Frequently Asked Questions - General

If you have a question you'd love to ask me, please feel free to contact me. I enjoy hearing from readers and I do my best to reply to all the correspondence I receive in a timely manner. Below, I've put together a FAQ for some of the more commonly asked questions.

Why did you choose to write historical romances?

I picked up my first historical romance (a traditional Regency) when I was seventeen and immediately fell in love with the genre. Although I enjoy reading other time periods, I wanted my first book to be set during the Regency since this was the period that introduced me to romance. Eight books later, and my enthusiasm for the time period hasn't waned. I learn something new about the Regency with each book I write.

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What is your work schedule like?

I have three kids so I've learned to be flexible and work around their schedules. When they are in school, I try to do all my writing between 8:00 am and 2:30 pm. This isn't always possible so I'll switch to evening hours. I love writing late at night when the house is quiet. Unfortunately, the alarm clock goes off at 6 am so I try to stick to the morning routine.

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Where do your ideas come from?

Anything is fair game. I might get an idea from a dream, a documentary I saw on television, or something I came across while I was researching another book. These ideas usually hit me when I'm unable to act on them so I write them down for future brainstorming sessions.

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What do you do to enhance your creativity?

I usually play classical music while I'm writing. I also enjoy the soundtrack to Last of the Mohicans. The music helps me block out the distractions around me and it is a wonderful way to set the mood.

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How long does it take you to write a book?

It depends on the amount of research required. The range is 3.5 to 6 months.

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How did you find out your first book sold?

My agent called and told me the good news. I celebrated with my family that night with Chinese take-out and champagne.

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Do you come up with the titles of your books?

I love coming up with titles! There is usually an underlying theme or line in the story that triggers an idea for a title. Unfortunately, no one except for my agent and editor ever sees these titles. Writers and marketing departments have two different views when it comes to titles so my "working" title is always changed once I've turned in the manuscript.

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Do you base your characters on people you know?

Not intentionally. I might take personality traits I like or dislike in people I've encountered over the years and embellish them for a character. However, I've never deliberately modeled a character after someone I know.

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What advice do you give aspiring writers?

Don't think about writing a book. Sit down and do it. Most new writers (there are the exceptions) will not sell their first book on a partial. Agents and editors will want to see a completed manuscript.

There are so many resources available to aspiring writers. There are craft-focused blogs, classes, and articles available on the internet. I highly recommend attending local writer conferences if you can spare the time. Networking with other writers can be invaluable source of information. I would also recommend joining a professional organization like Romance Writers of America. They have an informative monthly journal, the Romance Writers Report that contains industry news, in-depth spotlights on publishers and articles on the craft of writing.

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I'm having trouble finding some of your older titles. Can you help me?

As far as I know, Kensington has not reprinted my first three books. The out-of-print titles are:

A DESPERATE GAME
A LADY'S MISCHIEF
A GENTLEMAN AT HEART

The print runs were small so these books may be difficult to track down on the used book market. A GENTLEMAN AT HEART is available as an e-book and can be found at Fictionwise. If you cannot find used copies of these books, I recommend interloaning them from a library.

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I like to read books in a series in order. Which of your books are connected and what order should they be read in?

My debut book, A DESPERATE GAME is the only book that isn't connected to a series. The following four books comprise the Bedegrayne series:

A LADY'S MISCHIEF
A GENTLEMAN AT HEART
TEMPTING THE HEIRESS
COURTING THE COUNTESS

I'm presently working on the Carlisle series. So far, there are two books: WICKED UNDER THE COVERS and SINFUL BETWEEN THE SHEETS.

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