Q: What did you want to be when you grew up?

A: Actually, I was one of those brainy girls growing up. Even when I was little I wanted to be a marine biologist. I love the water and grew up near Lake Ontario. My dad taught me how to fish and we used to dissect the catch before cooking it. I won’t gross anyone out, but I loved that part!

Q: Where do your story ideas come from?

A: Honestly, I’ve gotten ideas from just about everywhere. In line at the grocery store, talking to a friend on the phone, dreams, television shows, etc. Sometimes they just pop into my head, sometimes I dream the entire book in a single night. I have a little notebook that I carry everywhere with me so I can jot down ideas.

Q: What is your writing day like?

A: I still have a day job, although I get to work from home. Between working and taking care of my kids, I don’t have a typical writing day. I sneak in writing when I can, and then try to take a few hours after bedtime to get writing done. My husband is really good about letting me “hide” or runaway during the weekends to write as well.

Q: Do you connect with your characters?

A: Absolutely! My characters are more important in the writing process than I am. Once I settle in on a book the characters almost become “real” to me. They drive the story just as much as I do. I find that a book doesn’t flow as well if I don’t like the characters and their personalities.

Q: Do you work on one book at a time?

A: No, I usually have a couple of them going at the same time. Sometimes I find the characters and the plot of one book need to stew, rest, contemplate, while I work on another. The most I’ve ever had going at one time was three and that was too many. I spent way too much time going back and reviewing chapters to get back into the swing of the book I was going to work on. Two at once seems to help me channel better, and it keeps the characters from being too stubborn.

Q: What do you consider necessary to the writing process?

A: Music, chocolate and caffeine, in that order. I can’t write in silence, my brain needs to be distracted by something with a beat. I listen to alternative and metal most of the time when I’m writing, but I do have a few stations of classical I flip to once in a while. I tend to listen to classical when I’m editing; it keeps me calmer. I have favorite sources of chocolate, like peanut butter M&M’s, but any kind will do in a pinch. I tend to get my caffeine fixes from coffee or diet Coke, but on the off chance I can talk someone into running to Tim Horton’s I get mocha cappuccinos.

Q: What type of heroes do you like to write?

A: Alpha males top my hero list. I love writing hard-nosed, intelligent, difficult males. They have to be confident, masculine and (eventually) devoted. I want my heroines swept off their feet by the big, burly, scary male. Well, unless the heroine is strong, then the males tend to just be their equals.

Q: Who are your favorite authors?

A: Geez, that’s a hard one. I have many favorites, but recently I would have to say that Cherise Sinclair, Laurann Dohner, Sophie Oak, Eve Langlais, and JR Ward.