Susanna here.
I know our Christmastide posts are officially ended, but I always have a hard time letting go of the holidays, so I hope you’ll indulge me for one more short post on the unexpected treasures that we sometimes get as gifts.
Here’s one of mine.
1993 was a turning-point year for me, in many ways. In January of that year, I’d finally received “The Call” from an editor who wanted to publish my first novel, Undertow—the same short novel my sister had dared me to finish writing a couple of years earlier, and that I’d been trying to sell ever since.
In April, I’d finished writing a much longer, better book—Mariana—which I’d sent off to Britain as an entry in Transworld Publishing’s Catherine Cookson Fiction Prize competition for unpublished manuscripts.
Over the summer I’d written a second shorter book—The Gemini Game—for the first publisher, and put the advance money towards a research trip to France that September, so I could start a fourth novel, The Splendour Falls, cheered on by the news that Mariana had been shortlisted for the Cookson Prize.
And three days before Christmas, I learned Mariana had won.
The Cookson Prize—£10,000 for the prize itself, plus a publishing contract with Transworld that came with a modest advance and a world of connections, including the one to my agents at Curtis Brown UK who’ve been at my side ever since—was a wonderful Christmas gift.
But so was this little plate, from my sister. 
When I opened it, my first thought was that it looked like something Joan Wilder might have sitting on the mantelpiece in her apartment in Romancing the Stone. Which isn’t a bad thing—that’s one of my most favourite movies, and I’ve always wanted Joan Wilder’s apartment.
But I was a little bit baffled at first, till my sister explained to me, “That’s how I see Richard and Mariana.” The main characters from my novel—the novel she’d been reading page by page while I was writing it, encouraging me every step along the way.
And suddenly this plate became more special—a symbol of my sister’s love for what I do, and of her faith in me.
I lost her, fourteen years ago, to cancer.
Mariana was her favourite novel, always, till the end.
This plate still sits beside me, on my writing desk, and every day I look at it, at Richard and Mariana on the horse Navarre, the way my sister saw them, and it helps to ground me and remind me that these characters I’m writing now will, one day, live for other readers, too.
It was the greatest gift.
What are some of the treasures you’ve been given, unexpectedly?
What a wonderful story, Susanna! A special gift on so many levels. I’m trying to think of a special unexpected gift I’ve received, but can’t think of anything in the league of yours! I’ll probably think of something in the middle of the night. *G*
What a wonderful story, Susanna! A special gift on so many levels. I’m trying to think of a special unexpected gift I’ve received, but can’t think of anything in the league of yours! I’ll probably think of something in the middle of the night. *G*
What a wonderful story, Susanna! A special gift on so many levels. I’m trying to think of a special unexpected gift I’ve received, but can’t think of anything in the league of yours! I’ll probably think of something in the middle of the night. *G*
What a wonderful story, Susanna! A special gift on so many levels. I’m trying to think of a special unexpected gift I’ve received, but can’t think of anything in the league of yours! I’ll probably think of something in the middle of the night. *G*
What a wonderful story, Susanna! A special gift on so many levels. I’m trying to think of a special unexpected gift I’ve received, but can’t think of anything in the league of yours! I’ll probably think of something in the middle of the night. *G*
I am in the same position as Mary Jo: I cannot think of any gift I have received as great as the one your sister gave you.
I am in the same position as Mary Jo: I cannot think of any gift I have received as great as the one your sister gave you.
I am in the same position as Mary Jo: I cannot think of any gift I have received as great as the one your sister gave you.
I am in the same position as Mary Jo: I cannot think of any gift I have received as great as the one your sister gave you.
I am in the same position as Mary Jo: I cannot think of any gift I have received as great as the one your sister gave you.
Lovely memory from your sister who encouraged you to write and get it published. I have not read that story and will add it to my list for this new year.
Thinking of your question – I had a very good friend who did so much to bring me out of my shyness and encouraged me to speak up more. She brought out my good qualities and showed me how much she appreciated who I had hidden away. She started out as a co-worker but became my best friend. She was a vivacious, funny and wonderful treasure of a friend. She also passed away 14 years ago while back home in Northern Ireland.
Lovely memory from your sister who encouraged you to write and get it published. I have not read that story and will add it to my list for this new year.
Thinking of your question – I had a very good friend who did so much to bring me out of my shyness and encouraged me to speak up more. She brought out my good qualities and showed me how much she appreciated who I had hidden away. She started out as a co-worker but became my best friend. She was a vivacious, funny and wonderful treasure of a friend. She also passed away 14 years ago while back home in Northern Ireland.
Lovely memory from your sister who encouraged you to write and get it published. I have not read that story and will add it to my list for this new year.
Thinking of your question – I had a very good friend who did so much to bring me out of my shyness and encouraged me to speak up more. She brought out my good qualities and showed me how much she appreciated who I had hidden away. She started out as a co-worker but became my best friend. She was a vivacious, funny and wonderful treasure of a friend. She also passed away 14 years ago while back home in Northern Ireland.
Lovely memory from your sister who encouraged you to write and get it published. I have not read that story and will add it to my list for this new year.
Thinking of your question – I had a very good friend who did so much to bring me out of my shyness and encouraged me to speak up more. She brought out my good qualities and showed me how much she appreciated who I had hidden away. She started out as a co-worker but became my best friend. She was a vivacious, funny and wonderful treasure of a friend. She also passed away 14 years ago while back home in Northern Ireland.
Lovely memory from your sister who encouraged you to write and get it published. I have not read that story and will add it to my list for this new year.
Thinking of your question – I had a very good friend who did so much to bring me out of my shyness and encouraged me to speak up more. She brought out my good qualities and showed me how much she appreciated who I had hidden away. She started out as a co-worker but became my best friend. She was a vivacious, funny and wonderful treasure of a friend. She also passed away 14 years ago while back home in Northern Ireland.
Susanna,you have shared a most beautiful memory with us and I thank you. I believe the story of your dedication and the wonderful way you got your first book published is very inspiring. I am sure your sister was so very proud of you and what you accomplished.
I am sorry for your loss. Right now, my sister is dealing with cancer so I do understand what a terrible enemy it is.
Susanna,you have shared a most beautiful memory with us and I thank you. I believe the story of your dedication and the wonderful way you got your first book published is very inspiring. I am sure your sister was so very proud of you and what you accomplished.
I am sorry for your loss. Right now, my sister is dealing with cancer so I do understand what a terrible enemy it is.
Susanna,you have shared a most beautiful memory with us and I thank you. I believe the story of your dedication and the wonderful way you got your first book published is very inspiring. I am sure your sister was so very proud of you and what you accomplished.
I am sorry for your loss. Right now, my sister is dealing with cancer so I do understand what a terrible enemy it is.
Susanna,you have shared a most beautiful memory with us and I thank you. I believe the story of your dedication and the wonderful way you got your first book published is very inspiring. I am sure your sister was so very proud of you and what you accomplished.
I am sorry for your loss. Right now, my sister is dealing with cancer so I do understand what a terrible enemy it is.
Susanna,you have shared a most beautiful memory with us and I thank you. I believe the story of your dedication and the wonderful way you got your first book published is very inspiring. I am sure your sister was so very proud of you and what you accomplished.
I am sorry for your loss. Right now, my sister is dealing with cancer so I do understand what a terrible enemy it is.
A lovely post Susanna. I’m so very sorry for your loss and that is a wonderful gift she gave you. She’s surely still beside you everyday. I too loved Mariana. I read Sophia’s Secret first and was thrilled to discover you had more books for me to read. I’ve been a fan ever since.
I hope the New Year is a good one for you.
A lovely post Susanna. I’m so very sorry for your loss and that is a wonderful gift she gave you. She’s surely still beside you everyday. I too loved Mariana. I read Sophia’s Secret first and was thrilled to discover you had more books for me to read. I’ve been a fan ever since.
I hope the New Year is a good one for you.
A lovely post Susanna. I’m so very sorry for your loss and that is a wonderful gift she gave you. She’s surely still beside you everyday. I too loved Mariana. I read Sophia’s Secret first and was thrilled to discover you had more books for me to read. I’ve been a fan ever since.
I hope the New Year is a good one for you.
A lovely post Susanna. I’m so very sorry for your loss and that is a wonderful gift she gave you. She’s surely still beside you everyday. I too loved Mariana. I read Sophia’s Secret first and was thrilled to discover you had more books for me to read. I’ve been a fan ever since.
I hope the New Year is a good one for you.
A lovely post Susanna. I’m so very sorry for your loss and that is a wonderful gift she gave you. She’s surely still beside you everyday. I too loved Mariana. I read Sophia’s Secret first and was thrilled to discover you had more books for me to read. I’ve been a fan ever since.
I hope the New Year is a good one for you.
What a lovely memory of your sister and her gift, Susanna; thank you for sharing.
My sister gave me a lovely gift about five years ago. She took our mother and me from the US to England to visit my mother’s sister and to the Netherlands (my mother’s birthplace) to visit family and also to do some touristy things. The three of us had a wonderful time, and I visited family I hadn’t seen in decades or had never met. Both my mother and aunt have since died, so it’s not an experience that can be repeated.
What a lovely memory of your sister and her gift, Susanna; thank you for sharing.
My sister gave me a lovely gift about five years ago. She took our mother and me from the US to England to visit my mother’s sister and to the Netherlands (my mother’s birthplace) to visit family and also to do some touristy things. The three of us had a wonderful time, and I visited family I hadn’t seen in decades or had never met. Both my mother and aunt have since died, so it’s not an experience that can be repeated.
What a lovely memory of your sister and her gift, Susanna; thank you for sharing.
My sister gave me a lovely gift about five years ago. She took our mother and me from the US to England to visit my mother’s sister and to the Netherlands (my mother’s birthplace) to visit family and also to do some touristy things. The three of us had a wonderful time, and I visited family I hadn’t seen in decades or had never met. Both my mother and aunt have since died, so it’s not an experience that can be repeated.
What a lovely memory of your sister and her gift, Susanna; thank you for sharing.
My sister gave me a lovely gift about five years ago. She took our mother and me from the US to England to visit my mother’s sister and to the Netherlands (my mother’s birthplace) to visit family and also to do some touristy things. The three of us had a wonderful time, and I visited family I hadn’t seen in decades or had never met. Both my mother and aunt have since died, so it’s not an experience that can be repeated.
What a lovely memory of your sister and her gift, Susanna; thank you for sharing.
My sister gave me a lovely gift about five years ago. She took our mother and me from the US to England to visit my mother’s sister and to the Netherlands (my mother’s birthplace) to visit family and also to do some touristy things. The three of us had a wonderful time, and I visited family I hadn’t seen in decades or had never met. Both my mother and aunt have since died, so it’s not an experience that can be repeated.
That’s a lovely story, thank you.
That’s a lovely story, thank you.
That’s a lovely story, thank you.
That’s a lovely story, thank you.
That’s a lovely story, thank you.
That is so touching, it made me cry. I so very grateful that she encouraged (pushed) you with your writing.
That is so touching, it made me cry. I so very grateful that she encouraged (pushed) you with your writing.
That is so touching, it made me cry. I so very grateful that she encouraged (pushed) you with your writing.
That is so touching, it made me cry. I so very grateful that she encouraged (pushed) you with your writing.
That is so touching, it made me cry. I so very grateful that she encouraged (pushed) you with your writing.