Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Encyclopedia
Susan Elizabeth Phillips (b. December 11 in Cincinnati, Ohio
) is an award-winning and best-selling American
writer
of romance novels.
(U.S.A.
) to John Aller Titus and Louesa Coate Titus. After receiving a B.F.A.
in theater arts from Ohio University
, Phillips taught drama, speech, and English at a local high school until her first child was born, then became a stay-at-home mother.
In 1976, the family moved from Ohio
to New Jersey
, where Phillips became best friends with her neighbor Claire Lefkowitz. Phillips and Claire often discussed the books they liked to read, and one day decided to write a book together. After several months, they came up with a system for collaborating on a historical romance. Their book, The Copeland Bride, was purchased by the first editor to read it, and was published in 1983 under the pen name Justine Cole.
Phillips found that she really enjoyed writing. Claire and her family moved shortly thereafter, and Phillips had to learn to write a story by herself. She was successful, and her subsequent novels, published under her own name, have reached the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists. She is the only five-time winner of the Romance Writers of America
Favorite Book of the Year Award. In 2001, Phillips was inducted into the Romance Writers Hall of Fame and in 2006 was a recipient of the Romance Writers of America's Lifetime Achievement Award.
Phillips and her husband, Bill, met on a blind date while in college. They have two grown sons, and currently live in Chicago, Illinois.
Booklist's 2007 Editor's Choice, Audio for Adults
Amazon's Top 25 Romances of the Century
Complete List of Awards
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
) is an award-winning and best-selling American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
of romance novels.
Biography
Susan Elizabeth Phillips was born on December 11 in Cincinnati, OhioCincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
(U.S.A.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
) to John Aller Titus and Louesa Coate Titus. After receiving a B.F.A.
Bachelor of Fine Arts
In the United States and Canada, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, usually abbreviated BFA, is the standard undergraduate degree for students seeking a professional education in the visual or performing arts. In some countries such a degree is called a Bachelor of Creative Arts or BCA...
in theater arts from Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
, Phillips taught drama, speech, and English at a local high school until her first child was born, then became a stay-at-home mother.
In 1976, the family moved from Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
to New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, where Phillips became best friends with her neighbor Claire Lefkowitz. Phillips and Claire often discussed the books they liked to read, and one day decided to write a book together. After several months, they came up with a system for collaborating on a historical romance. Their book, The Copeland Bride, was purchased by the first editor to read it, and was published in 1983 under the pen name Justine Cole.
Phillips found that she really enjoyed writing. Claire and her family moved shortly thereafter, and Phillips had to learn to write a story by herself. She was successful, and her subsequent novels, published under her own name, have reached the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists. She is the only five-time winner of the Romance Writers of America
Romance Writers of America
Romance Writers of America is a national non-profit genre writers association. It provides networking and support to individuals seriously pursuing a career in romance fiction and supports top authors such as Nora Roberts and Judith McNaught.-History:...
Favorite Book of the Year Award. In 2001, Phillips was inducted into the Romance Writers Hall of Fame and in 2006 was a recipient of the Romance Writers of America's Lifetime Achievement Award.
Phillips and her husband, Bill, met on a blind date while in college. They have two grown sons, and currently live in Chicago, Illinois.
Awards
- Natural Born Charmer: Outstanding Romance of 2007, American Library Association
- Quill Nominee as Best Romance of 2007
Booklist's 2007 Editor's Choice, Audio for Adults
- It Had to Be YouIt Had to Be You (Susan)It Had to Be You is a contemporary romance novel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.It was awarded the RITA award for "Best romance novel" of 1994....
: 1995 Rita Awards Best Novel winner - Nobody's Baby But MineNobody's Baby But MineNobody's Baby But Mine is a romance novel written by Susan Elizabeth Phillips and published in 1997. It may be categorized as baby love romance. It's a book in the Chicago Stars / Bonner Brothers series.-Plot introduction:...
: 1998 Rita Awards Best Novel winner - Dream a Little Dream: 1999 Rita Awards Best Novel winner
- First Lady: 2001 Rita Awards Best Novel winner
Amazon's Top 25 Romances of the Century
- It Had to Be You: Amazon's Top 25 Romances of the Century
Complete List of Awards
Single novels
- Risen, Glory (1984)
- Hot Shot (1991)
- Honey Moon (1993)
- Kiss an Angel (1996)
- First Lady (2000)
- Just Imagine (2001)
- Breathing Room (2002)
- Ain't She Sweet? (2005)
- What I Did for Love (2009)
Chicago Stars Series
- It Had To Be You (1994)
- Heaven, Texas (1995)
- Nobody's Baby But MineNobody's Baby But MineNobody's Baby But Mine is a romance novel written by Susan Elizabeth Phillips and published in 1997. It may be categorized as baby love romance. It's a book in the Chicago Stars / Bonner Brothers series.-Plot introduction:...
(1997) - Dream a Little Dream (1998)(This is not an official Chicago Stars book, but continues the story of the Bonner family begun in NOBODY’S BABY BUT MINE. It contains Gabe's story as well as Ethan’s)
- This Heart of Mine (2001)
- Match Me if You Can (2005)
- Natural Born Charmer (2007)
- Nobody's Baby But Mine / This Heart of Mine (Omnibus) (2006)
Wynette, Texas Books
- Glitter Baby (original 1987; revised rewrite 2009)
- Fancy Pants (1989)
- Lady Be Good (1999)
- Call Me Irresistible (2011)