I was born on Valentine’s Day.

This auspicious date, as well as a love of reading, set my destiny as a romance writer from an early age. I can’t imagine doing anything else.

There have been some experience-gathering detours on the way, of course. My love of words led to an Arts degree with majors in Linguistics, Russian and French. I gained the unique perspective of living in another culture by working as a nanny in the French Alps, and have also worked extensively in theatre, both on stage and as a playwright.

Acting the same role over and over again in a long theatrical season (the Cheshire Cat in “Alice in Wonderland” if you’re interested) taught me the importance of striving to keep my work fresh. As my tally of published romances has climbed, this has been of crucial value. I’m proud to say that every one of my heroes and heroines is real and different, and their relationship is always one that I believe will stand the test of time after that romantic moment on the final page. The urban myth that romance writers simply program a name change or two into their computers and abracadabra, there’s a new book, couldn’t be further from the truth. Click on Current and Upcoming Releases to read the story behind my latest books.

I’m married to a wonderful New Yorker, also a writer. His studiously researched works on military history get splashier book launches and shinier dust jackets… but my sales are, I have to say, higher. We each read and critique everything the other writes. We started our married life in New Jersey and Ohio, but ten years ago I hit him over the head with a cricket bat and dragged him back to Australia, where we’ve been ever since.

I’ve now written seventy romances for Harlequin and Silhouette. Career highlights include two nominations for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Rita award in 2003, for FINDING HER PRINCE in the Best Traditional Romance category and THE DOCTOR’S MISTRESS in the Best Short Contemporary Romance category, and two nominations for RT Bookclub magazine’s Best Silhouette Romance award, for SAVING CINDERELLA in 2002 and THE MILLIONAIRE’S CINDERELLA WIFE in 2005. Click on News to find out more about what’s currently happening, and what I’m working on.

As well as shelves of books to our credit, we have three sons and a daughter, now with their teen years looming. Okay, yes, I’m scared. We also have a big yard, a beloved black and white cat, a vegetable garden and nine chickens.

Being a creative person, I have a huge appreciation for the creativity of others. I love music in all its forms, beautiful gardens, inspiring architecture, history-laden antiques, inviting interiors, gourmet food, and my husband and I have also started buying art – nothing earth-shattering or expensive, just something that catches our eye as we wander through a gallery. A recent acquisition has been unkindly described by some as “a plank of wood,” but honestly, it’s the most beautiful plank of wood I’ve ever seen.