• Where do you get your ideas?
• How old were you when you first started writing?
• So, why did you write your first novel?
• How much do you write a day?
• How many books do you write a year?
• Who are your favorite authors?
• What books are currently on your night stand?

Where do you get your ideas?

Actually, I've got a very good imagination and, since I was a small child, I have seen movies in my head. The stories come from movie scenes my brain created to entertain me. Long car rides are especially good for figuring out plots.

How old were you when you first started writing?

When I was very little I used to tell my sisters stories at bedtime. Then in 5th grade I asked my best friend to write a pioneer book with me. She thought I was nuts. I went on to write all kinds of stories for entertainment, but I never thought I'd be a writer. I thought I was going to be an engineer or a geologist.

So, why did you write your first novel?

I took a creative writing course for an easy A. One day two women in my class stopped me in the hall and told me they loved my stories. Actually, they told me I was going to be a writer and well, I figured they must know something I didn't. So, I sat down and wrote a science fiction fantasy novel that was 550 pages long. I loved every minute of it and was hooked from then on out. (No, that novel was not good. It has never seen the light of day and you should be glad.)

How much do you write a day?

Some people write for a certain amount of time-say 4 or 8 hours a day. I set my goals by the page. I write five pages a day or a chapter a week. For writers who are slow, one page a day, every day for a year will give you a complete novel.

How many books do you write a year?

It depends on the book. I like to write three books a year. I can write more if they are small books. I know authors who write as many as six a year and others who write only one. It depends on your own personal style and length of book.

Who are your favorite authors?

I think there are so many good authors out there it's hard to choose. Right now my favorite historical authors are Julie Garwood and Carolyn Brown. For contemporaries, I love Harlequin American authors Marin Thomas and Shelley Galloway. I, also, enjoy JD Robb's Death series and most books by Nora Roberts.

What books are currently on your night stand?

I've been reading thrillers. So the books currently on my night stand are: "The List" by Steve Martini and "The Broken Window" by Jeffery Deaver.