I’m coming to the conclusion that as writers, we have little choice in what we write. I find that once a story is with me, it takes hold and the characters take on a life of their own. I feel compelled to write their story. If I don’t, then they will still niggle me anyway. This was how it was with my novel, THE THINGS WE DON’T SAY. Consciously, or not, I find I am drawn to the stories of women who somehow, did not fit in with the world in which they found themselves. With my three French novels, the inspiration was the life and famous abandoned apartment of the Parisian Belle Époque courtesan Marthe de Florian, with SECRET SHORES, it was Sunday Reed, a leading figure in the Australian art world, along with Joy Hester, an unsung Australian artist, and with THE THINGS WE DON’T SAY, I became drawn in by Vanessa Bell. Vanessa Bell was Virginia Woolf’s sister. Vanessa was an artist who painted most days of her life and a central figure in the Bloomsbury group, the famous group of artists, writers and intellectuals who fascinate me for their avant garde views, for the way…

I love a Brit hero and Rod in TEMPTING BEAT is especially charming. How does he rate compared to other heroes you’ve written? Which are your favorite heroes you’ve written & those written by other authors? Rod was a blast to write. He’s always been so laid back and sweet that I wanted him to find the perfect HEA. It was also interesting to find what demons were hidden behind his cheerful demeanor. Favorite heroes I’ve written: Vincent in ONE BITE PER NIGHT, Razvan in IRONIC SACRIFICE, Radu in UNLEASHNG DESIRE and Klement in WITH VENGEANCE. Favorites by other authors: Rhevenge in JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series, Zarek in Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter novels, and Preacher in Beverly Jenkins’s NIGHT HAWK. What made you decide to write a story with an older heroine/younger hero? I did it by reader request. Since I’ve always dated older men, the idea never occurred to me and when some readers asked me to, I thought I DEFINITELY should give older heroines some representation. And when one suggested I should have a nurse heroine, I was all, “Hell yes! I know so many amazing nurses.” Also, writing this book gave me a chance to…

For years now, I’ve written mystery novels. In fact, twenty-six of the thirty books I’ve seen published have been mystery. I’ve written a series with a journalist as the protagonist, a librarian as the protagonist, a baker as the protagonist, an advertising executive as the protagonist, and a gift shop owner in the heart of Amish country as the protagonist. I’ve enjoyed writing all of my series for various reasons, but it’s been my Amish Mysteries—in particular the former Amish detective in that series—that has tugged at my heartstrings in a very different way. Watching Detective Jakob Fisher come back (as a police detective) to the very town in which he grew up (as a young Amish boy and then teenager) has been fascinating to me. You see, Jakob left after baptism, thereby having to sever all ties to his childhood family. While that background has given me great material to work with in my Amish Mysteries series, it’s also a part of Amish culture that’s really given me pause. Soon, I was itching to explore that pre/post baptism decision in a very different way than I could inside the confines of my work as a mystery writer. And that’s…

I’ve been writing romantic women’s fiction for several years now. Of the eleven books I’ve published to date, seven of my fictional couples fall somewhere on the “opposites attract” spectrum. The couple in my new release, WHEN YOU KNEW, is probably the most extreme example I’ve created to date, which made them eminently fun, yet challenging, to write. Obviously, this is a trope I adore, but I am not alone. There are literally thousands of these stories out there. If you’re getting ready to write a new story of your own, here are some reasons you might want to consider basing it on one of these couples: This kind of relationship is relatable to readers because it’s one that’s played out in real life rather often. (In fact, my own relationship falls into this category!); Opposites create lots of friction. Friction drives tension, which is necessary to keep the reader interested in turning the page instead of putting the book down; The push-pull provides nice opportunities for witty banter, which is something romance readers typically enjoy; and The compromises and transformations that will be required of the characters if they want to stick together will help you set their character…

Thank you for having me and helping me celebrate the release of my second chance romance, BACK TO THE START. Oddly enough, second chance romance is a trope that I simultaneously steer away from and run to. Which makes absolutely no sense, I realize that. Especially since I just released a second chance romance this week. So, first, why do I desperately try not to read books that fall in this category? Because I know my heart is most likely going to be ripped to shreds and I’m going to want to kill either the hero or heroine, maybe even both, at some point in the story. I know I’m going to get emotionally attached to the characters, be a weepy mess when they’re in pain, and scream when they make the worst decisions imaginable. I know I may lose hours of sleep binge reading, well into the night, just to shuffle out of bed the next morning, eyes swollen and feeling like death warmed over. I know all of this, yet I can’t help myself. As I scroll through the hundreds of books I have downloaded, I must accept the truth. As much as second chance romance guts me at…

For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a writer. As a child, before I could write words myself, I used to tell my mom stories and then ask her to do the same for me.  I liked everything about fiction, whether it came from books or off the cuff from someone’s imagination. As I got older, I loved how stories could transport me away from challenges, how they could inform and inspire.  By the time I finished high school, I’d co-written my first completed novel with a friend who’s my critique partner to this day. After college, the journey toward publication began.  And it was quite a journey. There was so much I didn’t know at the beginning about the business side.  Back then, my goal was simple: write a book I loved and then find a literary agent who could sell it to a publishing house. Of course, the goal was easier said than done.  I joined a writer’s organization, which helped me learn how to write stronger query letters – pitches to try and get someone interested in my book.  Eventually, I found an agent and we started shopping my novel. But by then,…

WILD CHILD is a second-chance romance (slash) mistaken-identity (slash) road-trip novel. In short, all of my favorite things. When I was choosing what cities Jax and Natalie should stop in, I made my decision based on some of my favorite cocktails (and the cities that made them famous). First stop: Chicago. Known mostly for beer, it’s also the home of the “Old Fashioned.” People can get very persnickety about their Old Fashioned recipes, but here’s mine: Ingredients: Cinnamon, ground Cinnamon stick (to garnish, optional) Sugar Lemon Ginger Ale Bitters Brandy Make a cinnamon/sugar mix that is 1 part cinnamon to 3 parts sugar. Using a 12-ounce glass, pour 1/2-inch of Ginger Ale into the bottom. Add 5-7 dashes bitters. Add 1/2-3/4 tsp of cinnamon-sugar mix. Stir until dissolved. Fill glass with ice. Add 1 jigger Brandy. Squeeze in the juice from one lemon wedge. Fill glass to top with Ginger Ale and stir. Garnish with cinnamon stick. Second stop: New Orleans, home of the “Hurricane.” Ingredients: Light Rum, 2 oz. Dark Rum, 2 oz. Passion Fruit Juice, 2 oz. Orange Juice or Pineapple Juice, 1 oz. Lime Simple Syrup, 1 T. Grenadine, 1 T. Squeeze 1/2 lime into a cocktail…

My father was a Vietnam veteran who suffered from PTSD. A part of me always grieves for him, for how he suffered and how his illness affected our family. And a part of me will always grieve for the little girl whose father came back from war a stranger, and for the relationship we never got to have. His illness took him away from me, from his family, from the man he was before. When I was nineteen, I went camping with him and my brother in the Ozark mountains in Arkansas. I’d only seen him a few times since I was a young girl. We went rafting in rapids filled with snakes, brown water moccasins slithering around the sides of the river, me so scared my hands hurt from gripping tightly to the sides of the raft so I wouldn’t fall in. We went horseback riding. And again, I was afraid, but determined. I climbed up on a beautiful brown mare, massive and strong. My father said, “Don’t let her know you’re afraid. She’ll feel it.” So high, so far from the ground. She felt my fear. “Debbie, what are you waiting for? Give her a little kick to…

I can’t believe I can finally share my second book in my Bravo Team WOLF series with the world! As some of you may know, I’ve been writing military romance for years. Joining my love and respect for those who serve with my love of paranormal romance has been a dream come true for me. Although each of these books standalone, they introduce you to a team of wolves who not only protect and defend their pack, they also strive to work for the greater good. In the case of Cage, he went in for a mission. On that job, he met Bianca, a woman brave enough to try to save a child when she is kidnapped in the jungle by guerillas. Although she’s human, this particular woman already shows she’s got the heart of a wolf… but is she in the process of changing physically? For me, writing military romance is all about giving happy ever afters to those who are willing to give it all in defense of their country. Wolves, as those who love the genre know, are equally loyal, dedicated to pack above all else. Passionate, powerful, and dedicated—these are three great qualities when it comes…

Everyone loves the beach. Though I live in Montana, I’m fortune to spend my winters at the beach in sunny California. My writing space looks out on a boat channel that leads to the harbor so I watch the tide go up and down several times a day. A bicycle-ride away, a sandy beach slopes down to the water where a frothy tide rolls in and out, the perfect place to talk a stroll at the end of a long day or just dig your toes into the warm gritty sand. For me, there is no better way to spend an afternoon than lying in the sun on a bright-colored beach towel, straw hat shading your face while you read a delicious, page-turning novel. The rhythmic curl and tug of the waves is the perfect backdrop, lulling me into the story, shutting out the day-to-day troubles of the world, if only for a little while. As a writer, lying half-asleep in the sun, listening to the soft rush of the wind and the cry of seagulls, is a great way to get story ideas. Too often I get stuck when writing a novel (I refuse to call it writer’s block,…