Category: contemporary romance

Two years ago I wasn’t even thinking about writing a romance. I’d had these stories in my mind for a long time, but the idea of putting them down intimidated the heck out of me. And then one day, while we were on vacation in Colorado, I said to myself: Hey, you’re on vacation. You get to do whatever your little heart desires. If you feel like writing a romance, go ahead, write it. After all, this is your time off!

Inspired by the gorgeous Rocky Mountains and the heroes and heroines I’d met during my time as a Navy wife, The Asset just poured out of me. The story wrote itself, compelling, intense and vivid in my mind, about a woman desperate to escape her dangerous past and the navy SEAL who would lay down his life to save her. Best part? I couldn’t stop. Even after I came home, I spent all of my free time working on the story that had stolen my heart. In less than three months, I had The Asset done and much to my shock, another novel, also about a wounded warrior, coming right behind it.

That’s how my Wounded Warrior series was born, a collection of hot, fun, smart romances about strong heroines struggling to find their place in the world and the brave, skilled, sexy, military heroes who challenge their limits to protect the women they love. I found myself contemplating these compelling, conflicted, endearing characters and aching to find a readership for their stories. I asked myself the question: What next?

Enter Nancy Cassidy, from The Red Pen Coach. Nancy helped me polish the final product, encouraged me to pursue publication and helped me navigate through the intricate process of shopping for a publisher. She led me straight to Carina Press’s door. At Carina, I discovered a cutting edge, innovative group of talented staff and writers who work really hard to put together an awesome catalogue of fresh, original, ground-breaking romances.

Carina Press is an impressive outfit. I knew the moment I started to talk with Senior Editor Kerri Buckley, that I wanted to work with her and Carina. So I was thrilled when after a rigorous and thorough review, they offered me a contract to publish the four novels I’d so joyously written. And so The Asset found its perfect home, and so did the upcoming novels of the Wounded Warrior series, as did the romance writer in me.

And to think all of that happened when I gave myself permission to write what was in my heart.