I've just finished Mayan Nights, a Triskelion Publishing Amethyst Inferno (steamy) release, my premiere release! It's not the first book I wrote, but after having my romantic fantasy "Princes of Anfall" accepted by Triskelion, I was encouraged to try one for the steamy line. I've loved every second of it! And the editors have been so special, helping me break some of my newbie-related issues. I'm moving on to some edits for my Anfall series, and then back to the Mayan jungles for something tentatively called "Ruins," an adventure with a kick-ass heroine and her hunky rival…. Can't wait to get deep into that. I've finished half of the sequel to "The Princes of Anfall," and hope to turn soon to the sequel to Mayan Nights, tentatively called Mayan Days (how original!) I also just finished a ghostbusting romance set in Key West. That was a lot of fun to write. I intend to stay with lush mysterious locations as long as possible! The possibilities are endless!

Oh, pin me down, now, why don't you? Those run the gamut from the classic writers, including my favorites Mark Twain and Dickens (how could those be more different) to fantasy writers David and Leigh Eddings, Robert Jordan, Ms. Lackey, etc. to romance writers such as Elizabeth Lowell (my real favorite) to some very talented e-published writers like my fellow Triskelion authors, Cyn, Shelly, Dawn, et.al. They are soooo creative. My stuff is a little more straightforward…

As a new writer, one who toughens you up to the inevitable business aspects you'll face (can anyone say PROMOTION?), one who helps you improve, even if it may feel harsh, one who won't let you put out something that's not worthy of you or the company. Kristi Studts (Publisher), Gail Northman (the editor of the Trisekelion Inferno line), and Delyn Eagling have been superb in these respects. And the authors support one another tremendously. It's a good family.

Oh, a very simple laptop in the small dining niche in my apartment. Sparse. A notebook, a coaster to protect the desk I built, a phone, and whatever pictures are around to inspire me. (Scraps of locations, maps, photos that will determine the look of my characters, etc.). For example, I just finished a book based in Key West. I have photos of my recent trip, a map of the area, and a photo of a hunky performer I saw there. Voila! I know what my character looks like! I have to picture the hero very clearly to write the story.

I train in Ryukyu Kempo Karate, and have done so for nearly 10 years, having just tested for my second degree black belt. (not bad for a middle aged gal). I love listening to music, LOTR soundtracks, Foo Fighters, Motown, old industrial stuff, you name it. Would love to read more. Frustrating not to have more time for that! Just signed up to become a reviewer to force myself to read and to learn more about what makes for good writing…

Well, perhaps they'd like to know that I spent a good deal of time as an archaeologist, mostly in Greece, thus some of my settings. I am positively addicted to Cancun (off spring break time), the Bahamas, the Caribbean in general. A fan might like to know what it's like to try to write sex scenes for the first time (ahem)-it's a learning process. Oh, anyone out there collect Tiki Mugs? Seriously!

Fantasy, without a doubt. I love romance, but aspire to straight fantasy, and am working up to it some day! Not the druid/myst/shapeshifting kind of fantasy, but high quest. Yes, think Lord of the Rings. Oh, that reminds me, I can't get enough of Legolas (Orlando Bloom), really love the Beta-type hero, find it a stretch to keep writing about these rough and tumble Indiana Jones types. But of course, I wouldn't kick them out of bed for their rough attitudes….

Fantasy, fantasy satire (Terry Pratchett), nonfiction (history, travel), and of course, romance (not historical, though.)

Success? That remains to be seen, doesn't it? This is embarrassing, but I guess I'll share anyway. My husband bought these Tony Robbins tapes-you know, how to kick your life into high gear, etc.? I listened to five minutes of one tape and was instantly sitting and writing for the first time in my life. I never got back to the tape-have been too busy writing. So, believe it or not, I could be on one of those Tony Robbins infomercials. This is after thirty years of wanting to write.

Yep-just thought it was something others could do, I would never do. Didn't realize what you have to do to become a writer is to write something! LOL

Well, The Princes of Anfall came first, but will be released after my second book, Mayan Nights. That's received at this early date one advanced review-5 stars and lots of praise. It was truly gratifying. The most gratifying moment was my first email from someone who read Mayan Nights in one sitting, asking for a sequel. If that's all that ever comes of this, I'll still be very grateful. Someone read ideas that poured out of my head!

I'm working right now on something that Kristi of Triskelion thought up one evening. With my background in archaeology and martial arts, she thought perhaps I might be a good candidate to write an adventure romance (of the hot variety) about a woman who is really up to her counterpart. These two are going for a ride of their lives-lost in the Mayan jungle-looking for an ancient city, competing for millions of dollars, their lives, their love. Of course, they hate each other at the outset-I love romances that set the couple against each other from the outset. This is going to have a modern, young feel,---think Lara Croft or Buffy the Vampire slayer meets archaeology, with Indiana Jones as a sidekick. Following me so far? LOL Tentatively called "Ruins."

A full time job at a major 'Ivy League' university-I'm the operations manager for a department of 500 people. Rush home to dress for karate class. Home to write for an hour. Then a few days a week, writing all day. Fortunately, I write quickly.

Because I am one, I would say to not worry so much about lines and publishers and agents and contests. Write the damned book first! The book of your dreams, not censored, not edited, not directed at any particular line-just write. Let it pour out of your heart, bleed into the book. Don't share it with a ton of people. Go back and try your best to clean it up. Find someone sympathetic (preferably a published writer or editor) willing to read it and clean it up with you. Then send it out. I wrote my first word in late March, 90,000 words and one month later, I had a contract for my book ?The Princes of Anfall. It needs a lot of work, but there are talented publishers out there who can see a diamond in the rough. Or at least a nugget!

I love, love, love to talk to folks about writing, their lives, their desires and tastes in writing. Send me tips, send me your fantasies, describe the ideal hunky hero, tell me the settings you like. Like it hot? Very hot? Oh, not that hot? Tell me. Also, I'm looking for minor characters just for fun from the pool of readers. Tell me about yourself-I'd love to work you into a story. In other words, feedback!