After twenty years of working in a special school with children with severe emotional problems, school psychologist, Susan Peterson, decided that she desperately needed a few more humorous and happy-ever-after moments in her life. So she took the leap and started writing romance novels. There was plenty of early disappointments when Susan learned that the publishing world wasn't anxiously awaiting her literary contribution, but her big moment came when she won first place in the Harlequin Duet's Writer's Contest in the fall of 1999. Her excitement about winning quickly increased when she learned that Harlequin was interested in publishing her first romantic comedy, EVERYTHING BUT ANCHOVIES. Susan lives with her son, Kevin, their nut ball dog, Ozzie and the supreme princess, Phoenix the cat, in the Champlain Valley in upper New York State. Although Susan loves the beauty of the Adirondack Mountains in spring, summer and fall, she isn't yet convinced that shovelling several feet of snow every winter is worth the effort. Unfortunately, her efforts to relocate her family to the balmy warmth of the Southeast isn't being met with much co-operation from Kevin, Ozzie and Phoenix. For some reason, the three of them aren't very keen about leaving the frozen north!