Tell us a little about your childhood and where you grew up.
I was raised on the east coast, and I had a fabulous childhood. My family moved to a quaint rural town, and I do mean rural. While the rest of the world was using rotary and even some touch tone phones, we had a wooden box on the wall with a crank. In fact, it was a twenty-two person party line. While many city dwellers might be put off by nosy neighbors, it was those same neighbors who were at your door in the time of crisis with a comforting shoulder and a week’s worth of meals. To this day I am still in contact with many of the same neighbors. We never locked our doors and left the keys in the cars. We walked to school, climbed trees in the peach orchard, and churned butter at a neighbor’s farm. We had New York City and Philadelphia when we craved museums, shows and shopping, and three hundred acres when we craved quiet solitude. It was the best of both worlds.
Which of your childhood dreams was the first to die?
Sorry to disappoint you but my childhood dreams never did die. From the age of four or five, I would sit alone in one of the empty stalls of the stable on my Grandmother’s estate and trace the hoof prints in the dirt. Even at that young age I was determined to ride horses and write stories. I have been truly blessed to be able to do both. Ok one dream never did come true. I had a dream of owning a farm and having my horses in the backyard. That dream was reshaped into boarding my horses and riding them every day.
What developed your love of reading?
Truly, it was my first picture book of horses. As I grew, my friend and I lived at the library. Whether mystery, drama or science fiction, we read and discussed every book that had a mention of horses somewhere in the plot.
At what age did you write your first book? Did it get published?
As soon as I could compose a sentence, I was writing stories, and poetry. My numerous poems are in a collection in my desk but I never actually wrote a full book. In truth, I never even thought of trying to be published. I just wrote for the sheer enjoyment of writing.
What challenges did you face while writing your novel, FUN IN THE YELLOW PAGES?
The biggest challenge was being an unproven writer. The edits and the rewrites were endless. Then rejection letters were the norm.
What do you love the most about writing historical romance?
That’s easy. That time period has always felt the most romantic...to me at least. It had mystery and chivalry. That’s when a kiss was really a kiss…the ‘weak in the knees’ type of kiss.
Who inspired the character of Fletcher Stedman in SEASON OF THE SHADOW?
My hero for SEASON OF THE SHADOW was really a composite. I wrote down the finest traits and most romantic elements of all the men I dated. Fletcher was born. I suppose that’s why my readers find him in every one of my novels.
What is the one advice you would like to give to young writers in the world?
On several occasions I was invited to be ‘visiting author’ in a fourth grade class, and it was so much fun. The students had read FUN IN THE YELLOW PAGES and were eager to know how I thought of the plot, who inspired the characters etc. They told me they had stories in their heads and didn’t KNOW how to get started. I told them to write about what they know, what they are passionate about, to just start writing down the ideas in their head. The first draft doesn’t need to be perfect. Just take the ideas from head to paper. There will be plenty of time to edit and rewrite but one cannot edit or rewrite something that isn’t written down in the first place. Some authors write from beginning to end. Others just the opposite. The students seemed excited when I suggested they just write what comes to mind. Quite often it’s those first paragraphs that quickly lead to full pages, to chapters, to whole manuscripts.
How do you feel about the shift of readers from physical books to digital ones?
I personally like the feel of the physical book but I know avid readers who utilize the digital copies. Doesn’t really matter to me as long as my readers are enjoying the stories I’ve written.
Who was the first reader that reached out to you? What did they say and how did you respond?
A friend of mine at the barn where I boarded my horses asked if she could read one of my stories. I grinned and initially refused. Handing my manuscript to someone outside of family was like allowing them inside my head. It’s truly ‘putting yourself out there’ and exposing your ego to a possible crushing blow. She finally convinced me, and the next day I handed her my two and a half inch thick manuscript. It was my first venture into historical romance. Three days later she told me it was her favorite time of the day…to sip wine and read my book and that I should strive to get it published. The rest was history, and I thank her to this day.
What common writing advice do you disagree with?
I don’t want to say there is any advice with which I disagree because everyone’s writing style is different. One common thing mentioned is having a dedicated time to write every day. Somehow that doesn’t always work for me. I can sit at the computer during my ‘dedicated time’ and just stare at the screen. Being at the computer doesn’t make the ideas come…to me at least. The ideas hit me when they hit me…in the car…at a dinner party…and very much on horseback. I put a memo in my phone so I don’t lose the idea. I can plan to pay bills from two to four but I have trouble ‘planning’ the spark of ideas within any set time.
What other things, apart from writing, do you enjoy doing?
First and foremost I enjoy training and riding my horses. They are such an inspiration, a comfort as well as stress reliever. I also love cuddling and walking my dogs. For the last fourteen years there has not been time for much else because I was my mother’s caregiver. Now that she is in Heaven, I expect to do more volunteering.
When you are not reading or writing a book, what are some other things that you love to do?
I really enjoy doing research for my books. For my first romance, SEASON OF THE SHADOW, my mother and I (and the dog) drove to all the places in the novel. Of course, now the internet can transport anyone anywhere, making research a breeze although I’m not certain it would be as much fun. I also love to reconnect with family members who I’ve lost touch with through distance, scheduling and…just life. My latest romance, INSIDE THE GREY helped me to reconnect with a cousin I had not seen in decades. We’ve rebuilt such a wonderful bond that I named one of the characters after her.
Is there anything you are currently working on that may intrigue the interest of your readers?
All of my novels can stand alone but while there is a new exciting hero and heroine in each story, the readers will recognize many of the original characters because they make an appearance. I’m currently working on a new romance taking place in the aftermath of war. My hero, Rafe Buchanan, returned home from California with voluminous wealth. But the coins fell from his hand when he found his home in ashes, his wife in the ground, and his infant son in the custody of an unknown couple. For the next sixteen years, Rafe sealed his heart, trusted no one…until she insinuated herself and altered his plans and his world.
How has your experience of being associated with AllAuthor been?
It’s been so much fun. They have many opportunities to promote my book.
