Do you think you had a normal childhood, or a boring or exciting one? Where did you grow up and tell us an interesting fact about your hometown.
I was born in Florida and I’ve lived all over the state, but most of my normal childhood was spent in Miami. I guess one interesting tidbit about living in South Florida is that I’ve waterskied on Christmas day. I live in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina now and I love that Christmas actually feels like Christmas because it’s cold.
What was the first historical romance book that you read that completely blew you away?
Jo Goodman’s A Season to be Sinful. Jo writes dark, sensual romance books that might not be for everyone, but I love her stories, especially her Regency ones.
When you first started writing, who were some of your author role models that you tried to emulate?
Truthfully, I never tried to emulate another author, instead worked to develop my own voice.
What are some other career paths you considered before finally settling down and becoming a writer?
I’ve loved to write stories as far back as I can remember, but didn’t pursue it until a few years ago. Prior to that, I did have two jobs that I loved. One was as the manager of a private airport in Indianapolis. I got to meet both NASCAR and Indy drivers when they’d fly their private planes into our airport for a race at the Brickyard. The other job that I loved was as the General Manager of the Ashville Harley-Davidson dealership. That was cool, and yes, I did ride a Harley.
What is the biggest risk you’ve ever taken as a writer and did it pay off?
Switching from writing historicals to writing contemporary romance, and, yes, it paid off. The first book in my K2 Team series, Crazy for Her, reached #2 in the entire Amazon store, getting that coveted Bestseller banner.
Are there some new words or concepts in your book “Ace of Spades” that may be new to some readers?
If so, could you explain some of them? That undercover FBI agents would own a biker bar. It was fun to put them in that setting and make it believable.
Could you tell us about some interesting people you’ve met while doing research for one of your books?
I met Major Rusty Bradley, the author of Lions of Kandahar, when I was writing Crazy for Her (the series is about a SEAL team returning to civilian life and working for K2 Special Services). Rusty is a true hero and I had the chance to talk to him for a while, also getting a signed copy of his book. One of the things that I learned about him was that although he was a warrior hero, like so many of his kind, he was larger than life, yet unassuming. I modeled Logan Kincaid—my hero in Crazy for Her—after Rusty.
Would you say that your book “The Letter” follows the typical flow of a historical romance? What would you say makes it stand out from the rest?
In some ways, The Letter follows the formula of a Regency book, but in some ways not. One thing that stands out as different in The Letter is the letter from an evil man to his cousin that starts the book. When the letter that will turn my hero’s world on its head is delivered to him, his villain cousin is already dead but his dirty deeds live on.
Between the series "Aces & Eight" and "A K2 Team", which one was harder to write and why?
Mm, interesting question. I think Aces & Eights because I had to make it believable that three brothers are all FBI undercover agents who own a biker bar. The books are getting great reviews, so I think I pulled it off.
Do you think a writer could write a book without being able to relate to the characters in some way? Which character of yours do you relate most to?
I think an author has to relate to all her characters in some way, even the minor ones. Otherwise, they’d just be cardboard cutouts. I guess I’d say that I relate to Madison Parker in Jack of Hearts (book one in the Aces & Eights series) the most. She is co-owner of a bookstore (I’d love to own a bookstore) and loves to read. She grew up in Miami, and she thought bad boys weren’t her thing until one came along that she couldn’t resist.
How many unpublished or unfinished books do you have?
I have three finished books that won’t be published until next year and two unfinished that will also come out next year. So five books coming out for me in 2018. The most I’ve had published in a year until that happens is three books. Looks like 2018 is going to be a very busy year for me.
How long does editing your books usually take? Do you usually seek help or do you prefer to do it on your own? What are some things you edited out of the book “The Dukes Obsession”?
I definitely use editors—a developmental editor, a copy editor, and a proofreader for all my books. I’m a firm believer that you should invest in your books so that they are the best they can be. The first round of developmental edits are the hardest, but each edit after that gets easier. It’s about a month to a two month long process, depending on how much work a book needs. I edited out that the heroine in The Duke’s Obsession had a daughter.
What is one thing valuable you would give up to become a better writer?
Sleep. LOL
