of first grade, I loved reading. Then, when I was eight years old, I started
writing a story at school about apple tree gnomes. The teacher loved what I’d
written so far. I was very shy, and her comment freaked me out so much that I
wrote a bad ending so she wouldn’t compliment me again—that was safer than
doing my best and coming up with something mediocre. But that was when I knew I
wanted to write.Do you have a specific writing style?You’ll have to ask my readers. I write
in deep 3rd person point of view most of the time (with the
occasional foray into 1st person), but apart from that I can’t
describe my style except in very general terms. There’s lots of dialogue and
action and not much description. I don’t know how to write comedy, but if humor
just happens to nose its way in, I’m delighted and keep it there.
Do you write in different genres?
Yes, unfortunately, because this makes it
difficult for me to establish an author ‘brand’, which they say matters a lot.
I write two kinds of Regencies – with and without magic – and also wrote the
Bayou Gavotte series, which are paranormal romance/mystery. And then there’s
that first person mystery I’m working on. I don’t seem to be able to stick to
one thing at a time.
write?
How can I possibly choose? I love them
all.
How did you come up with the title for
your latest book?
With a great deal of pain and much help
from others. I’m terrible at titles.
Do you title the book first or wait until
after it’s complete?
See the above answer. My placeholder
titles are usually pretty blah, such as the hero or heroine’s name (which
sometimes changes in the course of the book, but the placeholder may stay the
same. No point exchanging one dumb title for another).
Is there a message in your novel that you
want readers to grasp?
they all say something like “Love conquers all” or “Love is the greatest magic”
or “Be yourself and love will follow.” Sappy stuff, but that’s romance for you.
When you’re not writing what do you do? Do
you have any hobbies or guilty pleasures?
Read, cook, eat, sleep… I used to do a lot
of knitting and crocheting, but since I started writing seriously, I never seem
to have the time. Succeeding at making socks is on my bucket list, but at this
rate I’ll never manage it.
What is next for you? Do you have any
scheduled upcoming releases or works in progress?
called To Kiss a Rake, which will be out on July 29th. It’s a
marriage of extreme inconvenience for both hero and heroine. Here’s the blurb:
WHEN A LADY IS ABDUCTED BY MISTAKE…Melinda Starling doesn’t let ladylike behavior get in
the way of true love. She’s secretly helping with an elopement, when she’s
tossed into the waiting coach and driven away by a notorious rake.REVENGE REALLY
DOESN’T PAY.Miles Warren, Lord Garrison, comes from a family of
helps a friend to run away with an heiress, it’s an entertaining way to revenge
himself on one of the gossips who slandered him.
if that wasn’t scandalous enough, he can’t resist stealing a kiss.