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* Cheerful * Creative * Colorful (and not wholly because I changes her hair color more often than Posh)
Storytelling, in one form or another, has always been in my blood. I wrote my first book--The Littlest
Green Man--when I was ten. Fifty hand written pages with horrible
illustrations (I've never had a talent for drawing). The story featured a curious Martian who decided to
visit Earth and ended up feeling like an 'alien.' He just didn't fit in.
My next book came in my high school years. It was a children's story
about an octopus with an identity crisis. He felt different from the other
'fish in the sea' and set off on a journey to find out how he fit in. It
didn't occur to me at the time, but obviously I've always
felt a little quirky and out of the normal loop of life.
It's not surprising that I gravitated toward a career in the arts. But
rather than nurturing my writing, I
pursued a career as a singer. I started singing professionally at age
14. Fresh out of high school, I went 'on the road' performing in hotel lounges and nightclubs six
nights a week, fifty weeks (more or less) a
The desire to perform burned strong and sustained me for more than twenty-five years before ebbing to a dull flicker. An artist without passion is a frightening thing (for the artist anyway.)
In 1996 I joined forces with my critique partner (and good friend), Cynthia Valero and CB Scott was born. Together we wrote two paranormal manuscripts. In 2000 we finaled in RWA's Golden Heart, a contest for unpublished authors. Soon after we signed with ImaJinn Books, a leading publisher in paranormal romance. Since then we have published three novels with ImaJinn Books and one short story which appears in an anthology (Dream Quest) for LTD Books. From 2000 -2002 Cyndi and I wrote and directed the Mr. Romance Pageant (a production show in which models compete to win a cover shoot for a romance novel) for the Romantic Times Book Lovers Convention. Who will be the next Fabio? In 2003 I co-wrote and directed the same production with friend and author Mary Stella. I could fill several pages introducing you to all of the wonderful friends I have made through the years in conjunction with the Romantic Times Conventions. Let's just say I'm blessed.
In 2003, I signed with Medallion Press, an amazing publishing company with an ambitious and passionate vision. Since then I've written six novels--three contemporaries and three historical westerns for MP.
In 2005, I signed a three-book
deal with HQN -- Harlequins' single title division. The Chameleon
Chronicles
Let's just say (aside from from experiencing life with my own true love), I can't think of anything more fulfilling than writing stories where everyone (except the villain, of course!) gets a happy ending. |
This site was last updated 06/06/09
Notice
the dazed look on my face? Ten to one, I was daydreaming. Pretty sure I had
it down to an art by the time I was one. The quirky kid with the overactive
imagination. When I'm eighty, they'll call me eccentric. For certain, I'm a
restless spirit drawn to the creative arts. I think I popped out of the womb
singing 'Born Free'. Okay. I'm exaggerating, but not much. By the age of
seven, I was already writing, directing, and starring in my own backyard
variety shows. Clearly, I had no focus. I wanted to do it all. Amazingly,
I've come darn close. Let's just say I took the long road around in my
journey to become a published author. 
Out
of the blue I started reading romance novels and experienced an epiphany.
This was what I was supposed to be doing! Writing love stories! That was in 1994 and I
have never looked back. I started typing my first manuscript, and quickly
realized that I didn't have a clue as how to construct a novel. I attended
my first Romantic Times Booklovers Convention that year hoping to glean some wisdom
from the writing workshops. What I learned was that I was doing
everything wrong! Conflict? Point of View? Pacing? Characterization? I
had an innate talent for storytelling, but I didn't know jack about the
craft of writing. Luckily, another writer turned me onto Romance Writers of
America which I joined soon after along with my amazing local chapter,
New
Jersey Romance Writers. I attended monthly workshops, national writer's
conventions, read several "How To" books as well as books within the genre,
and continued to write under the guidance of my mentor, multi-published author Sandra Chastain (to whom I am forever grateful.)
features
Evie Parish, a veteran variety performer. Yes, I drew from personal
experience! All About Evie won the 2007 NJRW Golden Leaf Award
as well as the 2007 Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award. Color me
shocked and thrilled! The third in the series--Evie Ever After--hits
the shelves in the Spring of 2009. Presently, I'm working on two new books
for HQN. The future's so bright I gotta wear . . . well, you know the
saying.