Susan’s love affair with books began when she was in the sixth grade and made a bad grade on her report card in math. (She still doesn’t like math.) Not allowed to watch TV for the next six weeks until she brought the grade up, she filled her extra time with books.

After her first child was born she gave some thought to writing. But it fell by the wayside after her daughter was born, got pushed even further away when her second son appeared and became out of the question by the time Nick, her final son and fourth baby in five years arrived.