Although I've lived in Georgia and Texas, I'm a California girl
at heart. My earliest memories are of life on an isolated 50-acre
sheep ranch in rural Sonoma County, California. Picture rolling
hills covered in brown grass, a eucalyptus forest, a long gravel
driveway lined with plump sheep and no sidewalks. It was a big deal
to drive into town on a one-lane road in a ramshackle, bubble-
fendered pickup for an ice cream.
Later, we moved to the suburbs of the San Francisco Bay Area
where I was excited to discover children my own age living just
across the street! My mom taught school and loved to take road trips
in the summer. We drove to Montana, Death Valley, Mexico, up the
Oregon and Washington coastline to Canada, and often sought relief
from the Northern California heat by camping in Yosemite. Although I
absolutely love road trips, my husband doesn’t share the interest.
There’s quite a conflict when we get in the car together because I
want to stop and investigate points of interest, and he’s all about
making the best time minus stops, except for bathroom breaks for the
kids. Now, if I could just get the kids to pipe up with a potty
request whenever I want to stop, I’d be happy.
I’ve always been an avid reader of just about anything--romance,
mystery, suspense, fantasy, biographies--and always loved to write.
My first romance was written for my friends in the seventh grade,
featuring their heartthrobs, including, I believe, Leif Garrett. I
don’t know what ever happened to Leif, but I know he didn’t marry
one of my girl friends. She did, however, end up with her own hero,
a man who makes her tremendously happy.
That’s what I like about romances. There’s always happiness at
the end of that journey the characters are taking. It may be a
comedy, suspense, mystery or drama, hot and steamy or sweetly
romantic, but you’re still guaranteed the happily-ever-after. So,
I’ll keep writing them. Besides, what better reason than "research
for my book" do I have to make my husband stop on those long road
trips?
