Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer a few questions for us at FAR. We appreciate all the hard work you portray in your work.

What are you working on right now?

I’m working on a romantic suspense, entitled, Her Bodyguard’s Secret. Her life is in danger. The man she trusts -- endangers her heart and life. Very different from Sabrina’s Destiny, as the sensual rating is cranked up a few notches.

Who is your favorite author?

I can’t name one favorite author, as I am a prolific reader and therefore have so many authors that I enjoy. Some of my favorites are; mystery -- Janet Evanovich, comedy -- Nancy Warren, and Ellen Fisher, Paranormal -- Margaret Marr, Intrigue -- Susan Peterson, Suspense -- Suzanne Brockman. For spice and sizzle, I look for Carly Phillips, chick lit – Joy Fielding, inspiration to keep on writing– Stephen King, for my Audrey Hepburn fix and study of a true characterization master – Truman Capote, and my all time favorite which I read at least twice per year, Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird.

What is something personal that you believe your readers would like to know about you?

I really do believe in angels!

What is your best quality as a writer?

I believe my strength is in writing dialogue. I guess it comes with the fact that I love to talk, since my family has named me “the original Chatty Cathy” without batteries of course. I think talking, listening, and speaking one’s mind is the best form of communication, and I inject that into my characters. I also do sexual tension well, because I love it. I want the reader to burst with tension, and feel butterflies. I want my characters to feel the electricity in the air when they’re in the same room. I think I’ve succeeded that with Sabrina’s Destiny, as many reviewers have commented on the high sexual tension.

What is your worse?

Synopsis and outline writing. Talk about needing Godiva intravenously!

Do you believe in writers block?

I’ve had periods where I’m stuck at a scene, and I can’t advance it. Or I am stuck with a character that I don’t connect with, and in those cases I guess one could classify it as writer’s block. I think the term means different things to different writers. I don’t think it’s a “block” as such, I think it’s more a feeling of anxiety, and staring at a blank screen when the words don’t tumble out easily, or I can’t string them together in a creative manner. When this happens I brainstorm with my critique partners (they also know how to slap me out of this and get the best out of me). This is when a writer leans on her support network, family, critique partners, other authors, and with a lot of determination it doesn’t last long at all.

Do you have a job besides being an author? What is it?

I write speeches and press releases for Ambassadors.

As a child growing up who was your biggest hero?

Audrey Hepburn. I researched and read about Audrey Hepburn the woman (not the great actress) and I was in awe of not only her talent, but in her generosity and beautiful spirit. She has endured a lot in her life, and has met each challenge with strength and class. My heroine, Sabrina is named after one of my favorite Hepburn movies, “Sabrina.”

What did you want to be when you grew up?

Cartoonist. I love doodling, and since I love writing dialogue I thought the two would go hand in hand. Fortunately, every job I’ve ever held had writing involved, even if it was technical and political writing. I’ve always had a passion for books. I walk into Barnes and Noble and feel like the mother ship has beamed me home.

Who is your favorite character? Male and female?

That’s like asking me who my favorite child is. But I’ll give it a shot. My favorite female character is “Sabrina.” She is spunky, full of attitude, very low maintenance in the glamour department, and is goal oriented. My favorite male character right now is Cade Fitzpatrick. The hero in the book I’m working on, Her Bodyguard’s Secret. He’s an Alpha male, but with major doses of Beta traits that he works hard to hide. He’s cocky, arrogant, sexy as hell with a wicked sense of humor. I love this hero, because he has a lot of room to grow and the reader will love him even more when he can finally stop taking himself so seriously. He’s the kind of man you love to drool over, read about, but real cautious about dating him, until he can really get his head together. I’m also having fun torturing this hero right now.

Do your characters talk to you as you write? What do they say?

Sometimes they talk to me, I don’t always take their advice, but I love to hear the angst in their voices. Sabrina actually yelled at me at one point, “Would you let Jason kiss me…I mean really kiss me!!! Stop with the sexual tension, I’m going nuts here!”

What is the biggest misconception about being an author?

That we make loads of money once we are published.

What is the worse part about being an author?

Rejection letters and bad reviews. We all know that this is a subjective art form, however, no matter how much we try to develop a thick skin and say, “well that’s just one person’s opinion,” it is still hard to read negativity about your work.

The best?

Receiving an email that says, (this was sent to me a few weeks ago)

“I have been depressed for so long, I stopped counting the years. I’m on a lot of medication and recently threw them all away. I can’t stand being in a stupor anymore. I have just come to the conclusion that there is no light at the end of the tunnel. I was going to spend the day in bed, crying again, when I received your book from my neighbor. I forced myself to stay out of bed and read. Thank you so much. I laughed aloud for the first time in a very long time. I also had such a feeling of hope and that yes, it is possible that there is a light at the end of my tunnel, after reading Sabrina’s Destiny. I think the book actually saved my life.”

I have this woman’s permission to publish her note to me, but I assured her that I would keep her name confidential. When I received this email, I shed some tears. The fact that my words helped someone so far away, and that those pages gave somebody some hope, really touched me deeply. I received similar mail after my short story; “Tempted by an Angel” was published in Arabella magazine. People who said, they haven’t smiled or laughed in a long time, and reading my work brought a smile to their face. I have goosebumps as I type this. It is an incredible feeling to know that all my hard work is actually helping someone feel good.

Could you please share some of your work with us?

As I mentioned, I’m presently working on Her Bodyguard’s Secret, a Romantic Suspense novel. I also have the adventures of my outrageous but lovable heroine, Maddie Saunders, in my romantic comedy, Island Sizzle. She's got Moxie. He's got Secrets.
Their game is sexy. Will love be the prize?

Besides, Sabrina, Maddie is extremely close to my heart. She is funny, outgoing, and extremely mischievous; she is going to send the hero “Alex Donovan” searching for some strong medication to sedate Maddie. I’m also working on a sequel to Sabrina’s Destiny, featuring her best friend, Maggie. Did you know they had Internet in heaven, and angels set up an online dating service? With the overwhelming positive response I have received from my short story, Tempted by an Angel, I may turn it into a book.

Thank you for being here and for answering our questions. Have a wonderful day.

Thank you, for the giving me the opportunity to talk about my greatest passion (besides my family and chocolate).

Interviewed by: Ruby