Retreat-ing with Friends

There's nothing quite so special as spending a weekend with friends, especially writer friends. Five weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending a writers' retreat. It wasn't my first retreat, but it had been a few years since I had been able to go to one, and I was excited. We left on Friday evening for the Mennonite camp where the retreat was to be held, it had been raining for several days and a flood warning had been issued for most of the state and especially the area. We decided to trudge on, anyway. Reports from the camp indicated things were wet but calm there and not expected to get bad. They didn't.

We spent the weekend talking about writing, eating, discussing the world of publishing, eating, sharing stories about our families and lives, eating, debating how difficult it sometimes is to find the time to write, eating, and planning the future of the group. Oh, yes, and eating. Where there are women, there will always be lots of food!

By Saturday afternoon, the sun had come out, and several of us took walks around the large rural acreage of the camp. We walked down to the river that stayed just below flood level and watched the water rush over the small dam. We saw not only a covey of quail, but several deer grazing on the tall prairie grass. For me, having lived on a farm for twenty-four years and now being away from it for eight, it was a reminder of the quiet simplicity of the country. I miss that, but I don't miss having to drive miles for gorceries, gas, or time with friends. All in all, it was a terrific and memorable weekend, and I'm so glad I was invited to be a part of the group this year.

I had planned to blog about this last month, but sick family and a book deadline wiped my mind of nearly everything else, and I forgot to post. It's been so busy that I haven't had the time to visit here and read all the blog posts from the editors and the wonderful authors who wrote HARs in the early years. Maybe this weekend, I'll get a chance to do that.

Have a Happy Halloween, everyone!

Stay-at-Home Mom and Writer

A neighbor recently discovered I'm an author and she stopped to talk with me over the weekend when I was cleaning up the flowerbeds in front of the house. Instead of the--"Oh, isn't that wonderful" reaction I usually get, the lady couldn't imagine why I'd want to stay home all day and write books.

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I'd be a stay-at-home mom who writes romance novels. Do I have any regrets--heck, no! I'm home to nurture, support, care…or as my teenage son and daughter prefer….nag, monitor and interfere in their daily lives. After those tasks are accomplished and the kids hop on the bus each morning I spend the next several hours creating stories about what I love most: home and hearth.

But writing is a high-stress job--really! I've got only a few hours before the bus returns to make my stubborn hero (I'm married to one, so I have plenty of experience with this kind of man) come to his senses and admit he loves my spirited, independent and determined heroine (that's who I want to be when I grow up).


Okay, so that's the fun part of my job--if my subconscious cooperates… "There's mold growing in the toilets!," it nags. "The dirty clothes in the laundry room won’t jump into the wash machine on their own!"

And the worst offender…the treadmill--"Hey, baby, remember what you looked like at twenty-two? Give me a half-hour a day and I'll turn you into a sex goddess! "

I attempt to convince the nagging voice in my head that I'm saving those activities for when I suffer writer's block--which happens often enough to add a little extra stress to my life. On those days, hubby comes home, takes one look at the clean house and says, "Tough day at the office, honey?" Grrr!

If a nagging subconscious isn't enough to distract a serious writer, then the occasional unexpected phone call…Teen number one: "Mom, I forgot my English paper would you bring it to school so I don't get an F?"

Shoot, now I have to actually wash my face, put on makeup and change out of my tattered sweats because I have to go into the school to drop off the paper at the principal's office. Of course, I get a scathing glare from the secretary that says, "Haven’t you taught your child better?" I schlep back home wondering what good it does to be a stay-at-home mom if I can't even teach my own kids responsibility? Well, you can darn betcha the kid in my next book will tow the line!

Writing and being a stay-at-home mom is challenging, but I can’t imagine my life any other way. I count my blessings that I'm able to work in my home at a career that inspires me and allows a certain amount of freedom. In a few years my teens will leave the nest and then I'll grumble that the house is too quiet, that I miss the chaos and heaven forbid that I'm lonely. And one day if my daughter or daughter-in-law asks me to care for their children so they can pursue a career, well, I'll just say…Have you considered being a stay-at-home mom and writing romances?

Marin
RT TOP PICK The Cowboy and the Angel Nov 08
www.marinthomas.com

Technically Speaking

Did you ever get the feeling that, if you don’t jump right onto the latest technology, you might never be able to grasp it? You must be a non-techie like me.

I was one of the last people in California to acquire a CD player (in the late 1990s, a hand-me-down from my brother, Paul), get e-mail and Internet access (in 2002 out of necessity, because I was writing an on-line serial for www.eharlequin.com) and switch to a digital camera (another donation from Paul).

I struggled along each learning curve, reading the instruction manuals diligently. But as the years went by, those manuals began to take more and more for granted. Earlier this year, after I purchased my younger son’s old digital camera – a generation advanced from mine, and a generation behind his new one – I had to ask him what various instructions meant. The technical writers took for granted that I could decipher their shorthand.

Needless to say, I couldn’t.

So you can imagine with what trepidation I set out to learn how to update my own Web site. I’d never have dared consider it, but my longtime, wonderful Webmaster is moving on to other things. Rather than start over with someone new, I decided to take the plunge.

First, I looked for an instruction manual, only to discover that even the For Dummies books aren’t for dummies like me. They assume you want to become an html programmer capable of creating your own Web design. Sure. And maybe after that I’ll design a nuclear fusion rocket capable of carrying me to Alpha Centauri.

What I needed was a little friendly advice, but even many of my programmer friends don’t know much about Web sites. So where did I turn? Well, where else … to my brother.

A semi-retired aerospace engineer who lives in the Washington, D.C. area, Paul is one of the most patient people I’ve ever met. Also one of the most technically savvy. This is amazing, because he and I must share some of the same gene pool.

It turned out he’d learned quite a bit about Web sites while building and maintaining one for his significant other, Myrna, who’s a wedding planner. In case you’re about to get married in that part of the country, you can look up her site at http://www.fao-events.com/.

This dear man, who used to put rubber spiders in our grandmother’s bed (actually, she started it) and twit me about almost everything, spent most of a Saturday uploading a copy of my Web site onto a new hosting service and, by phone, walking me through the steps of learning to update it.

He never lost his temper or skipped a step in his instructions. He even made allowances for the fact that my computer uses an antique operating system.

My original Web site (www.jacquelinediamond.com) remains with the same Webmaster through the end of the year, while I’m practicing on the copy (you can check it out at www.jacquelinediamond.net). In case you’re wondering, the software I use is Microsoft Front Page.

I couldn’t have done it without Paul. So be nice to your siblings. Sometimes they grow up to be wonderful human beings.

Happy 25th--Meet launch author Barbara Bretton (Post #1)

Photos: the original artwork for Love Changes, and the actual launch book.

Website: http://www.barbarabretton.com/

Bio: Oh, how I hate bios! All of that deadly dull information about name (Barbara Bretton) and date of birth (June 25, 1950) and geographical data (born in New York City; lives near Princeton, NJ), marital status (40 years married), and hobbies (who has time??). How do you gather up all of those dull, dry facts and turn them into something interesting?

No wonder I tell lies for a living.

Twenty-six years ago I sold my first book and my life changed forever. I sent in my manuscript on Thursday February 21, 1982 and four days later the telephone rang and I heard the amazing words, "We want to buy your book." How I wish you could have seen me. I was standing by the kitchen door of our North Babylon house, the picture of cool sophistication, as I listened to Vivian Stephens explain the terms of the deal to me. You would have thought I'd sold a first book every single day of my life. Yes, I said. Sounds wonderful. Thank you so much for calling. I look forward to our association. That cool sophistication hung on until I hung up the phone, took a deep breath, then promptly threw up on my shoes.

I was thirty-one years old, unagented, unschooled, unfamiliar with anything to do with the business of publishing. I was barely two years past a battle with cancer that turned my life upside down. To put it mildly, I was in shock. My husband was working in Manhattan at the time (and finishing up his degree at night) so it would be hours until I could break the news to him. This was too exciting to waste on a phone call. I wanted to see his face when I told him that my dream had finally come true -- and came with a $6,000 advance!

He pulled into the driveway at midnight. I was waiting in the doorway, holding a bottle of champagne and two glasses. I didn't have to say a word. He knew right away and the look of joy and pride in his eyes warms me now, years later, long after the advance faded into memory.
A lot has happened to me in the years since that first sale. I've learned that this is a difficult and demanding business (it takes a tough writer to write a tender book) and that I am happiest when I am most ignorant. I've also learned that a good friend, a writer and pal who truly understands, is worth her weight in good reviews and royalty checks.

And now for the statistics:
Barbara Bretton is the USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of more than 40 books. She currently has over ten million copies in print around the world. Her works have been translated into twelve languages in over twenty countries.
Barbara has been featured in articles in The New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Romantic Times, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Herald News, Home News, Somerset Gazette,among others, and has been interviewed by Independent Network News Television, appeared on the Susan Stamberg Show on NPR, and been featured in an interview with Charles Osgood of WCBS, among others.

She is a Rita finalist whose awards include both Reviewer's Choice and Career Achievement Awards from Romantic Times; Gold and Silver certificates from Affaire de Coeur; the RWA Region 1 Golden Leaf; and several sales awards from Bookrak. Ms. Bretton was included in a recent edition of Contemporary Authors.

Barbara loves to spend as much time as possible in Maine with her husband, walking the rocky beaches and dreaming up plots for upcoming books.

Memories of American Romance:

I was one of the launch authors back in 1983 and have a treasure trove of memories/memorabilia about that incredible time and place. Some of it is bittersweet: nothing ever is exactly as you thought it would be and publishing is no exception. We didn't all become superstars. We didn't all manage to sell a second novel. But we did experience something unique.

If you didn't live through what I think of as the Great Romance Wars, you probably won't believe me when I say that there was a time (long ago and far away) when category romance was big news. How big? Wall Street Journal big. New York Times big. Photos in Life (or was it Look?) big. I have this vague memory of Vivian gathering up the American Romance authors at the RT conference where we launched and sending us off to be photographed en masse for Look (or was it Life?) Magazine. (Anyone else remember that?) I don't recall ever seeing the end result but as a committed photo-phobe I remember quaking in my please-retouch-me boots.

There were weekly newsletters devoted to category romance – Vivian L. Jennings's painfully honest, always fascinating BOY MEETS GIRL. Dozens of independent newsletters that featured interviews and reviews. There was the sense that we were onto something, that the old notion of romance novels (which at the time was pretty much limited to "bodice rippers" and Harlequin's European-based lines) was about to be replaced by something current, something real, something—dare I say it?—respectable.

Yes, we thought we were about to gain respect. I believed it. I thought what we were doing, the books we were writing, would change the prevailing wisdom for good. No more snide comments like, "So when are you going to write a real book?" No more eye rolls at the sight of a romance cover. We were about to become relevant.

Unfortunately it never happened. In retrospect I think much of the early 80s buzz was generated by the big money we were bringing in. When sales began to flatten, when lines folded, when Harlequin devoured Silhouette, we reverted to being "those little books" in the eyes of the non-romance-reading public.

Was I bitter about that? Sure, for awhile. But I got over it. The readers who love what we do don't give a damn if the Wall Street Journal approves but for a little while there it looked like we were going to cross over into public acceptance and with that acceptance, a newfound respect.

The business was smaller back then. Everyone knew everyone else. A deal could happen at the speed of light.

To give you an idea, I sent in my manuscript on February 22, 1982 to Vivian Stephens and she phoned to make an offer on February 25th! Everyone began with a $6K advance which increased by $500 with each subsequent sale. You had to write the full ms in those days, no purchases on spec. That quick, that simple.

During my years with American, I was allowed as close to complete creative freedom as any author could wish. Feel like writing gritty realism? Go for it. Want to write about an invisible man? That’s fine too. It was exhilarating, creatively exciting, all good things.

I worked with Vivian Stephens, Kay Meierbachtol (who went on to helm Temptation – known as Secret Project 299 for awhile there), Hilari Cohen, and then the wonderful Deby Matteucci who edited me for thirteen years.

I mentioned the phrase "little book" a few paragraphs ago. That seems to be one of the favorite slams against category romance. "Oh, you write those little books?" I heard it twenty-five years ago and I hear it today.

They're not little books. They're short books that require focus, discipline, and talent to write so reading them will be effortlessly enjoyable for the millions of readers who take them into their hearts every year.

Little?! I don't think so . . .

Watch for the Q & A on October 19 this month!

Heroic Names

I sometimes wonder if other authors agonize over naming characters as much as I do. I suspect so. I know I sometimes have to try out two or three different names for a character until I find the one that fits just right.

I struggled most with finding the right names for my heroes. I want something strong, not too long or unwiledy or difficult to pronounce. But I also like the name to be memorable.

This month's collection of Harlequin American Romances has some great heroic named. The hero in Margot Early's Holding the Baby is named Mark Logan -- a nice, solid name. In Finally a Baby, Lisa Child's Eric South is another strong, male name. Holly Jacobs gives us Henry Remington in her new release, Once Upon a Thanksgiving. I love the name Henry -- slightly old-fashioned but strong and well, manyly. And finally we have Cathy Gillen Thacker's The Inherited Twins. Hero Heath McPherson has a name that screamed romance. Though he's an all-American guy, he could have stepped out of a Scottish Moor. Clearly, these American authors know how to pick good heroic names.

When I wrote my most recent American, The Right Mr. Wrong, I gave into my penchant for unusual names with my hero, Hagan Ansdar. Hagan is from Norway, so I wanted a Norwegian name.

Of course, the most unusual name in my Crested Butte books belongs to Zephyr, the local rock star, snow boarder and general comic relief. He burst into my imagination name and all -- Zephyr, no last name, no explanation -- and no other name wuold fit him as well.

My next Harlequin American will be out in May 2009. Another Crested Butte story, this one features Zephyr's best friend, Bryan as The Man Most Likely. The name Bryan meets all my qualifications -- strong, short and it fits my charcter.

What do you readers thing? Do you like more ordinary names, or exotic ones for your heroes? Do you have any pet peeves or names you don't like? Let us know!

Happy 25th Anniversary The Covers—Behind the Scenes with Harlequin editor Kathleen Scheibling

Hi everyone, Kathleen here, Senior Editor of American Romance. I was delighted to be asked to contribute an entry to the HAR author’s blog to help commemorate our 25th anniversary and thought I’d write a bit about how the covers of our series books are created.

The process starts with the authors, who fill out an Art Fact Sheet (AFS) for each of their books. The AFS will include physical descriptions of the characters, scene suggestions for the covers, and a short synopsis of the book. This synopsis is very helpful for the Art Director (Tony) who really wants just a general overview of the story. Once a month the editors, AD and our marketing Product Manager meet to brainstorm what would best sell the book. This is the chance for the editors to fill in the blanks for Tony—what’s the tone of the book? What did the author’s previous book look like? Is it part of a miniseries and do we want to keep the same look for all the books?

During these meetings, it’s also standard practice to beg Tony to take us on photo shoots so we can meet hot, hunky men. We all have our favorite models—Johanna was recently enamored of a new guy we’re using who kind of looks like Matt Damon. I enjoy drooling over a dark-haired man who resembles JFK Jr. I think he’s on Marin Thomas’s November cover. And guess what—that man actually played JFK Jr. in a made-for-TV movie! Anyway, I think Tony assumes we’ll embarrass him by jumping all over these guys. We keep telling him we will behave ourselves. Really, Tony. Promise!

After our art meeting, Tony books a photo shoot. I did go on one of these shoots a couple of years ago, and was really interesting. The whole thing is quite a production, I can tell you. There’s a makeup and wardrobe person, the photographer and an assistant who helps with the cameras, backdrops, lighting, etc. Things must have been very different before digital technology but now you can look at everything you shoot right away and make adjustments. You can literally take hundreds of shots to get the right one. We were looking at them on a large computer screen as the photographer clicked away. Fascinating. And then you have to imagine what the cover would look like with the branding, title and author name on the picture.

Tony works with the photographer to choose the best shots, and then he makes whatever adjustments need to be made to the photo. (Don’t ask me about that because I have no idea how it works. Voodoo, I assume. I’m still getting to know my own digital camera.) He mocks up the cover and it heads off to Production, where it is placed into a grid—the standard branding on every cover that makes the books easily distinguished as a part of a series. From there, the cover goes through a series of approvals—proofreading (not just for the back cover copy but to make sure there are many pairs of eyes on the correct spelling of the author’s name and the book’s title), marketing, back to me, back to proofreading, back to Production, back to Tony. Whew!

And then we do it all again next month…

Happy 25th Anniversary--Author Interview with Linda Warren

My turn in the hot seat. Here goes:

1) How long have you been published?
About ten years.

2) What advice would you give a new writer just starting out?
Never give up! Join RWA and a chapter near you. Attend the workshops and learn all you can about the genre you want to write.

3) What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing?
To me it’s developing my characters. Once I know them then I can write their story. I jot down all kinds of facts about them in a notebook; description, likes and dislikes, their goals and motivation, what kind of childhood they had, siblings, parents, education and so on until I know who my character is and what he or she wants. From there I build the conflict between my two main characters.

4) You can erase any horrible experience from your past. What will it be?
I wish I had known about RWA sooner. When I sold my first book, my editor asked if I was a member and I was like in a panic. I’d heard of RWA and thought it was for only published authors. I was afraid Harlequin wouldn’t buy my book if I said no. Yeah, I was that naïve. And, yes, I had a lot to learn. I’m still learning.

5) What's the strangest thing you've ever eaten?
Raw liver mixed with bananas in a blender. Yuck! I still get sick when I think of it. Now you’re probably wondering why I would even eat such a thing. I have a very good reason. At eighteen I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. I went through every medication available and nothing helped the pain. Then a friend of my mothers told her about a lady she knew who ate raw liver and bananas daily and her pain went away. On the third day I was throwing it up so that plan went south and I went back to traditional medicine.

6) What comes first: the plot or the characters?
A scene usually. My March American, The Sheriff of Horseshoe, Texas, I created from a scene my husband and I saw as we traveled home one evening. A highway patrolman had a blonde in a red convertible sports car pulled over on the side of the road. His arm rested on the top of the windshield as he leaned in talking to her with a smile as big as Texas. I told my husband she wouldn’t be getting a ticket. The scene captured my imagination and I started creating characters. The blonde was a wealthy socialite and the patrolman became a sheriff. The whole story came together after that.

7) When you looked in the mirror this morning, what was the first thing you thought?
Oh God! I need makeup.

8) Describe your writing space.
My office looks as if Hurricane Ike passed through it and no one is bothering to clean it up. I have two computers, three printers and several filing cabinets jammed into a small space. My desk is cluttered with TBR books and folders of books I’m writing. Emails and research papers are everywhere. There’s a stack of bills that need to be paid. Bookshelves cover two walls and they are full. I need to give some away, but it’s like giving away an old friend. The best feature of my messy office is the view. When I’m stuck I can look out the French doors to the lake and see the geese and ducks splashing around or a fisherman trying to catch a fish. It’s very peaceful and has sparked my creative muse a time or two.

9) What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
When I was in school, I loved Louisa May Alcott’s books, Little Women, The Inheritance, etc. Then I started reading Harlequin romances and was hooked on the happy endings. I wanted to write a book like that. A book that gave women hope that there is such a thing as true love and happiness.

10) What are you reading now?
Brenda Novak’s new trilogy and Debbie Macomber’s Twenty Wishes. They were a gift from a very special editor and I’m enjoying them immensely.

11) Do you re-read your books once they're in print?
When I was first published, I did. Now I don’t have time.

12) How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
My September release, Texas Heir, was my 21st book. My favorite is The Christmas Cradle.

13) Tell us about your family and where you live.
I live in College Station, Texas with my husband, Billy. We live about ten miles from Smetana, Texas where I was born. Most of my family still lives there so it’s always fun to go home to the old farm and ranch where I was raised. I met my husband while I was in high school at a friend’s wedding. I thought he was the most handsome man I’d ever seen. He was on leave from the National Guard (love a man in uniform) and he and his buddies crashed the wedding. My girlfriends and I met them while they were gathered around the beer keg. Let’s say they were having a good time. My husband had a woman’s red high heel tucked into his jacket pocket. (The wedding was in December and the bridesmaid’s dresses were red.) He denies the shoe thing to this day.

14) Are you working on anything at the present you'd like to share?
As I said in March 2009 I have one of The Men Made In America books for American Romance, The Sheriff of Horseshoe, Texas. In July I start a trilogy for Super Romance, Texas Belles. The second book of the trilogy will be out in October and the third in early 2009.

15) Who's you're personal hero--past or present?
Oh, definitely the guy who had the red high heel in his pocket.

Linda
http://www.lindawarren.net/
Texas Heir—September 2008

Autumn--Finally!

It's officially Autumn, my favorite time of year. And not just because my birthday falls in Fall. :) Don't agree? Let me enumerate the other wonderful things Autumn brings besides my bd.

Ninety-plus degree heat won't plague me for another seven months or so. Two of my friends (husband and wife) celebrate their birthdays with a huge Fall potluck party, including bonfire and wagon rides for the kids. I set out my Halloween stuff (my second-favorite holiday!!) and have already eaten several bags of candy--just to make sure the stores were selling good quality stuff this year. Recently I heard there's no cocoa butter in certain kinds of chocolate, and those candy bars had to take the "chocolate" claim off their labels. I'm happy to report everything I tried tasted scrumptious! Homecoming football and parades and dances, oh my! Soon the leaves here will be turning into beautiful reds, yellows and oranges. We usually go away for a relaxing weekend with three families of friends. And the best sports time of the year, baseball's World Series, entertains me all month with playoffs before the big event. (Alas, my beloved Cardinals are absent this year.)

So, are you a believer? Have I left out any of the truly glorious aspects of the season?

Megan Kelly

megankellybooks.com

Mystery Blog

What should I blog about? That’s a good question.

Winter/fall has returned to the Pacific Northwest with a vengeance. It’s raining, it’s blowing and in the mountains it’s snowing – oops, that sounds like a Christmas song. If I don’t miss my guess this stuff is going to be around until May. Can you say gloomy?

And speaking of gloomy - we can always discuss the economy. Way back when I got my BA and MA degrees in Political Science I had to take classes in Economics. Yep, you guess it – the minute I walked out the door I ditched all that extraneous information. So a couple of months ago I decided to do a self-tutorial on this seemingly incomprehensible subject. Consequently I’m now semi-conversant on such topics such as the CRA, GSE’s, sub primes, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Libro Financial Group and the Fed – now that is truly depressing. So let’s talk books.

I recently read a historical paranormal that I can highly recommend. It’s called the Labyrinth by Kate Mosse. This book intricately weaves two parallel story lines – one Grail, two women, two secrets. Both stories are set in the Pyrenees, one in the 12^th century and the other is contemporary. Alais lived and loved during the French Inquisition. Alice is a modern day, reluctant heroine. But they are both destined to protect the Grail.

This book has everything – romance, love, conspiracy, violence, treachery, friendship, reincarnation, eternal life, heroics and best of all, a twisty ending. So if you have time on a rainy Sunday, head to the library to find this book. But beware - you’ll have a hard time putting it down.

Ann DeFee

The Man She Married, HAR, February 2009

Top Gun Dad, HAR, TBA

Happy 25th...Great Beginnings

Harlequin American Romance is a great place to call home. For many authors, including me, it was where we made our first sale.

Author Vella Munn remembers: I wrote nine books for American starting with Summer Season (42) in Feb of 84 and ending with Silver Waves (444) in June of 1992. Summer Season was special because it was my first fiction sale. I remember that day well. We were adding onto our house and I'd gone to town to pick up some supplies. When I returned, my husband said I'd gotten a call from some editor in New York. Oh how I tried to be cool and collected! Oh how I failed. I can't think of a favorite book because all were special in their own way and represented what was and is still important to me, the environment.

You'll hear more from book #3 writer, Barbara Bretton, who has become our line's unofficial historian, Oct. 12 and Oct. 20. She'll talk about her first sale, which was Love Changes, HAR #3.

I made my first sale in 1999, to Melissa Jeglinski, who has moved this past month to a career as a literary agent with The Knight Agency. I can remember the moment well. I pitched the book to her at the RWA conference in Chicago. She'd just been made the line editor, and all day she'd been listening to people pitch her books all day for her previous line. Before I even started, she asked, "What line?" and I said, "American." I gave her my pitch, and she said send it. About this time, all the RWA people started fluttering around crazily. I don't own a watch, and it seems that once I checked in (early, like RWA says to do), some overly worked volunteer prodded me into a line and then, like cattle, into the room. Seems I was 10 minutes early, and had bumped someone out of her spot. All was well as RWA realized I wasn't sneaking in, and then they put the woman in my time slot. Anyway, I had a 212 number on my caller ID less than 4 weeks after the conference and by Monday, a phone call at work that I had sold my first book. MJ told me "I met so many people that weekend, who were you?" and I said, "The one in the wrong time slot." Her reply, an enthusiastic "I remember you!" I've sold 22 books to Harlequin since 1999, and seen one of my chaptermates, Megan Kelly, sell two of hers.

American remains a great line, worthy of its 25 year history. This month Anne Stuart and Barbara Bretton and others will talk about their memories, and hopefully, some of the authors here will add some of their first sale stories in the comments below. Anne Stuart will be on Oct. 31.

PS--for a complete list of all series books, from #1 Tomorrow's Promise by Sandra Brown to curent day, go to http://www.fictiondb.com/series/harlequin-american-romance~HAR~s.htm

It's quite interesting!!!

Michele Dunaway
Twins for the Teacher, Harlequin American, March 2009

My new volunteer venture

I just signed up to volunteer as an after-school tutor for a foster boy or girl. After a recent insightful orientation, I’m ready to go! They tell me I’ll hear from the volunteer coordinator in a week or so. Then I’ll find out where I’ll be and a bit about my student. I’m excited! Also, truth be told, a bit nervous. (Thank goodness for the Tutor Training Manual, which I’ll soon read cover to cover.)

I’ve always wanted to work with foster kids. No, that’s not quite right. I always wanted to take in a foster child and raise him/her alongside our three daughters. My husband didn’t want this. He said three is enough. He was right—we had our hands full! (Three girls, all having their period at the same time, bickering at dinner, arguing over TV shows and everything else under the sun. ☺)

Through the years my yearning for a foster child stayed with me. When a friend went to work for Treehouse, an organization serving kids in foster care, he invited me there for a tour. I fell in love with the organization and its goals (see www.treehouse4kids.org/whatwedo). For me, tutoring is a good way to fill my need to do something without taking on the full-time responsibility of raising another child.

Once I’m off and running, I’ll let you know how things go.

What about you? Do you volunteer, and where? I’d love to know.

Until next time and eagerly anticipating my new volunteer venture,
Ann Roth
www.annroth.net

Let's get creative!

My fingers have been flying over the keyboard on the current Work in Progress. In addition to that, I'm busy plotting another book or two. Sometimes the Muse cannot be controlled! She just wants to get up and get moving.

It doesn't always work that way, of course, so when Ms. Muse is in the mood to create, I run with her. Lately, I feel as if I've done the Boston Marathon three times over--but I'm not complaining! For a writer, that burst of energy is the best feeling in the world!

It's great to have inspiration handy when you need it. That lucky situation doesn't happen only with writers, either. There are all kinds of ways to be creative.

Cooking. Baking. Needlework.

Artwork. Aerobics.

Feng shui-ing your laundry room.

Giving your kid a haircut.

I'm on a two-minute stretch break before the next leg of the Marathon. So, be quick! And tell me, please--what gets your creativity going?


All my best to you,

Barbara

~~~~~~

Barbara White Daille
http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com

Launch! Happy 25th Harlequin American!

The above photos come from Barbara Bretton, one of the launch authors for the line. You'll hear from her again later this month, but first here are two photos showcasing early ads and displays for the line.

My Turn

It’s my turn to answer a few questions.

1)Tell us a little about your family and where you're from

I grew up in Houston, Texas. I was a true city girl, and loved living in Houston. Now I live in a small town outside of Cincinnati. I have two kids who are in high school, and I’ve been married to the guy I met my second week in college for almost twenty years.

2)If you could be lazy for an entire day what would you do?

That’s easy. Read. Nap. Read some more. Eat cookies.

3)What is your writing routine?

I hate to procrastinate, so I write pretty much every day for at least a few hours. I like to write in the morning as soon as my kids are off to school. Oh, I almost always count pages, too. As in, I've got to write five more pages today.

4)What inspired you to write your first book?

My first book for Harlequin was called Cinderella Christmas. It was about a janitor who agreed to accompany an executive to a ball, in exchange for a pair of beautiful shoes. One of my critique partners had inspired me. She thought there were probably a bunch of stories that could be written about women doing a lot for shoes. On a side note, I love to shop, but I'm not much of a shoe person.

5) How long have you been writing?

10 years. To date, I've sold 20 books. I've written for Avalon, Five Star, Harlequin American, and now also Avon Inspire.

6) What did you want to be when you grew up?

I always wanted to write, but didn’t think I’d ever be a writer. Actually, I thought I’d grow up to be one of those ladies who lunch. When reality hit-in the form of a stern talking to from my father-I became a teacher. I taught elementary school for ten years and really enjoyed it.

7) What were you doing at midnight last night?

I’m one of those people who loves to sleep. Usually, I’m asleep by eleven. However, last night I was rereading Mary Balogh’s novel, Simply Love. Oh, I love, love, love her regency historicals. I read them over and over again. So, last night I was finishing up that book even though I knew exactly how it ended.

8) Are you a cat or dog person? A dog! We have a beagle and a miniature dachshund named Suzy.

9) What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing?

For me, the most important element is characterization. If I don’t connect with the heroine, I usually won't finish the book.

10) Describe your writing space.

I’m in my son’s old bedroom. I painted the walls pink, and I have all my book covers framed on one wall. It is truly the messiest room in the house. Suzy the weiner dog usually sleeps in a bed by my desk. Oh, and I have a space heater that’s almost always on.

11) Do you re-read your books once they're in print?

I usually do if people like them. I’m the type of person who’s always sure the book I wrote could've been a lot better.

12) Can you taste the difference between Pepsi and Coke? If so, which do you prefer?

I’m a Diet Coke girl, but only rarely. I usually only drink coffee and hot water. The hot water habit is an old trick a teacher friend taught me. Back in Colorado, Kim and I realized we were drinking way too much coffee while teaching 6th graders-we were as hyper as they were! Let me tell you, it wasn't a good situation. So, I started sipping hot water. Now it’s my drink.

13) Have you ever made a crank phone call?

Nope. I’m one of those annoying people who follows rules. It pretty much drives my children crazy.

14) Do you have any interesting special talents?

Hmm. I can walk down a flight of stairs in four inch heels and not look down. Yes, I went to charm school for that. No, it hasn't come in handy.

Well, that's it for me! I hope everyone has a nice weekend.

Shelley

SEPTEMBER WINNER!!!!

This month's winner is Sara!!!!!! Congratulations!!! To get your free, autographed books, please contact Shelley Galloway and Trish Milburn through their websites.

Tell all your friends to visit us. For your chance to win, simply comment and your name is entered in our drawing.

How was your trip to China?

When you return from a trip, friends naturally ask how it went. If you traveled somewhere unusual, they prepare to hear you rave about the fabulous sights, the food and the people you met.

They aren’t prepared to hear that your 91-year-old mother slipped in the shower, broke her pelvis and had to be medically evacuated from the city of Xi’an in the interior of China.

What followed was a series of sometimes downright weird events. I learned more than I ever wanted to know about Chinese hospitals (they provide neither food nor drinking water. You have to go outside and buy those from a vendor), not to mention the difficulty of getting permission to fly a medical jet through Chinese air space in the middle of a three-day weekend – the Full Moon Festival.

On the plus side, we met a lot of very helpful people of many nationalities. And let me state right here that my mother has now returned safely to Nashville, Tennessee, and is in the hospital, recovering from surgery.

Let’s go back to the beginning. My mother, ceramic sculptor Sylvia Hyman, and I traveled with our friend Cathy Moberg, Sylvia’s neighbor and studio assistant, to Shanghai for several days of sightseeing. We then took a two-hour flight to Xi’an, home of the terra cotta warriors, to attend a conference of the International Academy of Ceramics. Our Shanghai adventure went great. Chinese-American ceramist, author and tour organizer Guangzhen Zhou, known to his friends as Po, arranged that part of the trip and shepherded us around with great care.

He flew with us to Xi’an, where Sylvia celebrated her 91st birthday with longtime friends from the IAC. We prepared to enjoy local sights, visit an international pottery village and attend presentations by artists from around the world about their cutting-edge work.

The next morning, Sylvia fell while showering. Cathy, who thank heaven has some medical training, and I accompanied her to the hospital for X-rays, where we got the bad news.

I don’t have space to go into the events of the next few days, but let me tell you, they were hairier than a yeti. Even though Sylvia had bought insurance for a medical jet, it took the efforts of the medical jet company, the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, Cathy and me to get permission for it to land.

Since the Learjet only had room for Sylvia and Cathy, I had to return alone. Po (whom I now rank among my best friends in the world) changed his own travel plans to fly back with me to Shanghai to make sure I made my connection to the U.S. Luckily, all went smoothly.

During the visit, I did manage to see some impressive sights, including those famous warriors and another ancient tomb in Xi’an. Mostly, my head is stuffed with impressions of a culture involved in a dramatic transition unlike anything I’ve seen. Since I went behind the Iron Curtain in the mid-70s, I’m not a complete novice on the subject.

Two weeks later, I’m thankful to be home and gradually recovering from the 15-hour time difference. So how was my trip? Let’s put it this way: It’s something I’ll never forget.

Happy 25th--Author Profile Judith Arnold

Continuing in our series of celebratory posts, next up is Judith Arnold.

Name/Pen Name: Barbara Keiler/Judith Arnold
Website: www.juditharnold.com

Years writing for the line: 1985-1994 (with a novella in 2004)

Number of books for the line: 30

Sample titles: I wrote HAR's first linked trilogy, "Keeping the Faith," in 1987. (The titles of the three books were PROMISES, COMMITMENTS and DREAMS.) Other favorites: SPECIAL DELIVERY, COMFORT AND JOY (winner, RT Reviewers Choice Award for best HAR), SURVIVORS, SAFE HARBOR (Rita finalist), SWEET LIGHT, JUST LIKE ROMEO AND JULIET.

Special memories of Harlequin American Romance: Vivien Stephens originally conceived HAR as a series grounded in reality--real people facing real problems and experiencing love as it occurs in real life. This was practically revolutionary at the time, and I loved both reading and writing these books. I was proud to be one of the line's early mainstays, along with authors like Rebecca Flanders, Barbara Bretton, Anne Stuart, Beverly Sommers, Anne McAllister, Pamela Browning and Kathleen Gilles Seidel. I think those early HAR's were some of the best series romances being published, not only at that time but for all time. It was a wonderful, creative place to work.

Now the Q & A:

1) How was the Harlequin American Romance line different from the other Harlequin lines?

Harlequin Americans were grounded in reality. I loved reading and writing romances in which the heroine was someone I could identify with. She didn't have to be a gorgeous orphan or a simpering virgin barely out of adolescence. She was a recognizable American woman facing real-life problems. Harlequin Americans weren't fairy-tale romances. They tackled subjects readers could identify with.

2) How did the Harlequin American Romances line change over the years you wrote for it?

In the early '90's, the line decided to shift its focus and become lighter, more fantasy-oriented and a little less realistic. It was this shift in tone and vision that prompted me to start writing for the Superromance line, which had started out in the '80's publishing more glamorous, exotic stories but then shifted to more grounded, realistic stories. Superromance was ready for me when I was ready for it.

3) How did writing for Harlequin American help you in your single-title career?

I started my writing career with Silhouette Desire, back when the books were 50-55,000 words. Writing for Harlequin American, when the books were 70-75,000 words, gave me the room to develop more complex plots and subplots, and to go deeper into the characters. I kept writing longer and longer (the jump to the 80-85,000-word Superromances was also necessary because after a while I needed those extra 10,000 words to tell my more complex stories) until ultimately I realized I needed the greater length of ST books to say everything I wanted to say. I should add that in the early days, the editors at Harlequin American were really open to everything in terms of subject matter. As long as there was a strong, believable romance at the center of the story, we writers were allowed, even encouraged, to explore unusual plots and to structure our stories in all different ways. One of the books I wrote for Harlequin American (SAFE HARBOR) spanned twelve years and broke into three sections, the first written in the heroine's POV, the second in the hero's and the third in both their POV's.

4). Describe a moment you remember related to Harlequin American Romance, either reading one, or a fan moment, or an editor moment, or….

Harlequin American came up with A Century of American Romance, a project that would span a year ('90-'91.) Each month, one Harlequin American would be set in a different decade in American history, starting at the turn of the 20th century and moving chronologically forward (I believe Anne Stuart and Barbara Bretton both had books in this program, too.) I volunteered to do the final book in the series, which would be set in the future, at the turn of the 21st century. My editor emphasized that she didn't want a futuristic science-fiction novel, but rather a book set in a future I could envision--a "possible" future.

The book I wrote, A>LOVERBOY, struck me as pretty fanciful as I was writing it. In 1989, when I wrote it, the Internet was new and mysterious, and a lot of computer text was prefaced with the A prompt (A>.) I conceived of a kind of Cyrano de Bergerac romance in which the hero--a coworker of the heroine's and a thorn in her side--wooed her through what would now be called Instant Messaging (which didn't exist back then), and he hid behind the nom-de-computer "Loverboy." While sparring with the actual hero, the heroine gradually fell in love with her computer Romeo.

Now, of course, people IM all the time (and sometimes hide behind fake web names.) But when I wrote A>LOVERBOY, none of that existed.

In the near-future world of A>LOVERBOY, people did short-distance commuting in solar-powered electric cars. (I'd love to see that come true!) Global warming had created an environment in which people had to wear lightweight clothing that covered their arms and legs to protect them from sunburn. Restaurants had heart-healthy entrees listed on the menus. (That came to pass!) A big earthquake struck California. (That's happened a couple of times since I wrote the book, alas.) Cloth diapers with Velcro tabs were in vogue. (They're now available.) People could call up whatever movies and TV shows they wanted to watch, when they wanted to watch them (like today's Tivo and on-demand.) So many of my predictions for the future came true that my editor started teasing me about picking her lottery numbers for her.

Best of all was reader reaction. I heard from lots of computer geeks who absolutely loved the book and related to it. I still run into people at conferences and book signings who remember having read and loved A>LOVERBOY, with its surprisingly accurate glimpse into a future that has since come to pass.

5) Do you hear from your Harlequin American readers who have also read your single titles? What do they say?

A lot of readers found me in single title and have then gone back and scoured the used book stores for my old Harlequin American titles. But other readers started with me back in the mid-80's and have stuck with me all these years. I still meet readers at booksignings who will show up with a pile of the old silver-colored early Harlequin Americans from their keeper shelves and ask me to sign them.

6) Harlequin American Romance is 25 years old. Describe writing some of the earlier books for the line. Were there any taboos? Words you couldn't use? What were the covers like? That sort of thing.

As I noted above, Harlequin Americans were a lot less restrictive than other lines being published in the mid-'80's. Given the concept of the line, the books had to be set mostly in the United States, although characters could travel outside the USA if necessary. And there had to be a central love story. Other than that, though, there weren't many restrictions. I was able to explore some edgy ideas in my Harlequin Americans, ideas no other publishers were touching back in the '80's: atheism and mega-churches; campus radicalism during the Vietnam era; Vietnam veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress syndrome; rape and recovery; freedom of speech; marriage in middle age... I don't mean to imply all my books were ponderous with capital-I Issues. A lot of the books I wrote for the line were comedies. But they were meaty, too. Characters weren't locked inside the hermetically sealed world of their relationship.

The early covers were busy. There was always a main picture of the hero and heroine, and then a smaller picture tucked into one corner of the cover that depicted something about the story. (I had an obscene name for the little "secondary element" pictures. I felt they made the cover look cluttered and tacky.) Then we went to what we called the "Easter Egg" covers. These were the opposite--stark and bland, just the hero and heroine against a blank white background. (The bindings were pastel-colored; hence the "Easter Egg" nickname.) A small box on the cover contained the book's title and the author's name. My book TURNING TABLES was the launch book for the new covers, and my editor told me my original title (INDEPENDENCE DAY) didn't fit inside the box, so I'd have to come up with a new title that would fit. I proposed a second title, which I liked even better: TAKING LIBERTIES. (This was my freedom-of-speech comedy, and the story ends with a July 4th parade.) But no, TAKING LIBERTIES didn't fit inside the box, either. TURNING TABLES was a title my editor came up with. It has nothing to do with the story at all--but it fit inside the box!

Needless to say, I didn't like those covers, either.
The third cover concept was a huge improvement, with the cover art encompassing the spine and spilling onto the back cover. These covers were introduced in 1991 or thereabouts.

Bio:
When I was a child, I never really thought about becoming an author. Creating stories was simply something I did, like eating, sleeping and hanging out with my friends. I could not remember a time when my mind wasn't full of stories begging to be put into words. Even before I knew how to write, I used to tell myself bedtime stories when I couldn't find an adult to tell me one. I still have a copy of my first short story, written when I was six. It told the tale of a lonely bear. None of the other animals in the forest wanted to play with him. Then he met a boy, and they became friends and lived happily ever after.

I went on to write countless stories, poems and theater pieces. I wrote the fourth grade class play. In sixth grade, I wrote an award-winning poem honoring National Dental Week. As a teenager, I wrote dozens of short stories about adolescent angst, as well as free-verse poetry railing against war, oppression, hypocrisy and other great evils. I wrote for my high school's creative writing magazine and edited the school newspaper. But it never occurred to me that I might actually become an author. In college, I wrote a play that won a money prize and was produced on campus. I took this as a sign and decided to become a playwright. Over the next ten years, I wrote several plays and had them professionally produced at regional theaters around the country. All the while, I continued to write short stories and novels. Eventually I burned out on theater work. It required me to travel, usually at my own expense, to the theaters staging my work, and once there I had to deal with directors, actors and producers who all wanted to rewrite my scripts. Since I found it nearly impossible to earn a living as a playwright, I also taught bonehead English at a couple of local colleges. My husband dared me to take a year off from teaching to see if I could write and sell a novel. How much did I dislike teaching bonehead English? So much that I planted myself at my typewriter and wrote non-stop, one eye on the page and the other on the calendar. Before the year was up, I had sold a romance novel to Silhouette Books. That first novel, Silent Beginnings, came out in October, 1983. My first son also came out in October, 1983. Needless to say, it was an eventful month. Since then, I've written more than eighty-five novels which have been published by Silhouette, Second Chance at Love, and Harlequin's Temptation, American and Superromance lines, as well as MIRA Books. Nine books after Silent Beginnings, right between False Impressions and Flowing to the Sky, I also gave birth to a second son. My family lives in a small town not far from Boston, Massachusetts. My three boys-one husband and two sons-take good care of me. They make me laugh and keep me supplied in chocolate. Since chocolate and laughter are essential to my creativity, I guess they deserve a little credit for my having become an author.

Amusing Cultural Differences

Most of the time, the fact that American Romances are edited by Canadian editors makes no difference. The Canadian editors I've met are conversant enough in American culture--which isn't all that different from theirs--to edit even our uniquely American books.

But every once in a while, a difference pops up that amuses me.

Recently I was going over my line edits for my April 2009 book, THE GOOD FATHER, when I saw this change: The hero wanted to open a box of magazines, so he took out his pocket knife and slit open the box. The editor had him instead grab a box cutter. "It seems odd that he just happens to have a pocket knife in his pocket," she remarked in the margin.

Really? Not in Texas it doesn't. Lots of Texas men I know carry pocketknives. In fact, lots of Texas women I know carry pocketknives. I usually have a small Swiss Army knife in my purse (though not if I have to fly--I had one confiscated at security once).

Since my hero had recently transplanted to Texas from New York, maybe he wasn't the pocketknife type. Yet. So the box cutter change was fine. But it did make me smile.

One time a friend had her rural Midwesterners in her book eat come chili mixed with mac & cheese--a common dish in that region. (In fact, Hormel makes a canned "Chili Mac.") But her Canadian editor (or maybe it was a Brit) thought it was so strange that she asked her to change it to avoid jarring the reader. And another of my Texas writer friends had an editor who wanted to insert a blizzard in her East Texas ranch story. (Um, we don't get blizzards in East Texas. Maybe in the Panhandle ...)

More than once I've seen oddities on my covers--Spanish moss on the cover of a book set in Dallas, and snow-capped mountains in the distance of an East Texas scene. And I've lost count of the number of editors who visited Texas and were genuinely surprised and disappointed that not every man wears tight jeans and a cowboy hat.

I would love to hear other funny editor stories that resulted from a cultural disconnect. I know I've hard a zillion, but I can't remember any more at the moment.

Patrician or Plebian

Are you a plebian or a patrician? Susan Wiggs recently did a newletter article in which she asked what do you really read – Gravity’s Rainbow or Nora. And what do you really watch – Planet Earth or Project Runway. Would your answer reflect who you really are or who you think you should be – and is that a commoner, an aristocrat or a combination?

So here’s my dirty little secret. I’m a fan of Ice Road Truckers. That’s the History Channel’s Canadian version of CB Charlie and his eighteen-wheeler. The plot - what little there is - revolves around the trials and tribulations of delivering massive equipment across the frozen Arctic sea. It’s not exactly Emmy winning, so why do I watch it? Because it’s mindless? Or perhaps it’s that plebian gene popping up.

On the patrician side of my personality, I have an extensive collection of fine European/English porcelain and china. My husband claims I’ve never met a plate I didn’t want to take home with me. In fact, I can serve 75 of my favorite friends on Spode, Royal Doulton, Minton, Villeroy & Boch and Heinrich. That doesn’t sound quite like Ice Road Trucker fan, huh? Add that to the fact I have some antiques that date back to when good old George was king and I suppose I can tote those up on the patrician side of the ledger.

So how about those plebe credentials? Considering I spent more time in the hallowed halls of academia than a sane person should, it’s ironic that I have more than my share of common proclivities. Here are some you might recognize.

I love football. There’s nothing quite like a crisp autumn day and the pageantry and excitement of the gridiron – not to mention the uniforms and the athletes wearing them – whew! Then there’s the matter of movies. Just the thought of an angst filled drama with Portuguese subtitles makes my eyes water. Give me a romantic comedy or a rompin’, stompin’ shoot ‘em up any day of the week. And I will freely admit this – I can recite lines from Monty Python. How about music? As a kid I studied Rimsky-Korsakov, Sibelius and Tchaikovsky. Now I groove to Tim McGraw, Toby Keith and Trace Adkins. How about a Honky-tonk, badoink, badoink?

And then there’s the matter of my ancestors. Keep in mind I’m a fourth generation Texan and we’re tough folks. Several years ago I discovered my great grandfather’s Confederate pension application. Seems the old boy had $25 and a cow. My sister and I think that’s a hoot. Either he was telling the truth and he was poor as a church mouse, or he was doing the 19th century version of fraud. Personally, I think it was the latter, but either way he wasn’t exactly landed gentry. I had another great grandfather who donned his bandoleer and rode with Pancho Villa.

Don’t you just love those disreputable ancestors?

So regardless of the fact I learned the correct fork to use before I was in kindergarten, I’m probably a plebe at heart – and proud of it. How about you and what do you really enjoy reading?

Ann DeFee
Goin' Down to Georgia, Harlequin American Romance, March 2008
The Man She Married, Harlequin American Romance, February 2009
Top Gun Dad, Harlequin American Romance, TBA

Winner of the 2008 Book Buyer's Best Award in the Long Contemporary category.

American newbie Trish Milburn

It's my turn at the Harlequin American newbie interview. I'm one of the newest authors for the line. My first book, A Firefighter in the Family, just came out this month, and I'm enjoying the exciting yet surreal experience.

1) How did you make your first sale?

I had written seriously for 11 years and completed 17 full manuscripts and some partials before I sold in July 2007. So it was the height of irony that when I sold my first book (which was actually my first young adult title that comes out next April), it was on a book that wasn't finished. My editor approached my agent because she'd read some of my material while she was at another publisher. She asked me to present them with some ideas, and then a chapter that met certain specifications. Yep, I wrote 17 full manuscripts and then sold on a chapter. Three months later, I realized a long-held dream by selling to Harlequin and becoming an American author. 2007 was an awesome year! :)

2) If you had to pick one word to describe your writing, what would it be?

Honest

3) Tell us about your book.

Miranda “Randi” Cooke left her family and her hometown on the Gulf Coast of Florida behind when a mistake she made as a firefighter led to tragedy. Now her job with the state fire marshal’s office has brought her back to Horizon Beach. Not only will she have to hunt down an arsonist, but she’ll also face the estrangement from her family and have to decide if she wants to give her love for former firefighter Zac Parker a second chance.

4) If you could be lazy for an entire day what would you do?

Sit under a big umbrella on the beach on the Gulf Coast reading and listening to the waves.

5) What is one thing scientists should invent?

Something that records our dreams as we're dreaming so we don't lose all those interesting story ideas and so-real emotions.

6) What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I'm a big fan of movies and several TV shows. I also love to take road trips and go hiking.

7) If you could wish for anything, what would you wish for?

The end of hatred.

8) What inspired you to write your first book?

I was a long-time reader of historical romances, so the first manuscript I wrote was a western set on the Oregon Trail. It's the only historical I've written, but I enjoyed telling a story set in an exciting time in American history.

9) How long have you been writing?

I began writing that historical while I was in college back in the early '90s, but I got serious about regular writing and submitting in 1996.

10) What did you want to be when you grew up?

A writer. Shocking, I know. It first took the form of a career in journalism.

11) What got you interested in writing?

It was something I always enjoyed in school. I still have the first "book" I wrote in the 5th grade. So, the interest was there very early on.

12) What is the one question you wish an interviewer would ask you?

How does it feel to be a New York Times bestseller? LOL. :)

13) What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your
book?

It's amazing what accelerant detection canines (dogs that search for points of ignition in fires and evidence of accelerants such as gasoline) can do in aiding officials solve arsons.

14) What's a saying you use a lot?

"Luck is when preparation meets opportunity." -- Seneca

15) What's your favorite dessert?

Oh, I have so many. Chocolate cake, carrot cake, lemon pie, and Chocolate Extreme Blizzards from Dairy Queen. Oh, and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

16) Do you have any talents readers might find interesting?

Alas, no.

17) What were you doing at midnight last night?

Trying to go to sleep after reading Linda Warren's Texas Heir. I turned out the light at 11:57 p.m.

18) Are you a cat or dog person?

I like both, but I lean more toward dogs.

19) If someone gave you a million dollars what would you do with the money?

I'd buy my parents a house, my sister a house, and pay off our house. Then I'd buy a hybrid car and do a big road trip of the U.S. Then save the rest.