1. If you could trade places with any of your leading ladies, who would it be and why??
I think it might be Lesley in Cupid’s Christmas—not because I think she is most like me, but because she is young and madly in love with a man who adores her.
2. In 5 words, please describe your ‘Romance Writing Style’.
Family friendly stories of love.
3. Are any of your more ‘passionate’ scenes, based on any real life experiences?
I am smiling and nodding yes because my most passionate scenes are about the love in a person’s heart, but I never divulge what goes on beneath the covers.
4. What is your ‘girl vice’? ie getting your hair done? Nails? Shopping? Gossiping? Chick flicks?
All of the above, except take out gossiping and add in a massages.
5. Are any of your leading ladies, based on your you or any of the ladies in your life? If so, who?
My female protagonists are almost always based in part on my Mom. She was funny, tender-hearted and tough as nails when the chips were down. I hope I picked up a lot of her traits, but that’s a maybe. Definitely my Mom. Especially Olivia Westerly Doyle from Spare Change and Abigail Lannigan from The Twelfth child.
6. When writing your more ‘adult’ scenes, do you picture what’s happening in your head, then write what you see? Of do you use another technique?
I can see every scene I write in my head. I get so into the characters that I actually start to think like they do.
7. This or That ~ Wine or Beer? Sex in the City or Caroline in the City? Perfume or Jewelry? Painted nails or Au Natural? Tall or Dark or Handsome?
Definitely wine. Sex in the City (Love those gals.) Perfume, I don’t like a lot of jewelry hanging on me but I do love tee shirts and shoes with glitzy rhinestones.
8. Do your leading men come from any place in particular? Dreams? Movie stars? Your partner? Past partners?
My dreams and my partner, since I happen to be married to the man of my dreams.
9. What is the first romance novel you ever read? How old were you?
Cinderella. I was seven years old and it instilled in me the lifelong belief in Prince Charming.
10. Do you write for a particular audience or for yourself and pray others like it as well?
I write stories from my heart so I suppose you could say that is writing for myself, but I am so attuned to what my readers like that it does affect the stories and characters I choose to write about.
11. What was the LAST (most recent) romance novel you read? Did you enjoy it?
The Night Circus and yes, I did enjoy it very much.
12. As a writer of romance, do you ever put yourself in your leading lady’s shoes and ‘walk’ around in them before you write?
Absolutely. Sometimes those shoes are very comfortable and at other times they are not.
13. Would You Rather ~
Live 1 wk in your leading lady’s shoes Or The leading lady from another author? Who & Why?
The truth is I would not trade places with anyone, from one of my novels or anyone else’s. I love being who I am and feel that I live an ideal life. The poor women in my books and most others are faced with some of life’s greatest challenges.
14. Do you have any advice to give the leading lady of the novel you are currently working on or just finished?
I just finished writing Jubilee’s Journey and I guess I would tell Olivia to hang in there, the problem will resolve itself.
15. How hard do you try to keep your ‘love’ scenes realistic and flow with the plot? Does it come easy for you?
I do try to keep them very realistic, I don’t think just tossing in a bedroom for the sake of sizzle makes for a very interest heroine or story. And yes, it does come easy since I almost always put myself in the protagonist’s mind-set.
16. in 5 years, where would you like to be in your career as a romance author? 10 years?
Like most authors, I would love to be on the New York Times Bestseller list – this year, five years from now or ten years from now.
17. When it comes to mainstream Romance authors, who do you enjoy curling up with to read?
Debbie Macomber always has sweet love stories with a happy ending, so although I can’t say there is one specific author, she would definitely be high on my list.
18. If your sweetheart wanted to sweep you off your feet, what would they need to do??
Romantic candlelight dinner, music, dancing, and a bottle of wine.
19. In the spectrum of ‘Romance’, where would you place your most recent novel? Closer to the ‘Sweet’ side or ‘Naughty/Erotica’ side or somewhere in the middle??
Definitely on the sweet side.
20. Do you ever daydream about people you see at the park? Airport? Train station? Mall? And build romance scenes around them while you daydream?
I don’t think there is an author in the world who doesn’t do this so yes, I do. I can sit there and look at someone for ten minutes and dream up an entire life for them.
21. This or That ~ Romantic Dinner at Home or Romantic Dinner Out? Roses or Lilies? Diamonds or Emeralds? Demure or Sex Kitten? Making love on a secluded Beach or Making love in a secluded cabin in the woods?
Romantic dinner out. Lilies. Diamonds. Demure. Secluded beach.
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