy reading everyone!
From the Ninja Carrot (as she is known to her children, for some reason)
Otherwise known as your friend and author
Susan

I beg your indulgence for Sue's Flag Flying, Banner Waving, Soap Box Moment.

Yes, I was that type of teacher- and mother too. Give me a child, any child, and I'll find something to enthuse that child and make them grow. Don't tell me that by suggesting a child CAN'T do something it's going to help them grow and develop.

And perhaps this sheet shows why I feel so strongly.
I can still remember the dusty old hall at the Speech and Drama Festival... chairs scraping, people coughing discreetly, craning forward like buzzards...
I can still remember the agonising walk to the appointed position where, at the age of eleven or so, I was to give my recitation...
Evening Song Of A Thoughtful Child... Oh, boy, wasn't that the truth!
And yes, I came bottom of the class.

Here's what the report says about me...

The face is so impassive. Never a flicker of expression in the eyes. Very, very British. A budding politician... Many stresses on unimportant words...

And all I'm sure absolutely true. So, what I'm saying is, never never never give up- and don't give up on those kiddies of yours either, they will find themselves, it just takes us all different times to get where we want to be.

And for those of you who love such things...

Evening Song of the Thoughtful Child by Katherine Mansfield

Shadow children, thin and small,
Now the day is left behind,
You are dancing on the wall,
On the curtains, on the blind.

On the ceiling, children, too,
Peeping round the nursery door,
Let me come and play with you,
As we always played before.

Let's pretend that we have wings
And can really truly fly
Over every sort of things
Up and up into the sky.

Where the sweet star children play--
It does seem a dreadful rule,
They must stay inside all day.
I suppose they go to school.

And to-night, dears, do you see,
They are having such a race
With their father moon--the tree
Almost hides his funny face.

Shadow children, once at night,
I was all tucked up in bed,
Father moon came--such a fright--
Through the window poked his head;

I could see his staring eyes,
O, my dears, I was afraid,
That was not a nice surprise,
And the dreadful noise I made!

Let us make a fairy ring,
Shadow children, hand in hand,
And our songs quite softly sing
That we learned in fairyland.

Shadow children, big and small,
See, the day is far behind;
And I kiss you--on the wall--
On the curtains--on the blind.


Have a happy weekend everyone! I'm going to be back Sunday or Monday with one of those 'true confession' pics showing you the real colour of my hair way back when... because as several of you have mailed to say- you just can't tell from a black and white shot.
The truth will out!
Back soon.

Love to all,
Susan

Pirates of Penzance, that is!

(Sorry to disappoint you, ladies... but who knows, I haven't tried romance on the high seas yet...)

Yes, I promised you another 'blast from the past', and here you can see my next contender for my new web site pic! (only joking!)
Waiting to go on stage in Pirates of Penzance complete with wig and fabulous costume- the D'Oyly Carte opera company spared nothing when it came to costume.

If you asked me what I considered the most fortunate part of my career I would have to say being connected with 4 iconic UK institutions... The Royal College of Music, The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, the BBC children's television programme, 'Playschool', and now Mills & Boon. (and actually it was dh who pointed this out to me, cos I just love what I do and never stop to think how, why, or where)

It's been fantastic, right from my first piano concert where my feet were so thin my mother had to buy those stretchy slippers for me to wear with my party dress... I remember them being white satin with white rabbit's fur pom-poms. And I can still remember my dress- my mother was an agent for children's clothes and I wore one of the samples... probably not the best choice with my red hair as it was white with red flowers and a big red sash... Still, I felt like a princess, and that's all that matters. And I expect it was the one that fit. Like all the best heroines, my mother was never stuck for a solution! I can remember I played Beethoven's Drum Waltz...

Tomorrow I'll tell you the verdict on my first speech and drama festival... which will give you a chortle, bearing in mind I went on to have a successful career on the stage.

Love to all, and happy reading everyone!

Susan