Why did you decide to write romance?
I’ve always written. My whole family wrote. I authored my first book when I was six, and my hero/heroine were Dick and Jane. The story chronicled their adventures with the wallpaper flowers that suddenly came to life. Sadly, that masterpiece didn’t pass the test of time. I spent some years as a journalist–not a very good one. Then, after I married a fellow journalist who had a much better job than mine (and was much better at it!), I decided I wanted to write fiction. Romance was a pretty obvious choice because I am such an infamous sentimentalist. I can’t help it. I love love.
Of all your books, which is your favorite?
This question is so hard, because I know what I’m supposed to say. I’m supposed to say my favorite is the one I’m writing now, the one I want you to buy next! But I have to be honest. I hate the book I’m writing right now. Not because it’s a bad story, but because it’s hard work. And I’m afraid I won’t be able to pull it off. And I can’t think of the right words and… I won’t love this book until my editor tells me it’s good! So here’s the honest truth about the books in my back list that I love the best.
If you like warm, lightly humorous: THE REDEMPTION OF MATTHEW QUINN
If you like Alpha Heroes: BETWEEN MIST AND MIDNIGHT
If you like angsty, high drama: MEMORY LAPSE
If you like dark and twisted: HAPPILY NEVER AFTER
Should *I* write a romance?
Yes! Sure, it’s hard. It’s much harder than it looks. And the book-selling business is very unpredictable. How hard will it be to sell, and keep selling? How much money can you expect to make? All these are questions with no firm answers. But if you’re a writer, you’ve got to write. And if you believe in love, and you like to read about it, watch movies about it, talk about it, dream about it, then I believe writing romance is a gamble worth taking.
Why do you still work at other jobs?
You mean instead of traveling the world, scouting exotic locations and cover models? Well, there are two basic reasons. One, it’s lovely to have an additional paycheck, one that comes like clockwork. I work outside the house only two days a week, so that it doesn’t kill all my writing time and energy, but it helps. Royalty checks are like the scratch-off lottery tickets. Some of them have wonderful, jump-around-the-house surprises, and some are pretty darn disappointing.
The other reason is that writing is such a solitary occupation. I need to get out and be with people. I’m a bit of an introvert, so I don’t need a constant whirl of lunches and parties, but I do need to smile at a fellow human now and then!
Where do you get your ideas?
Ideas are like tiny diamonds, hidden all over the world–in newspapers, memories, tv shows, fairy tales, gossip, dreams, poetry and people-watching. But, for me, finding those little gems is the hardest part of this business. Tricky little suckers…they don’t look like diamonds when you first see them. It takes weeks–sometimes months–of digging, cutting, polishing and setting to make them worth anything. I did have one perfect moment of inspiration lately, though. My daughter’s wedding! Now there’s a happily ever after any mother can believe in.
Who is your favorite romance writer?
I do love my critique partners! Ann Evans of Superromance and Lori Harris of Intrigue have brilliant ideas and write fabulous stories. Check them out if you can. Nancy Robards Thompson over at Special Edition is one of the loveliest writers I know. And any of the Superromance writers are worth reading–though of course you think I’m just saying that. 
Try them! Try Anna deStefano, or Kay Stockham, or Anna Adams for warmth and excitement and charm. Try Janice Kay Johnson or Karina Bliss or Tara Taylor Quinn. I mean it. This is a first-class line-up, and I’m honored to be a part of it.
