A few random Qs from my publisher… 
What is your favorite flower?
Magenta cyclamen. In the dead of winter, I can always find a few secretly blooming in my garden.
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What are you reading now?
Identical Strangers by Elyse Schein and Paula Bernstein. It’s a memoir by twins who were separated at birth and adopted by strangers, and never found out until they met for the first time as adults.
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Who is your favorite Harlequin author?
That is SO not fair, because my favorites change along with my moods. When I have a rotten cold in the middle of winter, it’s tea and toast and Betty Neels. For a feel-good girlfriend book, I love Debbie Macomber, but when I need a sexy cowboy, it’s Linda Lael Miller all the way. If I’m in the mood for an alpha male, Nora Roberts or Linda Howard fills the bill. Jennifer Greene for a good cry. If I have a hankering for military guys, it’s Merline Lovelace and Suzanne Brockmann…see what I mean? I could go on like this all day.Â
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How many books have you written?
30-ish. I stopped counting after thirty because it was making me feel old.
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What is your favorite vacation spot?
Right here, right now. It’s a boring answer, but I’m really lucky to live where I do. There’s a pristine beach about ten yards from my window, a dead-on view of Mount Rainier, sailboats, kayaks and motorboats on the premises, a pool and deck, a big garden twined with pathways, a primeval rain forest 1/2 mile down the road, a cafe in the neighborhood with great lattes and pizza, a vintage movie house within walking distance and all the fishing, birding and beachcombing, sitting and reading and dreaming you could want. Provided I’m doing a good job with my deadlines, every day feels like a vacation.
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Before becoming a writer, what did you do?
Wrote and illustrated long, angsty unrhymed poems, skied in the Matterhorn, rode the Orient Express, played center on my field hockey team, spoke French, played the cello, drank pastis in a cafe in Trieste with dangerous people, sneaked into a Rolling Stones concert, flirted with my master’s thesis advisor, taught Euclidean geometry, Calculus and long division, stole my sister’s boyfriend and married him, became a vegetarian, learned to dance the Cotton-Eyed Joe, made the first cut of the Teacher in Space program, taught myself Fair Isle knitting and counted cross stitch, faux finished every wall of the house, campaigned for John Anderson, ignored my mother’s advice, gave birth without anaesthesia, read Georgette Heyer’s complete oeuvre, gave my hair to Locks of Love, rode a bicycle down the volcano Haleakala, sang in a church choir, told my sister sorry about the guy and had a laugh, became an adult literacy volunteer, lived in a tract home in the ”burbs and read romance novels aloud while nursing an infant, because I was trying to teach myself the craft while bonding with the infant. Then I sold my first book, and everything changed…
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Do you have a new book coming out?
Always. My latest is Fireside. I’ll have several historical reissues this year, and then Lakeshore Christmas in October.
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What is your favorite food?
Pizza with melanzane (eggplant), served in a tiny cafe in Amalfi with a view of the sea and a glass of San Pelligrino, shared with the abovementioned laughing husband.
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Do you have any pets?
Barkis the Wonderdog, a young Doberman with floppy ears and a stubby tail and a desperate need to be petted at all times.
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What is your favorite romantic movie?
It’s a tie– “Harold and Maude” and “Last of the Mohicans” (the Daniel Day-Lewis version). Runners up: “Terminator” and “Speed.” Really.
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This year is Harlequin’s 60th Anniversary. Do you have any special message you’d like to pass on?
Girl, you are lookin’ hot for a sixty-year-old! Keep doing what you’re doing. It’s working well for you.
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Your turn! How would you answer? Click “comments” and post there!
- What’s your fave?
0 Responses
I only answered the questions not related to being an author as I am not one.
What is your favorite flower? – always liked the garden variety of pansy (had them on my wedding cake)
What are you reading now? – The Yiddish Policeman’s Union by Michael Chabon and Erin McCarthy’s Fallen (can’t seem to just read a non-romance)
Who is your favorite Harlequin author? – Tara Taylor Quinn and Karen Templeton
How many books have you written? – none, but I have had a play performed and a short story published in my college magazine. I did finish a book, but it was just for me and is not very good.
What is your favorite vacation spot? – anywhere I can relax
What is your favorite food? – whatever I don’t have to cook
Do you have any pets? – not allowed to have pets in my apartment building
What is your favorite romantic movie? – When Harry Met Sally and lately I’ve been on a Love, Actually kick
I only answered the questions not related to being an author as I am not one.
What is your favorite flower? – always liked the garden variety of pansy (had them on my wedding cake)
What are you reading now? – The Yiddish Policeman’s Union by Michael Chabon and Erin McCarthy’s Fallen (can’t seem to just read a non-romance)
Who is your favorite Harlequin author? – Tara Taylor Quinn and Karen Templeton
How many books have you written? – none, but I have had a play performed and a short story published in my college magazine. I did finish a book, but it was just for me and is not very good.
What is your favorite vacation spot? – anywhere I can relax
What is your favorite food? – whatever I don’t have to cook
Do you have any pets? – not allowed to have pets in my apartment building
What is your favorite romantic movie? – When Harry Met Sally and lately I’ve been on a Love, Actually kick
I’m just answering the non-author questions too.
What is your favorite flower? Tulip
What are you reading now? Someone Like You by Susan Mallery; and Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way by by Susan McCutcheon-Rosegg
Who is your favorite Harlequin author? Susan Mallery, Christina Skye, Suzanne Brockmann, Robyn Carr
What is your favorite vacation spot?
Honolulu, Hawaii – Waikiki beach. My mom owns a condo right on the beach, so we always have somewhere to stay and a fridge stocked with food.
What is your favorite food? Anything with chocolate and peanut butter together
Do you have any pets? Just three fish
What is your favorite romantic movie? Return to Me and You’ve Got Mail
I’m just answering the non-author questions too.
What is your favorite flower? Tulip
What are you reading now? Someone Like You by Susan Mallery; and Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way by by Susan McCutcheon-Rosegg
Who is your favorite Harlequin author? Susan Mallery, Christina Skye, Suzanne Brockmann, Robyn Carr
What is your favorite vacation spot?
Honolulu, Hawaii – Waikiki beach. My mom owns a condo right on the beach, so we always have somewhere to stay and a fridge stocked with food.
What is your favorite food? Anything with chocolate and peanut butter together
Do you have any pets? Just three fish
What is your favorite romantic movie? Return to Me and You’ve Got Mail
What is your favorite flower? Sorry, flower lover – I like all kinds – I like best the ones that I haven’t killed yet in my garden.
What are you reading now? Eternal Pleasures by Nina Bangs
Who is your favorite Harlequin author? *abstains*
What is your favorite vacation spot? Nature places. Places that look so beautiful you think that a special effects department was involved. (Seriously. HD has nothing on those places.)
Do you have any pets? Holly the co-dependent cat who doesn’t understand why we have to leave her every morning.
What is your favorite food? Sorry… not going to answer that one… it changes with my mood.
What is your favorite flower? Sorry, flower lover – I like all kinds – I like best the ones that I haven’t killed yet in my garden.
What are you reading now? Eternal Pleasures by Nina Bangs
Who is your favorite Harlequin author? *abstains*
What is your favorite vacation spot? Nature places. Places that look so beautiful you think that a special effects department was involved. (Seriously. HD has nothing on those places.)
Do you have any pets? Holly the co-dependent cat who doesn’t understand why we have to leave her every morning.
What is your favorite food? Sorry… not going to answer that one… it changes with my mood.
Flower – Lily or Iris
Reading – (3) The Gathering – Anne Enright, More Than Words Vol 4 & Identical Strangers to my Mother, (93, blind & in LTC)
Authors: Alphabetical
Candace Camp – Tumbleweed Christmas
Jennifer Crusie – very funny stuff
Lois Faye Dyer – Hunt for Cinderella: The Princess & The Cowboy (can you guess who was mentioned in it), The McClouds of Montana series
Stef Ann Holm – All That Matters, All the Right Angles + more
Allison Leigh – Double C Series, Hunt for Cinderella: The Bride & the Bargain
Anne Mather – started it all, 1st Harlequins
Debbie Macomber – any book, Dakota Series
Linda Lael Miller, Emilie Richards, Nora Roberts (all 3 – very, very good)
Susan Wiggs – Last but Definitely not least! and more to discover!
Holiday – anywhere in Italy or where the sound of waves lull you to sleep
Food – all (how can you pick just one)
Pets – sadly Blackie has gone on to doggie heaven, seems we have adopted a cat for a bit, looking for a good home
Movie – Notorious, any Cary Grant movie and Somewhere in Time
Harlequin – 60th anniversary – Thank you for many hours of reading pleasure, lots of laughs, lots of sighs, lots of tears & a few snorts
Flower – Lily or Iris
Reading – (3) The Gathering – Anne Enright, More Than Words Vol 4 & Identical Strangers to my Mother, (93, blind & in LTC)
Authors: Alphabetical
Candace Camp – Tumbleweed Christmas
Jennifer Crusie – very funny stuff
Lois Faye Dyer – Hunt for Cinderella: The Princess & The Cowboy (can you guess who was mentioned in it), The McClouds of Montana series
Stef Ann Holm – All That Matters, All the Right Angles + more
Allison Leigh – Double C Series, Hunt for Cinderella: The Bride & the Bargain
Anne Mather – started it all, 1st Harlequins
Debbie Macomber – any book, Dakota Series
Linda Lael Miller, Emilie Richards, Nora Roberts (all 3 – very, very good)
Susan Wiggs – Last but Definitely not least! and more to discover!
Holiday – anywhere in Italy or where the sound of waves lull you to sleep
Food – all (how can you pick just one)
Pets – sadly Blackie has gone on to doggie heaven, seems we have adopted a cat for a bit, looking for a good home
Movie – Notorious, any Cary Grant movie and Somewhere in Time
Harlequin – 60th anniversary – Thank you for many hours of reading pleasure, lots of laughs, lots of sighs, lots of tears & a few snorts
Flower- Carnations.
I am reading Robyn Carr’s Second Chance Pass,
Favourite author is hard to answer- I would have to go with Kathleen Woodiwss. She is the first author I can remember reading as a young woman. She brought romance and passion to life for me. And of couse Susan Wiggs.
Harlequin romance author-mmmmmmmmmmmm an other hard one to answer.
Janet Daily, Nora Roberts, Maureen Child, just to many to name.
I would say my favourite vacation spot is any where I am with friends. The place does not matter as long as I am with people I enjoy being with. Family included.
I would have to say chicken, I know borring, but i like it.
No pets, but I do prefer dogs to cats and love horses, although I don’t ride. I just think they are majestic creatures.
Favourite romantic movie would have to be Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr in “An Affair to Remember”. I cry everytime and I must have seen the movice at least 50 times
I hope I look as good as you Harlequin when I turn 60, (and that is not far off)so keep up the good work and Congradulations.
Flower- Carnations.
I am reading Robyn Carr’s Second Chance Pass,
Favourite author is hard to answer- I would have to go with Kathleen Woodiwss. She is the first author I can remember reading as a young woman. She brought romance and passion to life for me. And of couse Susan Wiggs.
Harlequin romance author-mmmmmmmmmmmm an other hard one to answer.
Janet Daily, Nora Roberts, Maureen Child, just to many to name.
I would say my favourite vacation spot is any where I am with friends. The place does not matter as long as I am with people I enjoy being with. Family included.
I would have to say chicken, I know borring, but i like it.
No pets, but I do prefer dogs to cats and love horses, although I don’t ride. I just think they are majestic creatures.
Favourite romantic movie would have to be Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr in “An Affair to Remember”. I cry everytime and I must have seen the movice at least 50 times
I hope I look as good as you Harlequin when I turn 60, (and that is not far off)so keep up the good work and Congradulations.
What are you reading now ? “Light of the Moon” by Luanne Rice
Who is your favorite Harlequin author ? Hmmmmm…..too many to choose from.
How many books have you written ? One, not published yet, lots of short stories, have 6 WIP (works in progress).
What is your favorite vacation spot ? Puget Sound, Washington. We will be moving to Port Orchard, keeping fingers crossed that things fall into place soon !
Before becoming a writer, what did you do ? Cook, deli, chicken. Baker, cookies, chocolate mousse pie recipe maker. Office manager for remaking closets of many high profile, spoiled, but some nice folks for five years…….pedigree research for Thoroughbred racehorses since 1971. Once sat down and wrote all the horses I knew, in training at the Southern California tracks, trainers, owners, class they ran at, particular markings. I quit when I realized there was really no reason to write down 1600 different horses information. Photographic memory. Galloped Thoroughbreds, rescued (and still do) broke down horses from the track, and old broodmares who were on their way to slaughter (no they don’t kill them IN the US any longer for meat, they ship them across the border to Canada or god forbid Mexico for human consumption). I am not a PETA person, I just don’t believe in killing a friend to make a buck. Caregiver for dad who had congestive heart failure and passed in 2000. Caregiver for husband who misused a wood preservative product and ended up in liver failure, but became one out of millions who didn’t die right off. He took almost 2 years to do it. Read the labels folks and do what they say, please ! Artist, oils, pastels and pencil. Calligraphy. Speak racetrack Spanish. Ran track as a kid, and beat the high school team sprinters when I was 14 🙂 Rode many miles training on the track and on the road with friends chosen for the Olympic cycling team leading up to the 1984 Olympic games…….Knew Lance Armstrong when he was a KID (oh my does that date me now !) Take care of my wonderful son and now my wonderful mom as needed, back surgery on the horizon. Raise and rehab/release wild song birds. Garden, develop new African Violet types.
Do you have a new book coming out ? No, but I am working on that.
What is your favorite food ? Chile with extra sharp cheddar cheese.
Do you have any pets ? Yes, bottle raised cats, two dogs, chickens, some goats, miniature horses and three retired horses, and a great house finch !
What is your favorite romantic movie ? Yeah Carol !!!!! Somewhere in Time !!!!!!!!!!!!
What are you reading now ? “Light of the Moon” by Luanne Rice
Who is your favorite Harlequin author ? Hmmmmm…..too many to choose from.
How many books have you written ? One, not published yet, lots of short stories, have 6 WIP (works in progress).
What is your favorite vacation spot ? Puget Sound, Washington. We will be moving to Port Orchard, keeping fingers crossed that things fall into place soon !
Before becoming a writer, what did you do ? Cook, deli, chicken. Baker, cookies, chocolate mousse pie recipe maker. Office manager for remaking closets of many high profile, spoiled, but some nice folks for five years…….pedigree research for Thoroughbred racehorses since 1971. Once sat down and wrote all the horses I knew, in training at the Southern California tracks, trainers, owners, class they ran at, particular markings. I quit when I realized there was really no reason to write down 1600 different horses information. Photographic memory. Galloped Thoroughbreds, rescued (and still do) broke down horses from the track, and old broodmares who were on their way to slaughter (no they don’t kill them IN the US any longer for meat, they ship them across the border to Canada or god forbid Mexico for human consumption). I am not a PETA person, I just don’t believe in killing a friend to make a buck. Caregiver for dad who had congestive heart failure and passed in 2000. Caregiver for husband who misused a wood preservative product and ended up in liver failure, but became one out of millions who didn’t die right off. He took almost 2 years to do it. Read the labels folks and do what they say, please ! Artist, oils, pastels and pencil. Calligraphy. Speak racetrack Spanish. Ran track as a kid, and beat the high school team sprinters when I was 14 🙂 Rode many miles training on the track and on the road with friends chosen for the Olympic cycling team leading up to the 1984 Olympic games…….Knew Lance Armstrong when he was a KID (oh my does that date me now !) Take care of my wonderful son and now my wonderful mom as needed, back surgery on the horizon. Raise and rehab/release wild song birds. Garden, develop new African Violet types.
Do you have a new book coming out ? No, but I am working on that.
What is your favorite food ? Chile with extra sharp cheddar cheese.
Do you have any pets ? Yes, bottle raised cats, two dogs, chickens, some goats, miniature horses and three retired horses, and a great house finch !
What is your favorite romantic movie ? Yeah Carol !!!!! Somewhere in Time !!!!!!!!!!!!
duh, my sign in changed when I put up my own little blog, that is me above…….
Pam
Janesville, CA
duh, my sign in changed when I put up my own little blog, that is me above…….
Pam
Janesville, CA