Living in England as an Air Force brat gave me an appreciation for all things British. For four years we were stationed at Greenham Common Air Force Base near Newbury, Berkshire, about two hours southwest of London.

Since much of the base's real estate was devoted to one of the largest flight lines in England, there was no base housing actually on the base. (We didn't actually have any planes, either -- great government logic at work.) Our first year, we rented a house in the village of Crux Easton, and I attended school with my British neighbors. Then we moved into base housing, which was a modernized stables, next door to the carriage house, and both were just down the hill from the manor house. Though the manor's upper floors had been converted to temporary housing for personnel coming and going, the ground floor was intact pretty much as it had been 100 years before, complete with ballrooms (yes, plural) and a grand staircase. All the kids knew how to sneak in the manor's back door, and we had a blast playing make-believe amidst all the historic grandeur on rainy days. England has a lot of rainy days.

Here I am thirty years later, still playing make-believe in historic England -- but now, more than just the neighbor kids get to share in my stories. After a brief flirtation with journalism, I embraced the world of romance, trading headlines for happily-ever-afters. I live in Portland, Oregon (whose climate is remarkably similar to that of England -- hmm) with my husband and our two kittens, Dakarai and Derby.

When not writing, reading, napping or researching, I design jewelry, play classical guitar, and search for the perfect sugar-free chocolate.

 

From the January 20, 2005 edition of The Mail, the newspaper serving rural Douglas County, Oregon. Though there's no by-line, it was written by Steve Wicker -- yes, the same Steve Wicker to whom I dedicated my first novel.

Steve was my advisor all through high school, as well as journalism teacher. When a teacher has a profound impact on your life, I think you should let them know.

After graduation, one of my first jobs was reporter/photographer for the Umpqua Free Press, now known as The Mail. Back then, Steve moonlighted as the sports editor, so we became co-workers. I had to fight the urge to call him Mr. Wicker and raise my hand when I wanted to talk to him.

Steve has since retired from teaching, but as you can see, still works part-time for the paper. During our phone interview, sometimes it was hard for me to remember I was talking to a member of the press, and not just chatting with an old friend.

 

Courtesy of Romance Book Lovers. I was their featured author interview in their February 2005 newsletter. The interviewer was Joey Sterzinger, who happens to also be one of my critique partners.

Click here to read the entire interview.

http://www.rblromantica.com/