I'm a bit of a voyeur. I love to stick my nose into total strangers' business and observe how they deal with life's hurdles and whatever obstacles fate throws at them. I can't think of anything more challenging or interesting than delving into a character's psyche to discover what makes her/him tick. The surprises and insights are amazing. The people who interest me most are the ones I know will triumph despite life’s problems and challenges. For me, writing their stories is both rewarding and a whole lot of fun. Whenever I'm deep into a story, I walk around and mutter to myself. I often drift off in the middle of a conversation, grab a pen and paper and madly scribble the amazing sentence or plot twist that just popped into my head. With that kind of behavior, people tend to think I’m somewhat eccentric or even crazy–until I explain that I’m a writer, and that paying attention to that muse is important. Publication didn't come easy for me—just ask my family! That took seven-plus years, during which I worked full-time as a banker, complete with an MBA in finance and human resources management. I wrote evenings and weekends, spending countless hours hunched in front of the computer while I painstakingly honed my craft, and collected folders of rejections. In 1999 my efforts at last paid off. That summer, I won the Golden Heart for best long contemporary romance. Six months later, just four days before Christmas, I sold my first book to Silhouette Special Edition. That book, STRANGER IN A SMALL TOWN, was a 2000 Romantic Times nominee for best first long series novel. Since then I have sold multiple novels to Silhouette Special Edition, Harlequin American and Kensington, as well as an online serialized novelette to eHarlequin, and a novella for a Harlequin anthology. I’ve also written numerous short stories. But things change, so check back often for updates. Thanks for stopping by, and come back soon!