FAQs
Q: Which genres do you write?
A: I primarily write clean YA and NA Historical Romance but have plans for a couple of YA Medieval Fantasy Romance series, some Speculative Fiction, and Historical Fiction (fictionalizing the story of a historical figure).
Q: What do you mean when you say "clean steam" romance?
A: Many clean romance readers have endured the disappointment of the sterility of a plot. When some authors attempt to keep the romance in their stories clean, they sometimes "throw the baby out with the bath water" and wind up with a weak conflict.
Contrarily, some clean romance readers have gathered their blankets on a cold night to curl up and read a book they thought they would enjoy, only to get surprised in Chapter Three with the discovery they had unknowingly purchased or checked out a book with explicit sex scenes (which can be difficult to unsee.)
Clean romance readers want steamy kisses that stay above the neckline with ample tension, suspense, and adventure. These readers like deeply-rooted conflicts with high stakes.
"Will Josie keep her dress shop afloat while fending off a saboteur? Will she lose it all and be forced back to tending Jake's Bar, sleeping on a cot in the back room with her two-year-old child while trying to steer clear of Jake's brother, who wants her to work as a prostitute? If he comes around again, how far will she go to save herself and her child? The Derringer in her skirt pocket says she will go pretty far."
Clean romance readers don't mind some grit. But what happens in that bedroom must stay in the bedroom.
Q: What inspired you to write?
A: This is where the author says, "I have been writing since I was young." This was not the case with me.
I had many stories running through my head while growing up, but I never got them down on the page. I would love to say that books surrounded my childhood and that I read a lot, but this, also, was not the case.
At the age of twenty-two, I married my best friend, who just happened to be a writer. As I shared character and world-building ideas that would pop into my head, my hubby would offer, over and over, that I should be writing my thoughts down.
After brushing him off for literally decades, I decided to return to school and attend a local junior college at age forty-nine.
It only took a few weeks for me to figure out that I wanted to teach English writing skills. A short while later, I began to chew on the idea of becoming an author.
Later, the COVID situation hit our world, and I realized I needed to finish my education online. The idea of getting published as an author was getting brighter in my mind, so I spoke to a couple of advisers, made the leap to Southern New Hampshire University online, finished my BA in English Language and Literature, and applied for their MFA in Creative Writing program.
It turned out to be a life-changing decision.
I not only learned essentials about writing, but now I have knowledge of the publishing industry so I can make informed decisions about my creative works going forward.
The stories, both the ones I pondered in my childhood and the fresh ones of today, are finally emerging onto the page. They have marinated long enough.
Q: Who is your favorite author?
A: I enjoy reading books written by authors who have done significant research on the historical content of their stories. I have been inspired by Sandra Byrd, Crystal Caudill, Elizabeth Camden, Jodi Hedlund, Laura Frantz, Michelle Griep, Roseanna M. White, and Karen Witemeyer. It's fun to learn something while turning the pages.
Q: What does your writing schedule look like?
A: While many authors commit to writing daily, I don't think there is a one-size-fits-all method to schedule one's creative time. I write bulky word counts three days per week and tend to write best late at night. (I come from a long line of night owls.) I can get into my zone when the house is quiet. My writing flows best after dark.
Q: Where do you get your ideas from?
A: My stories tend to start with my characters. As they develop, the things they want, the conflicts they endure, and the worlds they live in all begin to flow. When I watch a movie, read a book, or observe people going about their business in public spaces, characters develop in my head. I then allow those characters to influence and carry the plot to fruition.
Also, I am passionate about researching history and can easily get caught up in a particular era or historical event that suits my fancy. As I examine the diverse findings of a historical event, my mind explodes with fictitious people and scenes of how they may have lived and dealt with specific challenges they may have had in that time.
Q: Do you have an author's bucket list?
A: Yes! Along with a strong desire to travel to the places where my stories are set, I hope to pen 100 books. Some of my favorite authors have published 36, 42, or 51 books in the last 15 to 20 years. I figure I could pen and publish 100 before I depart.
Q: How much money do you make?
A: More than someone working the dime booth at the county fair and less than a neuroscientist.