PCL MS 154 Susan Elizabeth Phillips Papers

Susan Elizabeth Phillips is an American author of historical and contemporary romance novels.  Her papers are comprised of approximately 8 cubic feet of manuscript materials, promotional items, correspondence and fan-created items.

Susan E. Phillips began transferring her manuscripts to the Popular Culture Library, Bowling Green State University, in June 1997.  The collection is open for research, but photocopying or other duplication of manuscripts must comply with applicable copyright laws. Please contact the BPCL reference email with any questions about accessing this collection.

This register was compiled by Debbie Chimahusky under the supervision of Jean Geist, Popular Culture Library Associate II in November 1998 and revised and expanded by Eric Honneffer in February 2008. The papers were rehoused and the finding aid updated by Manuscripts & Outreach Archivist Steve Ammidown in October 2019.

Susan Elizabeth Phillips was born in Cincinnati, Ohio to John Aller Titus and Louesa Coate Titus.  She graduated in 1966 from Ohio University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Theater.  She worked for six years as a high school teacher before deciding to become a writer full time.  She lives in a suburb of Chicago with her husband. They have two grown sons.

Ms. Phillips’ writing career began when a neighbor suggested that the two of them could write a better historical romance than what was being offered to readers in the early 1980’s.  In their spare time, Ms. Phillips and her neighbor, Claire Lefkowitz, wrote The Copeland Bride (1983) under the pseudonym Justine Cole.  By the time this novel was complete, a friend had given them the telephone number of an editor at Dell Publishing.  The editor agreed to read their manuscript and a few weeks later called the authors with an offer.  Soon after their success, Ms. Lefkowitz moved away to pursue a career as an assistant U.S. attorney. In 1984, Phillips wrote her first book under her own name, the historical romance Risen Glory.  Glitter Baby, her first contemporary romance, followed in 1987and was published in several languages. In 1994, Phillips published It Had to Be You, the first in the Chicago Stars series- the book is widely considered the earliest example of a the popular sports romance sub-genre.

Susan Elizabeth Phillips has received many awards for her writing.  The Romance Writers of America Members’ Favorite Book of the Year Award was given to her in 1995 for It Had to Be You and again in 1997 for Nobody’s Baby But Mine.  The latter was also chosen as the 1998 RITA winner for Single Title Contemporary Romance.  She received a RITA in 1999 for Dream a Little Dream and another in 2001 for First Lady.  The Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in Contemporary Romance was bestowed upon her in 1989 for Fancy Pants and again in 1996 for Kiss an Angel .  In 1994 It Had to Be You also received Affaire de Coeur’s Romance of the Year Award, Best Contemporary Romance and Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award, Best Contemporary Romance.  

The Susan Elizabeth Phillips Papers contain manuscript drafts, edited copies and galleys for many of the author's novels, as well as publicity materials pertaining to her career and writings.  Scattered pages of correspondence concerning the editing of manuscripts may assist researchers in better understanding how a manuscript is shaped into a publishable format. 

Fan mail for some of Ms. Phillips’ novels may offer researchers insights into  readers’ likes and dislikes regarding an author’s work and the impact “fans” may have on the future direction of an author’s writing. Phillips has also donated several items given to her by fans including artwork.

Susan Elizabeth Phillips has donated many of her published works to the Browne Popular Culture Library, which are accessible via the University Libraries Catalog.