Welcome to my FAQs page! Here you’ll find a variety of questions from readers with answers from me.

Actually, I don’t have a good answer for some of the most popular questions that appear in my reader email, such as: Are there going to be any more “PAX League” books? And-Are there going to be any more “Sword and the Ring” books? The truth is, I don’t know yet. Watch the blog, for updates!

Now, for questions I can answer……

Q: If you weren’t an author, what would you be?
A: A cat.

Q: Do you have any input on what your covers look like and how do they come up with them?
A: I do have some input, but I don’t know how they really come up with them. Getting a good cover involves some ritualistic candle-lighting, chanting, dancing at midnight beneath a full moon….. (I’m just kidding. I think.) I wrote a post about my romance novel covers once: Meanwhile, Back at the Spanish Castillo.

Q: Can you tell me more about the international trips you’ve been on?
A: I love to daytrip and to travel, but I’ve only been on one international trip-to England in November 2006. You can see pictures and commentary from the trip by clicking here and here.

(Pictured right: Corfe Castle.)

Q: How has your career as a writer changed your life?
A: I’ve been a fulltime writer most of my adult life, so I’m not sure how to say it has changed my life. I’ve always been a writer and always wanted to be one. It’s the best job in the world!

Q: What are your most favorite and least favorite parts of being a writer?
A: Most favorite is definitely the freedom to work from home. Least favorite would probably be the lack of a regular income.

Q: I listened to one of your workshops on tape (or I heard about one of your workshops from a friend). Can you send me the handouts?
A:If you attended one of my workshops where I ran out of handouts, I’m always happy to mail a set of handouts later. Otherwise, unfortunately, I can’t send handouts either through the mail or through attachments. If you’re interested in taking one of my workshops (or hosting one for your organization), please check my Workshops page for topics I’m currently presenting (both on-location and online) and my upcoming schedule.

Q: How many cats do you have?
A:Eight. Right now. This answer could change at any time.

(Pictured here, from left to right: Smoky, Spice, Purrsian.)

Q: Have any of your books been translated into other languages?
A: Yes, my books have been published all over the world and in numerous other languages. You can see some of my foreign bookcovers on my Books page.

(Pictured: my daughter.)

Q: Is there anything in your writing you’d like to explore-different genre, specific situations, etc?
A:I’ve written short and long contemporaries, sexy books, romantic comedy, family and relationship stories, traditional romance, paranormal and romantic suspense, and even done a trilogy of medievals. I’ve explored quite a bit of the romance genre-but yes, there’s more! I’d love to try new things in the paranormal subgenre. Maybe a vampire book! I’d love to do more sexy contemporaries, and I’d really love to do some more historicals some day, more medievals, and I have a secret hankering to write a Viking book……

Q: Does your environment influence your creativity and writing?
A:Absolutely. I live in West Virginia now, and my latest series, Haven, is set in the rural West Virginia mountains where I live. I’m always inspired by my surroundings and have often set books where I have lived or have travelled. Several of the photographs on this page are from daytrips around wild, wonderful West Virginia.

I love digital photography and often post pictures on my blog as well as on my photoblog.

(Pictured here: The New River from Hawk’s Nest State Park.)

Q: How do you develop your characters for your stories-their personalities, names, backgrounds, etc? Do your books come from characters you develop or do your characters come from a plot line you are considering?
A:Usually, I come up with a story idea, then I work from there to develop the characters, developing the faults and strengths that will play best in the plot. I love naming characters, finding just the right name, and often use The Character Naming Sourcebook by Sherrilyn Kenyon as a resource.

Q: What is your all-time favorite book?
A:ONE?? Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, The Hobbit (and the Lord of the Ring series) by J.R.R. Tolkien, A Rose in Winter by Kathleen Woodiwiss…. I could go on and ON.

Q: Do you read other authors’ manuscripts before they are published?
A:I do critique with a few longtime friends. I don’t judge contests or critique for writers I don’t know.

(Pictured left: Glade Creek Grist Mill at Babcock State Park.)

Q: What book of yours would you most like to see made into a movie, and who would you want to play the hero and heroine?
A:I want them all made into movies! But, okay, if I must choose one…. The Beast Within. I’d want Meg Ryan to play Paige, and Josh Holloway to play Kieran. Wow, wouldn’t that be fun?

Q: Where do you get your ideas?
A:Nora Roberts gave a talk one time at RWA where she was asked this question and she said something along the lines of-if I told you where I get my ideas, you’d go there! I thought that was hilarious. My real answer: everywhere-research books, movies, documentaries, the news, life around me, etc. Ideas are everywhere! It’s writing the books that is so hard…..

Q: From all the books you’ve written, which one is your favorite?
A:Pick one?! That would be like choosing my favorite child. My favorite book is always the one that just came out!

Q: Did you take any writing courses before writing your first published book?
A:I have a degree in English, with a minor in history, from Texas Tech University, where my coursework included creative writing and journalism.

Q: How do you balance your time with family and being a writer? Do your kids cooperate or do things seem to go crazy at home when a deadline looms?
A:I try to schedule writing time during school hours. I have three children who are active and involved in various sports activities. Life is busy! Sometimes things go a little crazy around deadline time, yes. My children know how to make sandwiches if dinner is looking unlikely!

(Pictured: Son #2)

Q: What advice would you give to unpublished authors?
A:Write!! Read! Study the market! Join Romance Writers of America.

Q:What kind of books do you read? Who are your favorite authors? What books are on your keeper shelf?
A:I read everything. Romantic comedies, romantic suspense, paranormal, historicals (all periods-but medieval is my fave), and I also love to read non-romantic suspense and mysteries, magazines, cereal boxes, anything! Name my favorite authors? Is that a trick question? (LOL) I have too many author friends to try to name all my favorites, but I do admit to being a huge Nora fan!

Q: Are you a cup half full or cup half empty person in your everyday life? Which cup do you see most often?
A:I like to keep a positive outlook! Life is good!

(Pictured: scenic West Virginia.)

Q: What do you think of self-publishing?
A:I really don’t know enough about self-publishing to give any advice on the subject.

Q: Do you have a writing good luck charm?
A:Yes, I do, and you can’t have it. It is a tightly-held secret I will take to my grave.

(Pictured: Son #1.)

Q: How did you become a writer and when did you know you wanted to be one?
A:I can remember wanting to be a writer when I was five. I discovered Harlequin Romances when I was 12 and decided then that I would write romance. After college, I worked as a journalist. I sold my first book when I was 28. I’ve always been a writer.

Q: Where do you get your hair done?
A: That, too, is a tightly-held secret.

Q: What is something about you that we would be surprised to know?
A:I’m shy.

Q: Are you planning to write any more paranormal books?
A: Yes! My latest Silhouette Romantic Suspense series, Haven, is about a small town in the West Virginia mountains-an earthquake releases positive ions that trigger paranormal activity…… Anything can happen in Haven. Watch my Books page and blog for information and updates.

Thank you for visiting, and please come see me in my blog where I post my daily farmhouse journal. I’d love to have your company!