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Spotlight on Susan Stephens, Snowbound with His Forbidden Innocent

This week our spotlight is on author Susan Stephens. She has a new book out this month, Snowbound with His Forbidden Innocent.



Susan was a professional singer before meeting her husband on the tiny Mediterranean island of Malta. In true Harlequin Presents style they met on Monday, became engaged on Friday and were married three months later.

A menagerie consisting of dogs, cats, horses, a donkey, several guinea pigs, a husband and three terrific children, keeps Susan busy when she isn’t writing!

She enjoys entertaining, travel, and going to the theatre. To relax she reads, cooks and plays the piano, and when she's had enough of relaxing she throws herself off mountains on skis, or gallops through the countryside singing loudly.


Susan Stephens on the web:

Website     Facebook     Twitter      Instagram 

1. When did I decide I first wanted to be a writer?



When I went to High school around the age of eleven and my essay was read out in class for the first time. It was a about a young Polish boy’s memory of the war - I had met an elderly gentleman who told me his story, and I didn’t want it to ever be forgotten. Before then I had taken it for granted that as an only child I would write my thoughts down - I guess in the absence of anyone else to talk to as my mother was on her own and worked extremely hard hard for very long hours. 

2. How long does it take you to write a book?

I write a first draft in a month and then read through -
between twenty and fifty pages a day at this checking stage depending on ideas occurring that might flesh out the story. Then my editor takes a look, and I will also be re-reading while she gathers her thoughts, so it can take up to four drafts until I’m satisfied that my book is ready to meet the reader. 

3. What is your work schedule like when you’re in the middle of a book?

I work office hours throughout the creation of a story. Starting early - seven-ish, though sometimes I get up in the early hours to make a start if my characters are going crazy prompting me. I work through to about four in the afternoon, taking an hour for lunch and breaks in the morning and afternoon to walk my dog and breathe some fresh air - this, co-incidentally, is often when some of the best ideas drop in.

4. Tell us about your book...

I come from a long line of working women, so my heroine is true to this type. Stacey hasn’t had a great childhood, but has forged a successful career through sheer, hard work. When she first became a party planner she was over-eager and accidents happened, but undaunted she learned on the job and worked her way to the top of the tree. 

Sexy polo playing business tycoon Lucas Da Silva only knows Stacey from the early stages of her career, so when he discovers she is arranging his prestigious annual party, it doesn’t go down well!

Passions are high, and sparks will most definitely fly - especially when Lucas and Stacey become stranded in his mountain chalet with a white-out keeping them firmly in place. Lucas is determined to resist temptation and so is Stacey, but fate has other ideas for this strong-willed couple.


Amazon UK                  Amazon Aust



31 comments:

  1. Nice to read more about Susan. Good luck to her on the launch of her new book, Valerie

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    1. Thank you for your comment, Valerie-Jael. I love writing love stories, and making contact with readers is the icing on the cake!

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  2. I liked reading your answers. Congratulations on the new book, it sounds interesting. All the best!

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  3. Writing all sorts of love stories is my passion and I always think there’s something particularly special about a Christmas love story. If you get the chance, I hope you enjoy reading this one, Shirley. Happy reading over the holiday season, and my very best wishes to you for the year ahead.

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  4. I wish I could write a draft in a month. I am more of a turtle writer! I loved hearing how Susan got her start as a writer. Amazing to get the man's story down- so important. Wishing her all the best!
    ~Jess

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    2. Jess, it’s so good to hear from you. No book is easy. I’m about to sit down and tackle revisions today - why is it that oversights are always so clear in retrospect! Thank goodness for great editors!!! And thank goodness for your good wishes. :) Susan xx

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  5. I was the youngest of five kids, but they were all in school by the time I was born, so I also spent a lot of time playing alone and would spin stories for my dolls. There is an upside to learning to be alone!

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    1. I was an only child, Elizabeth, so weaving stories in my head like you, occupied a lot of my time! When I wasn’t weaving stories I would be playing the piano - but even then I would be imagining a film reel to the music (I still do this). As you say, there is definitely an upside to time alone :)

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  6. Replies
    1. Thank you so much William. To be honest I can’t believe it myself. I aimed to write around 6 books when I was first signed, but then I couldn’t stop! Thank you for your good wishes. They are much appreciated :)

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  7. Nice to ‘meet’ Susan and the book sounds good!

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    1. Great to ‘meet’ you too, Christine. To me one of the greatest thing about writing books is the contact I have with readers across the globe. It’s something I never take for granted, and appreciate more than I can say

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  8. Really interesting post. Now i find out about Susan :)

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    1. I’m so glad you enjoyed the post, Agata. It’s good to share something beyond the fact that I write romance, because that strengthen the bond I feel with readers across the world. We’re not alone because we share this love for stories that uplift us, and how wonderful that is!

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  9. Oh really interesting book darling
    xx

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    1. Hi there, and thank you for your comments Sakuranko. I love every book i write - and most of those I read! To be transported into another world for an hour or two is my idea of bliss!

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  10. Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your comment. Writing and sharing is what I love to do. Happy reading to you now, and always :)

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  11. You used to be a professional singer? Have you ever written a book where the heroine was a singer? How cool. When people are stuck together, the sparks tend to fly. This sounds like a fun book.

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    1. Thank you for such an interesting question, Mary. Yes. I wrote a ‘twin’ book where the rather straight laced lawyer sister had to cover for her sister, a professional singer - with a sore throat, on this occasion. There just happened to be a prince in the audience, and the rest is history. The Italian Prince’s Proposal, was the 3rd book I wrote for Mills & Boon. Maybe it’s time for another book with a singer as my heroine...

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  12. I love reading. Good books interest me a lot. Kisses.

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    1. How lovely to hear from you, Dias. So glad you share my love of reading. Kisses straight back.

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  13. I don't know this writer so it's good to know more about her xx

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    1. Lovely to hear from you, Carolyna, and thank you for taking the time to comment. It’s always so good to make contact with readers across the world, and thanks to Nas, I have the opportunity to do so xx

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  14. congratulation...
    Thank you for summary...

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  15. That’s my absolute pleasure, Tanza, and thank you for taking the trouble to comment. The best thing about being a writer is being able to reach out to readers across the world :)

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  16. Sounds like a wonderful read and a wonderful life.

    'Lo, Nas.

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    1. I hope you enjoy it if you get the chance to read it Sandra! I love writing my books and put everything I can into them. I completed this one while major renovations were being carried out on my house - so I was wearing headphones for much of it! There’s always a new challenge around the corner, and now I can state with confidence that taking on a decrepit old house has perhaps been my biggest challenge yet. But I love it now,. So rats, gas leaks, live electrical wires and water pouring through the ceiling has all been with it :) (Do I feel a book coming on?) ;)

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  17. thanks 4 sharing interesting book with us! i'll try to find one of them soon ;-)

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  18. Interesting post. Thanks for visiting

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