I’ve always been a sucker for a happy ending. Even as a child, whether it was Laura Ingalls and Almanzo Wilder or Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe, I preferred books and films with a happy ending. And, if a story I loved didn’t come to the joyous conclusion I wanted, I’d imagine a new ending of my own. I was always a voracious reader too, so discovering romance novels was perfect.

It’s probably no surprise that I had a dream of writing my own romances one day. Busy with my career as a senior Marketing manager for a major multinational company that makes household products, then as a primary school teacher, it was something I imagined in the future, perhaps when I’d retired. In the meantime, I dabbled away, penning scenes and scenarios, plotting stories and listening to the characters who inhabited my head. (yes, I hear voices!)

Who’d have known that my husband’s posting to the US would open the door for me to write? With a lengthy and torturous immigration process, and no work permit, I had a lot of time on my hands when we moved to New Jersey. Thanks to an online romance writing course on Barnes & Noble’s website I was introduced to eharlequin.com and RWA. I’ve never looked back!

I write heart-warming contemporary romances and heart-pounding romantic suspense, primarily for category romance. A three-time Golden Heart finalist, my work has won or finalled in a number of prestigious writing contests. I’m edging ever closer to that magical sale - fingers crossed that this will be the year!

When I’m not writing, I enjoy watching/going to hockey and football games, collecting autographs, movie and TV memorabilia, and penguins. I love travelling too, and enjoy finding ways to combine writers’ conferences with new places to visit. To keep fit, I prefer fitness boxing, aerobics, doing free weights on a Bosu ball and running.

I’m lucky enough to have had a happy ending - or rather a happy beginning as the story continues - in my own life. I’m married to a wonderful man, my very own romantic hero, who supports me in everything I do and who makes me believe dreams can come true. We share our home, in a village near Cambridge, England, with two spoiled cats. To find out more - check out my website.

• Michelle Butler
• Mary Curry
• Sally Kilpatrick
• Trish Milburn
• Anna Sugden
• Tawny Weber

• Rachel Graves
• Keri Mikulski

     

• My contemporary manuscript ‘Legacy of Love’ is a finalist in RWA's Golden Heart contest.
• I have an agent! I signed with the fabulous Jill Marsal at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency!
• I recently completed three 5k runs for charity.
• I’ve had tea with the Queen Mother at St James’ Palace.
• The only podcast on my iPod is The Puck Podcast - a fab hockey podcast! Doug and Eddie rock!

Something New – Yoga

Posted by Anna Sugden Jan 27 2012, 1:07 am

Regular visitors to this blog know that I’ve been struggling with back problems for the past eighteen months or so. The explanation for what’s wrong is sciatica or problems with L5, but in general what happens is lower back pain and numbness down the back of my left leg to my knee with exercise (running, walking etc).

This has curtailed what was a good running program of 5k, three times a week. I tried walking, but even that caused problems. I also tried working out on the elliptical and pilates, but nothing really worked. I’ve had physio and visited an osteopath, with no easing of the problem.

A number of people had recommended yoga. Partly because it’s a good way to get your body aligned better and partly because it’s a good form of stretching exercise which might help with the problems I was having.

Now, I’ll admit yoga has never been something that appealed. For a start, I’m more active – running, aerobics, dance, boxing – that’s more my scene. Yoga was too sedentary and slow. I’m also not one for meditation or anything like that – too active a brain and probably a little ADD.

But, just before Christmas a friend said she wanted to go to yoga and that it might help me. Now, going to these things with a friend always helps – when one of you isn’t in the mood, the other will egg you on to go. It’s much easier to bow out without someone else.

So … we signed up for a beginner yoga class and off we went.

I was pleasantly surprised. I will say that I think a large part of my positive feelings about yoga have come from the class instructor, who is a very normal woman with a lovely voice, who doesn’t look or act like an over-zealous kook! She makes the yoga experience seem very down to earth and like a normal exercise discipline.

It’s actually quite hard work! The positions, the discipline, the stretches, the concentration. Even though it’s not as active as boxing, it taxes the body and brain in a very similar way!

Even after one session, I was pleasantly surprised at how much quieter my brain was and how much better my body felt overall. I felt more in tune with my body, was more aware of the joints, the bones and muscles.I even ached, in a good way! I’m more conscious of the little movements to make sure I’m sitting properly, stretching properly, better aligned.

Yoga is not something that’s going to help me lose weight or make me fitter, as such. But I can see how it will help my body to be better and be more flexible. I can see how it will get me back into a sort of shape so that I can return to running and exercising. I can see how it can help me to quiet my brain so that I can work better and more efficiently. It’s also a great stress-reducer.

A month into my yoga experiment, I’m ready to sign up for more lessons and have bought a DVD to see if I can do more of it at home – once a week isn’t enough – I think I’d benefit from more sessions.

Have you tried yoga? What did you think? Do you have the same pre-conceived notions about yoga? Can you see yourself benefiting from a quieter brain and a more aligned body?

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Refill That Creative Well!

Posted by Anna Sugden Dec 23 2011, 1:00 am

After a busy year, the holiday season is perfect for refilling that creative well. When else can you relax, read books, watch movies (hey it’s all research!) and pamper yourself without guilt? It’s also the perfect time to take long, relaxing walks, soak in a bubble bath or gift yourself some other form of ‘me’ [...]

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It’s Not Just Pampering!

Posted by Anna Sugden Nov 25 2011, 4:45 am

I must admit, I love spa treatments! If we’re ever staying somewhere with a spa, I can’t resist having at least one treatment. Last week, my sister and I had a day at the local spa, which we’d bought each other as birthday presents. It was wonderful! It also got me thinking. Especially, when I [...]

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Stepping It Up!

Posted by Anna Sugden Oct 28 2011, 1:28 am in Anna Sugden, pedometer, step counts, walking

Regular visitors will know that I’ve been struggling with exercise over the past year due to problems with my back. It’s been frustrating to go from being able to run 5k three times a week, to nothing because of pain and/or numbness in my back and left leg. The other problem I’d had, which I [...]

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Finding the Time to be a Healthy Writer – Part Two

Posted by Anna Sugden Sep 23 2011, 1:05 am in 10 minutes, Anna Sugden, time

We talked on Tuesday about the issue writers face about finding the time to work on the ‘healthy’ part of that healthy writer equation. We discussed ways to snatch time to exercise by finding 10 minute slots. Also about how it can be easier to make those short sessions into your daily routine and guarantee [...]

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