What are you currently working?

I'm just finishing the first book in a trilogy. I've gotten to the dark moment and am about to bring everything to a conclusion. I love the hero and heroine; he's a gourmet chef and she runs a bed and breakfast. They both have sustained very deep personal traumas and are healed through their love for each other.

Who do you consider to be an excellent author and why?

Oh boy, there are so many of them. I love Suzanne Brockman because I find her Navy SEALS to be realistic, complex, and heroic. I adore Gaelen Foley's Regency romances because she writes with such depth and historical accuracy. Mariah Stewart scares the heck out of me. She writes suspense.

What, to you, makes the best publisher?

For one, I think editorial depth is critical. To work with an editor who is really good is such a joy. I like the editorial process, I like working to make what I've done even better. The next critical factor is publishing support.

What does your working space look like?

I have a desk with my computer on it and two different chairs so I can beat fanny fatigue if it sets in. The computer I do my writing on does not have internet access. It's important for me to keep focused.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I'm pretty hyper-active so I love to exercise. Whether it is going to the gym, taking a walk with a friend, or going for a bike ride, I'm always happy if I'm moving. If I'm sitting down, I have to be doing something- so I took up needlepoint and I'm an addict. And I really want to get a dog, does that count? Oh, and this is ridiculous, but I love to do laundry. I like to take a mess of dirty clothes, wash them, and fold them into neat little piles. Sick, I know.

Tell your fans something personal about you. Something they would want to know.

I'm a total motor-head. I love cars. Old ones, new ones. I like to go to car shows and drool all over the Sting Rays and the Jags. My dream car (one of them) is an 1934 Lagonda T9 touring convertible. Yummy. But considering what they cost, I'll keep dreaming!

What is your favorite type of genre to write?

Romance! I love to write about people and the conflicts they must resolve before they can bring their lives together. I like tough alpha males whether they're businessmen or cops or military personnel and my favorite heroines are always the mouthy, super-smart kind.

To read?

Romance! I love a good love story. And as a romance writer, I've found it really helpful to read other authors in the genre. If I get scared, or I laugh, or I cry, there's a lesson in the writing for me to learn.

Do you owe your success to anyone?

My mother! I started reading romances in my teens and for years she dragged around boxes and boxes of books. She's always been so supportive of me. My husband is another person. He was the one who encouraged me to try and get an agent. Also, I have been very lucky to meet a number of other writers who have bent over backwards to offer me advice, support, and encouragement. In good times and bad times, your true friends are there.

Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?

Well, I feel as though I've always been a writer. I started writing short stories when I was little. It wasn't until I was an adult that I thought about trying to be a published author. I think anyone who sets a story to the page is a writer and a lot of us are just born this way.

What was the first story you ever wrote and what kind of reviews did you receive?

First story was done in hand on a piece of yellow lined paper. My mother loved it. But then, she was probably biased. Still is, in all likelihood. Which is why I adore her. Well, that and she makes a really good leg of lamb.

Can you please tell us either about the book you are writing now or the last one published?

My most recent book, AN IRRESISTABLE BACHELOR, is about an art conservationist who is employed by a wealthy businessman to work on a portrait of his ancestor. There is a historical mystery to be solved in addition to the love story. I had a wonderful time writing this book, and by the end, I was totally infatuated with the hero- who naturally is a total alpha male who needs a good woman to stand up to him.

What is a typical day like for you?

I wake up, start the coffee, fire up my computer, and write for three hours. Then I work out, come back, write for a little longer, and then spend the afternoon working on projects. If I'm under deadline, though, all bets are off. I'll work twelve, thirteen hours. Though I take a break for exercise. It keeps my head clear.

What is the best advice you can give to new authors?

Write, write, write. I know that isn't very original, but you have to keep refining your craft. Talk to other writers, share your work with people you trust, read, and become inspired by life.

Is there anything else you would like to tell your fans?

Just thank you for all your support and your emails!!!

Interviewed By:
Ruby