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:

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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.

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