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As I sit here,
trying to put into words who I am, I can't help but think of
hats. I know it's an old, time-worn cliche, but hats fit (no
pun intended). Like everyone else, I wear many hats;
daughter, sister, wife, mother... teacher and student,
philosopher, dreamer... and now - officially - romance
writer. I began as a
daughter, born in northern Maine, the last of five children.
Over the years I picked up several new hats, each of them
adding warmth and texture to my life. In 1977 I became a
wife, in 1981 a mother (I liked it so much I did it again in
1984). And as each new hat was added, I found that I've
became stronger, more comfortable with the fit, and happier. |
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Teacher and student, dreamer
and philosopher are life-long hats silently grown like a
second skin. And it is from this foundation that I write my
novels.
I have no idea what compels
me to write, I only know that I must. I have always spun
stories in my head, even as a child. But something - who
knows what lurks deep in our subconscious - sat me in front
of a blank computer screen one day and made me put those
stories into words.
That was eight books ago.
Charming the Highlander is the first one published. The
others, like valued friends, exist only to keep me humble.
And so now, when asked what I
do, I smile and say I'm a romance writer. There is the
occasional raised eyebrow in response, and my smile widens.
I tell them I'm a Mainer, so what else is there to write
about? I'm living smack in the middle of a romantic
landscape, nestled between an invigorating ocean and
embracing mountains, all cloaked in a mantle of wilderness.
The people of Maine are stalwart, independent, and willing
to meet life head-on. They probably don't think of
themselves as romantic, but they are its very essence. |
| This is why my stories are
set here. And why I wish to share them with the rest of the
world. I live in a log
home on a lake in central Maine. I've been married for
twenty-five years and have two remarkable sons. We own more
boats than we have people to run them, but it's a
diversified group. I own a kayak, which is just my speed. My
husband owns a fishing boat, two sailboats, a canoe, and an
ice sailboat. |
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| We spend a lot
of time outside. Heck, I often write outside (kudos to the
inventor of laptops). When I feel the need to go to the
mountains or the ocean (depending on what book I'm working
on) my husband hooks up the camper, packs up his boat, and
takes me there. He fishes - I write. He cooks - I write. He
vacuums, does laundry, mows the lawn - I write. It's a very
nice routine we've worked out, don't you think? He takes
care of the details of life and I write.
I can't tell you how thrilled I
am that Pocket Books is publishing my stories. It truly is a
dream come true, and a validation of years and years of hard
work. But most rewarding, I think, is that I will get to
share this special corner of my world with the rest of you.
So check back with me from
time to time, and let me know what you're thinking. I'll
write Letters from
LakeWatch to keep you up to date on what's happening, and previews and excerpts from
upcoming books. |
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