At what age did you begin writing?

  Although I was an avid reader and could never get enough of a good story, I didn't consider writing fiction at first. The "right" side of my brain has always warred with the "left" side. Although I love fiction, making a living with it never seemed like a viable option in the real world. So the first thing published was an article in a nursing magazine on obstetrical nursing. After awhile, I found I wanted an escape from the non-fiction everyday world so I tried my hand at a short story competition in Redbook. Of course, that was a fictional story—about birth. When the story placed and I received encouragement from a judge was also a highly respected agent, I began to entertain the idea of writing fiction. I was 32 years old with young children at the time.

  Did you always have a sense you would be a published author some day?

  Deep down I must have. I can remember my oldest son rolling his eyes once when I talked about what I'd do once published. It was never a matter of "if" but "when." I took hope in the battle-to-publication stories of John Grisham (28 rejections) and J.K. Rowling (12 rejections) and truly believed it was a matter of perseverance.

  Which writer is your greatest inspiration?

  How can I choose just one? That's every bit as hard as choosing which song is my favorite! My taste is all over the board but I lean heavily toward historical or fantasy. For romance on my keeper shelf I have LaVerle Spencer, Stephenie Meyer, and Kathleen Woodiwus. I also have Dan O'Brien, Kate DiCamillo, Gary Paulsen and J.R. Tolkien.

  Upon completion of each book are you left with a sense of satisfaction or fear, or both?

   And a host of other emotions. I am relieved to be done, although that's a double-edged sword because I can tweak a story ad infinitum. There is sadness too, with leaving the characters that have been my constant companions over the course of the story. There's fear that no one will like the story as much as I do. And there is excitement to start the process all over again with a new story. I just love a blank page and all the possibilities it inspires!

  Do you become attached to your characters as if they were real people?

  Absolutely. With the first draft I learn enough about them to want to delve deeper. Then as I revise, new facets of their personalities show up which color their back story and motivation. It is very much that way in real life to me. People have so many layers. Like the saying goes—Still waters run deep.

  Your books are a bit unusual in that they are set in the western part of the United States in the 1800's but aren't necessarily what we think of as "Westerns." How do you categorize them? What kind of writer do you consider yourself?

   The setting for my debut book, The Angel and the Outlaw, had more to do with being raised in San Diego and being exposed to the city's history from an early age. Early southern California history fascinates me with its Spanish and Indian influence and reminds me more of a Zorro than of a John Wayne western. As to what kind of writer I am? I'd have to say Americana historical.

  What can readers expect to find in all your books no matter the setting?

  A tender love story, accurate historical detail, and a hopeful ending.

  If someone were to compare your writing to any author, who would you most like it to be and why?

   I love the work of LaVerle Spencer—Morning Glory being my favorite. Her stories are tender, deep, and touching and her characters are so real and easy to identify with.

  The Angel and The Outlaw finaled in RWA's Golden Heart contest. How was this experience? Did you enter a lot of contests before selling?

  I entered a few contests for the invaluable critiques—first with the manuscript, then with the synopsis. I did well in the smaller regional contests and that gave me courage to send it off to the Golden Heart. When I found out I'd finaled in the GH, I was simply overwhelmed. It has been an unbelievable journey to publication ever since.