Hockey isn't that different from romance fiction: you know what's going to happen; the appeal is in how. -Anonymous Romance Reader
Winner of The Association of Writers & Writing Programs' Intro Journals Award.Romantic Times Readers' Choice Nominee. Travel  I love to travel, and lucky for me my day job sends me winging around the globe once or twice a year . . .  if you’d like to join me on a few select adventures, check out my Flickr pages:  Bangladesh  Morocco  New Zealand More to come . . . England, France, and Turkey Interviews For a more interactive look at me and my books check out the interview I did with Risky Regencies for Lord Sin. And here are links to the two days I spent with the ladies over on Word Wenches talking about the clothing of a hero and heroine circa 1811/1812. Nom de plume Advice from many of my published friends, as well as witnessing a few stalker-ish incidents, led me to go with a pen name. So, my middle name and the last name I grew up with (my wonderful step-father's) have been combined to form my fabulous new identity. Overeducated & Under-employable My parents are both book crazy, and my godmother is a writer. With a start like that, scribbling down stories just came naturally. I have a BA in philosophy, with minors in history and creative writing (Hollins College) and an MFA in creative writing (San Francisco State University). Combine all that with $3.25 and you can buy a spicy chai at my favorite coffee shop. Walking the Walk I grew up immersed in the lively reenactor community on the West Coast. Since the age of three I’ve been involved in various living history events from the Middle Ages to the Roaring 20s. I’ve made and worn clothing from the 12th century on up (including the period specific underwear!). Top of page
My "writing partner" Clancy, the Neapolitan Mastiff.	Durer-inspired dress, c. 1520s Photo by Steve Jacobson
Why Romance? I wrote my first romance novel in response to a challenge from a close friend. We'd recently read the same romance novel and were annoyed by the lack of historical accuracy in it, so we decided to see if we could do better. I finished that first novel in about six months and was hooked. I can't promise that my book is error-free, but I can swear that I did my absolute best to make it so. The Call I was lucky enough to final in the Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart contest the first time I entered and everything has just unfolded from there as if it were meant to be. I met my now editor while standing in the pit waiting for the awards ceremony to start. She liked my dress and we got to chatting. That brief chat led to a request for a submission, which led to a sale. Contests The manuscript that was to become Lord Sin got 2s and 3s in the Golden Heart. Yes, you heard me right: 2s and 3s (and one 8). Obviously it did not get into the hands of the “right” judges. Lord Sin has gone on to win a Romantic Times K.I.S.S. Award for the hero and to be nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award.   My other finished manuscript (which has gone on to become Lord Scandal) finaled in the Golden Heart the same year Lord Sin crashed and burned. Previously, that same manuscript got a 37 and a 57 (out of 100) in its only other contest outing and garnered a judge’s comment that I’ll treasure forever: I loathe everything about your hero. This is the same hero about whom the Coffee Time Romance reviewer just said: I could not keep from wishing I was the person Gabriel wanted.   Clearly you can’t please all of the people all of the time, so it’s best in my opinion to be true to yourself, your vision, and your voice. So, don’t give up, and don’t let ‘em get you down. Success is—after all—the greatest revenge.
Random Bits I’m single, child-free, and a committed “dog” person (the bigger the dog the better). I’ve taught creative writing, horseback riding, and seminars on historical costuming. I can drive stick, and start a fire without matches. I can make a soufflé, and hitch a team of horses to a wagon. I can spend nine hours in a Victorian corset without a problem, but can’t wear heels for more than four hours. I laughed all the way through every episode of Colonial House, and if I could only watch one movie for the rest of my life it would be Impromptu.	I'm a passionate ex-Pit Bull Terrier owner (lost my sweet girl to cancer at 16), and firmly of the belief that this breed's woes should be solidly placed at the door of bad owners and irresponsible breeders. My own dog was a shining example of what this breed should be: A devoted little sweetie who loved everyone; allowed children to poke at her eyes; sat calmly while the elderly fawned over her; and groveled for freeze-dried chicken strips every chance she got. For those interested in why an otherwise intelligent person would belive as I do, check out Bad Rap: Bay Area Dog Lovers Responsible About Pit Bulls and find out more.