This week I decided to look at what is usually counted as the first book in the Danver’s series. It is actually the second book I wrote

, but chronologically it is the first in the timeline. But to understand the inspiration for One Night of Passion, you have to go back to that original Danvers series story, Once Tempted.

When I started writing Once Tempted, I hadn’t given much thought to Robert Danvers’s brothers, that is until I was writing the scene in Chapter Nine where Olivia asks Robert’s older brother, Colin, how … Read more »

Continuing my look back at my earlier books, this week I pulled from the shelf, It Takes a Hero, the 4th book in the Danvers series, which featured Raphael Danvers, the half English, half Spanish, prickly and temperamental twin of Orlando Danvers. Rafe had neither a title or wealth, but came with a quick mind and daring heart with which to make his way in the world.

I always had a bit of crush on that dark-haired devil. Okay, still do.

Writing Raphael Danvers’ story was inevitable. Apart from Jemmy Finch and Orlando Danvers, Rafe was the number one … Read more »

Have you ever wondered what goes on to inspire a story or what goes into writing a book? Well, watch my blog in the coming months for my THROWBACK THURSDAY series of stories about how my books came to life. I’m beginning with the first book I wrote in the Danvers series: Once Tempted. While this book is listed chronologically as the 3rd Danver’s book, I actually wrote it first.

The idea for Once Tempted came out of my desire to write a “treasure hunt” book. I’ve always found the idea of hidden treasure enthralling, so as I mulled … Read more »

I used to do these Tuesday 5 Things interviews all the time, but got out of practice. My bad! But because so many of you have asked me to continue doing them, I’m gathering them in as I write this. In the past we found out 5 Things about some of my favorite friends and authors, including Katharine Ashe, Sarah MacLean, and Laura Lee Guhrke (who like so many authors, can’t count and answered way more than 5 questions! LOL), who all agreed to take a list of crazy questions from me and give up 5 of their secrets.… Read more »

If you are like me, your writing time is both precious and never long enough. So here are some of my methods to make sure you are getting the most pages out of your limited time.

1) Stop reading email, posting on Twitter and checking your Facebook account. Okay, maybe that’s a little drastic, but how about printing out this little rule and stick it on your computer screen: Writing first, all the rest second. To make is easier, turn off all your notifications that will beep or pop up on the corner of your moniter. You don’t need to … Read more »

Let’s just get to the good stuff, shall we? I’ve posted the excerpt for Have You Any Rogues?! And apparently I do, Yes, Sir, Yes, Sir, Three Rogues will do. Tee Hee.

As a little backstory, I got the idea for Have You Any Rogues? while I was writing And The Miss Ran Away with the Rake. There is a scene, late in the book, where Crispin Dale comes to Owle Park and demands that Preston hand over his cousin, Daphne. As Crispin was there, glowering on the front steps, I realized–or at least in my imagination–I saw … Read more »

Since Avon Books has my electronic backlist on sale right now, I thought it would be fun to look back at the titles that are being offered for $4.99. Over the next 6-8 weeks, I am going to pick a book and look at the inspiration behind it, the characters and perhaps some of the challenges behind writing it.

I had to start with one of my favorites (yes, an author can have a favorite), Something About Emmaline. This was the first book in the Bachelor Chronicles series. Something you might not know is that this series was inspired … Read more »

I am in the throes of finishing my book, so I haven’t been blogging as much as I like. I’ve got a great list of blogs I plan on doing this summer–behind the scenes looks at my previous books, spilling hints about upcoming projects, but right now, I have only one thing to do:

Finish the book. Oh, and this blog post.

Because I promised a winner.

Without further ado, the winner for the contest is: Diane Nelson, who commented on June 21, 2012 at 2:59 pm. Congratulations, Diane, and thank you to everyone who made such great comments about … Read more »

Someone in Dallas this weekend asked me if when I started a new series, such as Rhymes with Love, am I tempted to bring in old characters from my other series. The answer: Boy, am I ever!

Old, familiar characters are what makes writing a series fun.

Anyone who has read my Danvers series will notice I have a slight fondness for Temple. He appears in nearly every book. I adore that man, er, character, to the point that borders on obsession. I had thought that after giving him his own book, Stealing the Bride, that would be enough. … Read more »

When it comes to writing, it takes a lot of focus. There is no way around it. The writers who write book after book after book have some the most enviable focus I have ever seen. And at times I need to renew my own focus and determination to not let the distractions in this business (and yes there are many) and the freedom of working at home (which affords its own diversions) from cutting too deeply into the time necessary to write a book.

Earlier this year I put together a writing workshop in motivation–not character motivation, but motivating … Read more »