Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Susan Elizabeth Phillips has been writing romance since the 1980s with an unique mix of humor and emotion. In 2001, she was inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. In 2006, Susan Elizabeth Phillips was honored by the Romance Writers of America who presented her with the Lifetime Achievement Award, which celebrates an author's entire body of work. She also contributed to Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women: Romance Writers on the Appeal of the Romance.
Phillips taught high school until her first child was born. She wrote her first book in collaboration with a neighbor as they road their bikes for exercise. This was published as The Copeland Bride in 1983 under the name Justine Cole.
One of her most beloved series is the "Chicago Stars" books beginning with It Had To Be You introducing Phoebe Calebow who inherits a football team. Bucking the trend in romances, Philips has successfully written about athletes - football players, golfers - and their world since 1994.
Contents
On the Web
Books
- Ain't She Sweet - 2004
- Breathing Room - 2002
- Call Me Irresistible - 2011
- Dance Away With Me - 2020
- Dream A Little Dream - 1998
- Fancy Pants - 1989
- First Lady - 2000
- First Star I See Tonight - 2016
- Glitter Baby - 1987
- Great Escape, The - 2012
- Heaven, Texas - 1995
- Heroes Are My Weakness - 2014
- Honey Moon - 1993
- Hot Shot - 1991
- It Had To Be You - 1994
- Just Imagine - 2001
- Kiss An Angel - 1996
- Lady Be Good - 1999
- Match Me If You Can - 2005
- Natural Born Charmer - 2007
- Nobody's Baby But Mine - 1997
- Risen Glory - 1984
- This Heart Of Mine - 2001
- What I Did For Love - 2009
- When Stars Collide - 2021
Series/Related Titles
Chicago Stars
- It Had To Be You
- Heaven, Texas
- Nobody's Baby But Mine
- Dream A Little Dream
- This Heart Of Mine
- Match Me If You Can
- Natural Born Charmer
- First Star I See Tonight
- When Stars Collide
Wynette, Texas
- Glitter Baby
- Fancy Pants
- Lady Be Good
- First Lady
- What I Did For Love
- Call Me Irresistible
- The Great Escape
Awards
- 2011 All About Romance Reader Award Winner - Funniest Romance, Call Me Irresistible
- 2016 RT Reviewers Choice Award Winner - Contemporary Love & Laughter, First Star I See Tonight
- 2008 Audies Winner - Romance, Natural Born Charmer
- 2007 All About Romance Reader Award Winner - Favorite Funny, Natural Born Charmer
- 2007 All About Romance Reader Award Winner - Best Contemporary Romance, Natural Born Charmer
- 2005 All About Romance Reader Award Winner - Best Contemporary Romance, Match Me If You Can
- 2005 All About Romance Reader Award Winner - Best Funny, Match Me If You Can
- 2003 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best All-Time Contemporary Romance, It Had To Be You
- 2002 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best All-Time Contemporary Romance, It Had To Be You
- 2001 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best All-Time Contemporary Romance, It Had To Be You
- 2001 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best Contemporary Single Title Romance, This Heart Of Mine
- 2001 RITA Award Winner - Contemporary Single Title Romance, First Lady
- 2000 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best All-time Contemporary Romance, It Had To Be You
- 1999 All About Romance Reader Award Winner - Best Contemporary Romance, Lady Be Good
- 1999 All About Romance Reader Award Winner - Best Funny, Lady Be Good
- 1999 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best Contemporary Single Title Romance, Lady Be Good
- 1999 RITA Award Winner - Contemporary Single Title Romance, Dream A Little Dream
- 1998 All About Romance Reader Award Winner - Best Contemporary Romance, Dream A Little Dream
- 1998 All About Romance Reader Award Winner - Most-Hanky Read, Dream A Little Dream
- 1998 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best All-Around Romance, Dream A Little Dream
- 1998 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best Contemporary Single Title Romance, Dream A Little Dream
- 1998 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best Love And Laughter Romance, Dream A Little Dream
- 1998 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best All-Time Contemporary Romance, It Had To Be You
- 1998 RITA Award Winner - Contemporary Single Title Romance, Nobody's Baby But Mine
- 1997 All About Romance Reader Award Winner - Best Contemporary Romance, Nobody's Baby But Mine
- 1997 All About Romance Reader Award Winner - Best Funny, Nobody's Baby But Mine
- 1997 All About Romance Reader Award Winner - Best Romance, Nobody's Baby But Mine
- 1997 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best All-Time Contemporary Romance, It Had To Be You
- 1997 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best Contemporary Single Title Romance, Nobody's Baby But Mine
- 1997 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best Love And Laughter Romance, Nobody's Baby But Mine
- 1996 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best All-Time Contemporary Romance, It Had To Be You
- 1996 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best All-Around Romance, Kiss An Angel
- 1996 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best Contemporary Single Title Romance, Kiss An Angel
- 1995 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best Contemporary Single Title Romance, Heaven, Texas
- 1994 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best All-Around Romance, It Had To Be You
- 1994 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best Contemporary Single Title Romance, It Had To Be You
- 1994 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Winner - Best Love And Laughter Romance, It Had To Be You
- 1991 RT Reviewers Choice Award Winner - Contemporary Novel, Hot Shot
Recognitions
- 2021 Amazon Editors' Picks - Romance, When Stars Collide
- 2021 Booklist Starred Review, When Stars Collide
- 2021 Publishers Weekly Starred Review, When Stars Collide
- 2020 Booklist Starred Review, Dance Away With Me
- 2020 LibraryReads Hall of Fame, Dance Away With Me
- 2020 LibraryReads Starred Review, Dance Away With Me
- 2020 Publisher Weekly Starred Review, Dance Away With Me
- 2018 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances, Ain't She Sweet?
- 2018 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances, Dream A Little Dream
- 2018 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances, It Had To Be You
- 2018 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances, Match Me If You Can
- 2018 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances, Heaven, Texas
- 2018 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances, Natural Born Charmer
- 2018 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances, Nobody's Baby But Mine
- 2016 Booklist Starred Review, First Star I See Tonight
- 2016 Kirkus Reviews Starred Review, First Star I See Tonight
- 2016 Library Journal Starred Review, First Star I See Tonight
- 2016 LibraryReads Starred Review, First Star I See Tonight
- 2016 Publishers Weekly Starred Review, First Star I See Tonight
- 2016 RT Book Reviews Top Pick, First Star I See Tonight
- 2014 Booklist Starred Review, Heroes Are My Weakness
- 2014 Kirkus Reviews Starred Review, Heroes Are My Weakness
- 2014 Library Journal Starred Review, Heroes Are My Weakness
- 2014 LibraryReads Starred Review, Heroes Are My Weakness
- 2014 Publishers Weekly Starred Review, Heroes Are My Weakness
- 2014 RT Book Reviews Top Pick, Heroes Are My Weakness
- 2013 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#79), Dream A Little Dream
- 2013 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#49), Heaven, Texas
- 2013 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#19), It Had To Be You
- 2013 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#40), Kiss An Angel
- 2013 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#21), Match Me If You Can
- 2013 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#97), Natural Born Charmer
- 2013 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#18), Nobody's Baby But Mine
- 2013 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#52), This Heart Of Mine
- 2012 RT Book Reviews Top Pick, The Great Escape
- 2010 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#87), Ain't She Sweet?
- 2010 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#53), Dream A Little Dream
- 2010 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#22), Heaven, Texas
- 2010 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#15), It Had To Be You
- 2010 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#43), Kiss An Angel
- 2010 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#42), Match Me If You Can
- 2010 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#73), Natural Born Charmer
- 2010 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#28), Nobody's Baby But Mine
- 2010 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#40), This Heart Of Mine
- 2010 Audies Finalist - Romance, What I Did For Love
- 2007 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#97), Ain't She Sweet?
- 2007 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#76), Dream A Little Dream
- 2007 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#33), Heaven, Texas
- 2007 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#14), It Had To Be You
- 2007 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#59), Kiss An Angel
- 2007 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#36), Match Me If You Can
- 2007 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#21), Nobody's Baby But Mine
- 2007 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#46), This Heart Of Mine
- 2007 Library Journal Starred Review, Natural Born Charmer
- 2004 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#52), Dream A Little Dream
- 2004 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (59), Heaven, Texas
- 2004 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#11), It Had To Be You
- 2004 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#58), Kiss An Angel
- 2004 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#36), Nobody's Baby But Mine
- 2004 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#100), This Heart Of Mine
- 2000 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#47), Dream A Little Dream
- 2000 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#8), Heaven, Texas
- 2000 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#7), It Had To Be You
- 2000 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#21), Kiss An Angel
- 2000 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#26), Lady Be Good
- 2000 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#12), Nobody's Baby But Mine
- 2000 RITA Award Finalist - Contemporary Single Title Romance, Lady Be Good
- 1998 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#12), Dream A Little Dream
- 1998 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#5), Heaven, Texas
- 1998 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#10), It Had To Be You
- 1998 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#56), Kiss An Angel
- 1998 All About Romance Reader Award Top 100 Romances (#3), Nobody's Baby But Mine
- 1996 RITA Award Finalist - Contemporary Single Title Romance, Heaven, Texas
- 1985 RITA Award Finalist - Historical Romance, Risen Glory
Awards (body of work)
- 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award - Romance Writers of America
- 2001 Romance Writers of America Hall Of Fame
- 1996 RT Career Achievement Award Winner - Contemporary Romance
- 1996 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Nominee - Best All-Time Romance Author
- 1994 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Nominee - Best Contemporary Author
- 1994 Romance Readers Anonymous Award Nominee - Best All-Around Romance Author
- 1988-1989 RT Career Achievement Award Winner - Contemporary Romance