About the Author

Born and raised on the west coast of the USA, I didn't discover the world of Regency Romance Novels until I was about twelve years of age; I’ve been addicted ever since. Around the same time, someone from church gave our family an ancient Royal typewriter. I don’t remember it being carried upstairs to the bedroom I shared with my sister or why it came with a hideous rug covered desk, but I didn’t care. I was the owner of a typewriter and it fired my demented imagination. I’ll never forget the evening my mother came upstairs and found me working on my first Regency Romance short story. After eying my heartfelt product she laughed and said in a mocking tone, “…a virgin writing romance?” I hadn’t yet discovered the Bronte sisters or Jane Austen or I would have had a stinging retort. Alas, I sat there seething and thinking to myself, ‘You just wait; I’ll have the last laugh!’

Many years later, I still love the genre. Recently I read that the publishing world is phasing it out of existence and lumping Regencies into a generic “Historical” bracket. I don’t actually understand why they’re doing this. Jane Austen movies are on the wide screens. Why aren’t they using the free publicity to promote a genre that includes thousands of excellent stories lounging in dusty warehouses? Carolyn Courtney, Barbara Metzger, Marion Chesney, Sylvia Thorpe, Barbara Cartland; countless authors I’ve enjoyed over the years have brilliant stories no one can read unless one can find a second hand copy. I think this is so sad!

I’m grateful for all the authors who’ve fed my addiction for romance over the years and made me laugh, sigh and dream. I read an article in a newspaper not too long ago where some woman was ranting on the evils of romance novels. She believes they give readers unrealistic expectations, but I think that’s rubbish! If one hasn’t found love yet it’s important to dream and to hope. If an amusing romance novel provides mental and emotional fodder so much the better. Reading about handsome rakes seducing beautiful stupid maidens never prejudiced me against average looking good men. I admit beautiful rakehells who really existed do fascinate me, but I’d never have married one!

I was in my twenties before I had my first date so I needed all the romantic help I could get! A male friend of mine at the time (who I would have dated if he’d asked me) told me in all seriousness that he thought I was scary (as in frightening) and he wasn’t the timid type. I assume most other men found me equally scary. I needed a man with nerves of steel! I found him on-line; he was the first man I wrote to. He was 16 years older than me, English and looking for a wife. I read his profile and I thought, ‘Wow, he sounds awesome!’ I was right. After he realised I wasn’t a lunatic (he calls me eccentric) he fell for my charms and asked me to marry him. When he asked me if I wanted to make a go at eternity I said, ‘Yes please!’ It was as if I’d put in an order for my dream man and he fell out of the sky neatly packaged in colour coordinated clothes.

He was definitely worth the wait. He’s an intelligent, sensitive goblin. If you read The Curse of Love you’ll understand why I call him a goblin. He hides his loving heart behind an acerbic shield, but he makes me laugh every day and after twelve years of marriage I still look at him and think, dang he’s adorable! I feel very blessed to have a lot of romance in my life, but still I feel compelled to write romance novels. In many ways my writing feeds my real life romance which in turn feeds my Regency world.

When I’m not writing Regency Romance Novels I might be reading, sculpting, painting, taking photographs, sewing or staring at the wall daydreaming. I have a degree in fashion design which I hope to use one day and start my own business (in between writing romance novels!). I have all sorts of story ideas that aren’t romances, but I haven’t really wanted to concentrate on them yet. I’m a mathematical moron, but the last few years I’ve become seriously interested in architecture. I have houses building themselves in my head! Who knows what the future holds. We haven’t been blessed with children. It’s sad, but on the bright side it leaves me lots of time to write and I’d probably be a rotten mother anyway. When I was nineteen a friend said to me that he thought I’d make a wonderful grandmother. At the time I wanted to ask him if he didn’t think I’d make a good mother, but I think he’s right. Unfortunately, one can’t skip the mother stage before becoming a grandmother. At church I work with the little children and I love it, but I also love handing them over to their parents and being able to come home and have my Sunday nap in a quiet peaceful house. Life is good.

I want to thank my sisters, Becky for always believing in me, and Sarah for reading all my stories and loving them. She gave me the best birthday present by telling me to hurry up and finish my next book because she’s hooked and wants more.

Last but not least, a thank you to my adorable Goblin for my lovely website and for filling my life with romance, happiness and laughter.