The following is from an interview conducted by The Robesonian, the newspaper of Lumberton, NC where I had a great time speaking to their local book group. 

First question about research etc.    

One of the perks of the job “writer” is the opportunity to travel for research.  I absolutely must go to Scotland.  Must!  (In fact, I’m overdue for a trip.)  I started going to Scotland back in my navy days. 

My books are set during the Regency time period—the early 1800’s.  This was a time of great upheaval.  There had been two revolutions—the American and French –and the English were the only ones standing in the way of Napoleon conquering all of Europe.  Many new ideas were being tossed around, most of which we accept today such as education and voting rights for women and the political power of the middle class.  New industries were taking over old ways of life.  I love the juxtaposing  the old way of thinking with this new—and no place was this more prominent than in Scotland where some areas hadn’t changed in their thinking since the Middle Ages.

If I have Scottish blood, I don’t know it.  However, my husband was almost a pure breed.  Scot-Irish to the core.  He gave my children a pedigree.  My ancestors came over with the Mayflower but there is no great English holiday in this country like St. Pat’s so my kids ignore that side of their heritage. 

What made me leap from Naval Intelligence to writing romance?

Hey, sailors are romantic! 

I always knew I wanted to write a book.  Back when I was twenty-four, I wrote a list of the twenty-five things I wanted to do with my life and writing a book was one of them.  I didn’t know what I wanted to write though so I worked on the other items on that list such as being in the Navy.  I spent six years serving my country and am proud of it.  Years later, I read FIERCE EDEN by Jennifer Blake.  The story captured my imagination and that’s when I knew what I wanted to write.

Romance novels have suspense, they have history, they can also include horror, mystery, espionage, fantasy, science fiction—anything and everything the writer’s mind can imagine..  Most people who have never read a romance novel don’t realize the scope of this genre.  Those are the folks who scratch their heads and wonder why everyone is reading romances.  They have a narrow view of what the books contain.  Meanwhile, writers who started in romances such as Janet Evanovich, Tammi Hoag, Sandra Brown, Iris Johanson, and Nora Roberts among others dominate bookstore shelves.  What am I saying?  Romances dominate bookstore shelves.

Do men read Romances? 

Yes.

Family question—

I have three children—two daughters and a son, one grandchild, and, yes, they impact my writing.  Then again, everyone has an impact on my writing.  A phrase, a situation, a momentary thought can capture my imagination and help develop a character.  My children, all young adults, are searching for love—but so is everyone else, including people my age.  Who we love, how well we love, are the only important hallmarks of a well lived life.  Money, fame, material riches have no value when not connected to love. 

What did I think when I made my first appearance on a bestseller list?

I was very happy when my first book made it on a bestseller list.  Up until then, I wasn’t certain anyone read them.  I had received fan mail, I had sales figures but I’d never seen anyone buy one pf my books or caught someone in a chair reading one (Mom doesn’t count).  That first showing on a list was a vindication of sorts.  I’ve been blessed to be on the New York Times list and the USA Today list for every book since that first appearance—the last ten books, I think.  I don’t keep track any longer.  The lists don’t change how I live my life or what I write but they do mean I’ll be employed, and for a writer, that’s saying a lot. 

One of the things I want to mention is the radio program.  Richmond, VA is a reading city.  The local paper “The Richmond Times-Dispatch” has a great books section.  However, I know there are readers out there who don’t subscribe to the paper.  My position is that everyone should read.  There is a book out there for any interested, at any age.  The internet is great but books are more intimate, plus the information is usually vetted.  I am proud to say books have changed my life and I wanted a program that would go beyond fiction.  I wanted to highlight all sorts of books.  I pitched a spotlight on books to Mark Niemand of WZEZ-FM radio.  He’s an avid reader and a writer himself so he was open to the idea. 

Next, I snapped up Kelly Justice, General Manager of the Fountain Bookstore in the Shockoe Bottom section of Richmond to be a co-host.  Even though Kelly is on the board of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance and has been named to the Advisory Council for “Voice”, the new imprint for Hyperion Books, she is not a book snob.  She likes anything that can fit between two book covers and has been a passionate spokesperson for genre fiction in all forms. 

Books!  is broadcast the first and last Mondays of the month between 8 – 9 a.m. on “Mark in the Morning.”  Kelly, Mark, and I discuss books between songs, weather, and traffic and have a great time.  We are eclectic in our suggestions.  One of these past shows, I recommended Colts’ Coach Tony Dungy’s autobiography QUIET STRENGTH while Kelly pushed BAD KITTY, a delightful, and let me stress delightful, A-B-C children’s book by Nick Bruel.  (Get the version with the teeth marks.  That’s a really bad kitty.)  I don’t care if you are a political wonk, a budding chef, want to build a house, or need to while away a few hours wrapped up in someone else’s life, there is a book for you out there—and we want to tell you about it..  For example, my husband was an improv comedian and I now own an impressive library of books written by comedians on the fine art of comedy.  It’s one of the ways he honed his craft.  And whenever anyone asks me how to become a writer—I send them to the library.  That’s where I launched my career.  Every bestselling author from today to fifty years ago has written a book on writing.  Dig in.

By the way, I thought QUIET STRENGTH gave so much good information on the demands of being an athlete and on being a good man that I purchased the book tape to listen to with my son as I drove him down to college for his soccer tryouts. 

Let’s face it, a book is the best entertainment you can buy for less than a twenty.  Go to the library and the fun is free. 

Those outside the WZEZ listening range can hear us on the internet at www.wzezradio.com 8-9 a.m. first and last Mondays of the month.  Or readers can find a run down of the books we’ve recommended on the show at  www.fountainbookstore.com.  Click on the WZEZ box on the upper right hand side.   

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