How do you decide to write about a certain time-period?

My novels always start with a desire—almost obsession—to write a story of a particular historical theme, i.e.: western, Civil War, time travel. Where that comes from, I can’t say. I resisted the urge to write a pirate story for a long time because I couldn’t figure a different angle. But it kept nagging at me, until one day, I read a book about the Barbary pirates, which was a serious, little-known inflection point in U.S. history, and a light bulb went on. I was just finishing “A Little Gentle Persuasion” and was looking forward to a break, but within days of the release of the western, I began feverishly working on “Lady of the Sea,” finishing it in record time.

Once I embrace the theme, I do research to settle on a time period and setting, looking for nuggets of forgotten or unknown history around which to weave an interesting story. It is at this point that the main plot comes into clear view and the characters come to life for me.

Studies of literature and cinema say that there are only seven original plots, so it is quite a trick for authors to come up with narratives that set their stories apart from the hundreds of thousands of other books of the same genre. Subplots are what provide the unique voice for novels, and for that I do a deep dive into the history of that time period. Suffice it to say, I do a lot of research. By the time I finish with a novel, I have 10” X 10” x 14” box full of notes and background material.

Of your characters, which is your favorite?

All my characters are special to me. Each brings a unique perspective and personality to the table, and I have a hard time saying goodbye to them when their story is finished. So, choosing a favorite character isn’t possible just like I can’t say which of my books is my favorite, for they were all written for different reasons with a different purpose in mind.

What is the main theme of your books?

Strong women humorously use their wits and wiles to overcome hypocrisy, societal norms, and stereotypical views to find success and love. If they are not strong at the beginning, they are by the end of their journey. My goal is for readers to be able to see some part of themselves in my characters for, despite the different time periods, the struggles and answers for women remain the same.

Against this backdrop, I try to provide teachable moments, hoping that my books will, in some small part, inspire readers to learn more about these time periods so that we stop falling into the same pitfalls of history that keep us from moving forward as a person, as a people, as a country.

What have you learned in your research that surprises you most?

To answer that question would fill a book. Broadly speaking, I am continually astounded by the history that the writers of history books have forgotten or undervalued. A good example of this is Colonial America’s struggles against the Barbary pirates and the War of 1812—a much more important time than people realize. I was also shocked at the sanitization of history that continues to this day, and dismayed that, even in the face of evidence, erroneous historical facts still go uncorrected because they are too convenient. Add to this, I was surprised to find—and I don’t know why—that, in the interest of entertainment, Hollywood bears a responsibility for the distortion of history as well. But what has shocked me most is that no matter the century, the advances in technology, science, and medicine, humanity itself has not advanced, that, instead, we seem to be going backward.

What author has influenced you the most?

I am greatly amused by irony and outraged by hypocrisy, which rings clear in my stories, so I have to say that as an historical romance writer, I am most inspired by Jane Austen.