A: I didn't really set out to become a professional writer. I always loved making up stories, even when I was a young girl, but it wasn't until the youngest of my three children started school that I decided to try my hand at writing down some of my ideas. I was a history major in college, and my favorite time period was the Middle Ages, so I began there. I wrote a scene about a knight getting dressed for battle, and a story began to take shape, so I went with it. I met an agent during a local writers' conference. She had me send her what I was working on and was able to sell it to a publisher. My career started very slowly but grew gradually. I never in my wildest dreams imagined that years later I'd have so many books in print. I feel very lucky and blessed to have been able to make a career doing what I love.

Q: With your historical romances, how much research do you do?

A: I do a great deal of research. I've collected quite a few books of my own, and I'd also bring stacks home from a nearby university library. Now, so much can be done on the internet. Since I write fiction, the stories I come up with are not historically true, but I do take great pains to make sure the backdrop is accurate.

Q: How do you come up with your ideas for your next novel? Do you think of a title first, a character first, or does a life event create a plot for you?

A: My ideas come from everywhere. I might read a newspaper article, or hear a conversation, or see something happen on the street and my imagination will kick in. I usually start with a single scene, and the rest of the story expands from it. For example, in Ransom, I saw a little boy hanging onto the side of a cliff and I then began to fill in the blanks as to why he was there, who would save him, etc. I think I put the most effort on the first line because that sets the tone for the rest of the book.

Q: How did you get your first book published?

A: As I mentioned earlier, I was at a reception during a writers' conference, and at the end of the evening I struck up a conversation with an agent from New York. She was on her way out the door, but she asked me to send her what I had written. I was actually working on two books at once. One was for young readers and the other was the medieval historical. I sent both, and she was able to sell them to publishers. The historical did well enough for the publisher, Pocket Books, to ask for more.

Q: What has been the response from readers to your novels?

A: I get great letters and emails from readers. They're usually positive and encouraging, but there are some that tug at my heart. The ones that stick with me longest are from people who have gone through a tough time and have read my stories to lighten their load and escape for a while – especially the cancer survivors who say that they forgot about their chemo and their discomfort when they were reading.

Q: Do you have a favorite book or author? What kinds of books do you read for enjoyment?

A: I go through phases. I love romance, of course. I also enjoy a good mystery. And I often go back to the classics from time to time to be inspired. I picked up a book of Oscar Wilde stories the other day and thoroughly enjoyed it because I'd never really read him before. I have so many favorites; it's hard to narrow the list. The ones that come to mind are the ones that impacted me greatly the first time I read them. To Kill a Mockingbird will always be on my list because it showed me how moving a story can be. Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath will also be there because, when I read it in school, I discovered that words could cause a reaction and have power. His description of the dust bowl made me feel parched and dry. Any book that can draw me in and make be forget time and place is great by my estimation.

Q: If you were to give a fledgling writer some advice, what would that be?

A: Three things. First, set aside some time each and every day to work on your writing. It's important to get into a rhythm and develop the discipline. Second, join a writers' group or take a class where you'll get constructive criticism as well as encouragement. Third, write what you love and let your voice come through in your words.

Q: Can you share with us something about yourself that is not commonly known?

A: I spend the bulk of my time divided between work and family, so there's not much to tell. I guess you could say I have relatively normal quirks. For example, I have an obsession with wedding cakes. I'm always searching for the perfect one with just the right white cake density and light, sweet frosting. I've been known to crash wedding receptions just to sample the cake. That's normal, isn't it?

Interview Date: June 2007
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