Romance Weekly

Do you like to read romance novels? Would you like to meet new authors, and learn more about your favorites? Join the writers of Romance Weekly as we go behind the scenes and tell all...about our writing of course! Every week we'll all answer the same questions. Once you've read my blog, the link below will direct you to another. Feel free to ask more questions or make comments.

If you've linked here from Nina Mason's blog,  welcome! Here are my answers to this week's questions:

How does your writing impact your inner life?

Writing makes me happy. I always enjoy the process of putting words on paper in a pleasing order, although sometimes plotting can make me tear my hair out. When life gets in the way and I fall behind on my word count I try not to be too hard on myself. But every once in a while I don't write because I'm lazy, or I can't bear the thought of the blank page. On those days my conscience berates me. It's what I imagine skipping school (not that I ever did that) feels like. You can't enjoy playing hooky because you know what you should be doing. I guess it boils down to this—I am happier at least trying to write than I am if I don't do it at all.

How do you hope your books affect your readers?

I want my readers to enjoy my books. It's that simple. I read for fun and entertainment—I want my readers to feel that way as well. Every once in a great while I will read a book that is supposed to challenge me, or make me a better person, or help me see the world in a different way. While it is also possible to enjoy reading those kinds of books, more often than not they make me feel inept, incompetent and insensitive.

I am not writing to change the world. But I am writing to change one person's mood on any given day. Hopefully reading my book(s) will make that person feel just a bit better on a bad day, or reaffirm their enjoyment of life on a good day.

Has anyone ever told you your book changed their life? If so, how?

Short answer – no. But reader comments have changed my life. A man at work read MOUNTAIN FIRE and sent me a lovely note praising my determination and commitment in writing it. I thought it was fabulous that he could see the work that went into simply completing a manuscript. My sister sent me a text after reading it, saying how proud she was of me. And my editor for CHEF D'AMOUR commented on one short scene where my heroine's grandmother is talking about her late husband. My editor's husband passed away recently, and she said I had described it perfectly. That really touched me.

Thanks for joining me on Romance Weekly. I invite you to visit J.J. Devine and see what she has to say this week!