What's your latest novel about?

My latest novel is entitled In Your Arms. It is a Western historical set in 1875 Texas, about a woman who isn't your true beauty. Her sister is the one who catches the eyes of men. The heroine's name is Lissa Bloom, and she meets a man named Marcus McCaide. He's the one man who sees her and not her sister. But he has his own baggage, as there are things he's done in the past that makes him feel as if no woman in her right mind would ever want him.

So both of these characters are flawed when they meet, and the book revolves about how they deal with their growing attraction. They each need to get over their own insecurities before there can be a happy ending.

How long did it take you to write the novel?

Not long at all. About two months. I've had books run the gamut as far as how long it takes to write. From two weeks to eight years. It depends on how into it I am. If I love the book and the characters, they can tell me their story right away. Other times, trying to write a particular book is like picking the words from your brain with a red-hot poker. Despite being fun and challenging and an absolute blast, being a writer can be extremely hard, especially when your characters refuse to tell you their story.

In Your Arms was published as an eBook (an electronic book) in April of 2006. This book is published at Champagne Books, and you can go directly to this book's webpage.

Which aspects of the work that you put into the novel did you find most difficult?

It was a challenge to write a tortured hero. I felt so sorry for the guy! He wants Lissa so much, but knows he can't have her due to what he's done, and it's heart-wrenching to watch that, even when I know what's eventually going to happen. I wanted to make him happy most of the time, but I knew that didn't fit his character, so that had to be the most difficult thing.

I enjoyed the love scenes. And not just because they're the love scenes, but because they are so tender. And the things Marcus says to Lissa when they are together made me swoon while I was writing the story.

I really enjoy writing about the connection between a man and a woman once they've made love.

What would you say sets the novel apart from the other things you have written?

Well, this book is one of my favorites. I love it so much, because I love the hero. He's such a great guy, even though he thinks he's not. I've also brought the passion up a notch in this book compared to my others. And it's still successful, even months after its release.