Susan: (From her website) I started to write completely by accident. I taught high school until our oldest son was born, then quit to stay home. In 1976, my husband's job took us from Ohio to central New Jersey. My best friend Claire lived two doors down the street. Both of us were big readers, reading everything from literary fiction to the newly popular historical romance novels. We loved talking about the books - what we liked, what we didn't. One day, just for fun, we decided to try to write a book together. For three weeks as we rode our bikes in the evening, with my toddler in the baby seat behind me, we plotted our story. Then we sat down with a yellow pad and began to write. Four hours later we'd come up with exactly three sentences. We had no idea how to write a book together, but we were getting a good idea how not to do it. Over the course of the new few months, we worked out a system. We'd get together to plot a scene, frequently role-playing dialogue. Claire would take copious notes, carry them to her typewriter, and come up with a rough draft, which she'd give to me. Sometimes I'd just change a sentence here or there. Other times, I'd throw out all of her hard work and start over again. Somehow our friendship survived.

Idiot's luck. With only half the manuscript completed, we got the phone number of an editor at Dell Publishing. Sweating bullets, we called her. She was a very nice woman, asked us some questions about our book, and then agreed to see it, even though it wasn't finished. Unfortunately, she also wanted to see a synopsis. Synopsis? We barely knew what was going to happen in the next chapter, let alone the end of the book. Knees trembling, we ran to the typewriter and came up with something, then spent the next few weeks typing a fresh copy of our manuscript to mail off. Three weeks later the telephone rang. It was the editor. "I'm calling from Dell Publishing. We've read your manuscript. We like it. And Dell is prepared to make you an offer."

Joey: Your Chicago Stars books (about an NFL football team) seem consistently to make it onto top 20 favorites lists by many of RBL's readers. How did you come up with the concept for these books? And once the concept was born, what type of work went into making such a realistic environment for these storylines?

Susan: I just starting thinking about what would happen if a woman who knew nothing about football inherited an professional football team. That was all there was to it. Who knew it would take off the way it did? I certainly had no master plan. In terms of research, I spend a day at Halas Hall, the old headquarters of the Chicago Bears, and had various people around the country I could go to with questions.

Joey: Again, the Chicago Stars series is one example of the follow-on books you've written to previous novels. You also did this with one of my favorite books, LADY BE GOOD (the follow-on to FANCY PANTS), as well as others. When you write a novel, do you plan series ahead of time? How do you decide which characters are strong enough to deserve their own book?

Susan: I wish! I plan nothing. It's all accidental. A character starts speaking to me and I want to know more. In the case of LADY BE GOOD, I just wanted to see how Dallie and Francesca were doing, and I definitely wanted to see Teddy again.

Joey: In THIS HEART OF MINE, your 2000 hardcover debut, you had a strong secondary romance in the story between Lily and Liam. These sub-plot romances exist in many of your books. Any thoughts on why this is a preferred tactic for you? And again, do you plan those out ahead of time? If not, how do you decide certain characters need their own story told?

Susan: If one love story is good, two are better. That's my philosophy and I'm sticking to it. I really enjoy doing older characters, so I'm always looking for that opportunity.

Joey: You recently had the opportunity to re-write one of your novels, released as JUST IMAGINE. What made you decide to re-write this novel? Are there other novels you'd like to see re-written? Also, what criteria do you have for actually wanting to publish those re-writes?

Susan: I rewrote RISEN GLORY because it simply wasn't good enough in its original version for either me or my readers. It was so much fun. I will do it sometime in the future with GLITTER BABY, although that one doesn't need quite as much work.

Joey: I love your books because each one is so different in tone and character. One thing that really stands out is the difference between some of your humor-driven novels, versus the drama-driven novels, such as FIRST LADY. However, I should point out that the drama-driven books still often contain bits of laugh-out-loud humor. What drives those differences, in your opinion?

Susan: The story. I don't even think about whether a book is going to be funny or not. I just get to know the characters and tell the story. Some characters are simply funnier than others.

Joey: So many of your books literally do make me laugh out loud. I've had my dog, my parents, my boyfriend all give me strange looks when I start giggling at a scene. There's one in particular in LADY BE GOOD, where Emma kisses Torie, that really stands out. How on earth do you write that humor? Are you able to plan it out or does it just come to you as you write?

Susan: Once again with the planning questions... (!) Are you getting the idea that I plan nothing? Things just pop into my head. It's the oddest thing. I've stopped trying to analyze it and just accepted it as a blessed gift from God.

Joey: Do you have the chance to read in your spare time? (Hah! An author with spare time - I think that's an urban legend.) What type of books/authors do you read? Are there any who were an inspiration to you?

Susan: I love to read. I'm currently reading a lot of women's fiction and enjoying it very much. All the Harry Potter books, too. I love some literary fiction as long as it's not dreary and self-indulgent. (Also, no "dead baby" books, and you know the ones I mean.)

Joey: You are a three-time RITA winner and were inducted into the RWA Hall of Fame. I also heard you plan not to enter the RITAs any longer. Can you tell us about how that feels? We'd love to bask in your glory!

Susan: It felt wonderful! I didn't expect to turn into such a sniveling wimp when I accepted the award, though, but I do treasure my RWA affiliation. It's a great organization.

Joey: Many of your books have secondary characters that readers are dying to know more about. Any plans for follow-on books to any of your current novels?

Susan: No plans now, but I never say never.

Joey: What are you working on now? When can we expect the next awesome SEP?

Susan: Not talkin', not talkin', not talkin'. I'll probably be announcing it on my website around the beginning of December or so. It's scheduled for August 2002.

Joey: We have a lot of aspiring authors on the RBL board. Is there any advice you can offer? Also, can you tell us a little about your writing schedule, editing and revision process, and novel development? For example, do you work from an outline? Do you derive a book based on a character or based on an idea for a plot?

Susan: Check out "Tips" at my website. My process is messy. I come up with an idea, type Chapter One, and start writing. I have no outline at all and, generally, not a story when I start. I don't recommend writing like this!

Joey: Thanks again for agreeing to this interview! I know I, myself, am very excited to read all off your responses. Is there anything you'd like to add or say to the women of RBL Romantica?

Susan: Read. Be kind. Eat your vegetables. Hug somebody.