Jack London was credited with setting the precedent for writers of a thousand words a day. That seemed an impossible task until I tried it. Day in and day out, I worked at pumping out a thousand words a day. By day twenty-one (the magic number for change) I was breezing along and had my schedule adjusted so I had plenty of time for family.

Then I read Stephen King’s ON WRITING, and learned he disciplines himself to two thousand words a day! Good grief. And how about prolific Nora Roberts? How the heck does she manage to produce so many books a year? Recently, I read she’s been known to keep to her house for three weeks at a time. Another good grief. Does that woman even bother to dress?

There came a magical day when I was really in the flow. I wrote four thousand words. Whew, was I on a roll in the stratosphere, or what? That night I went tearing through my closet looking for my favorite nightgown. Couldn’t find it. Checked the hamper. Checked the washing machine. Finally I realized I was still wearing it! Ha…I’ll bet there are days Nora throws a sweater over her nightgown and doesn’t bother to dress either.

Anyway, I write a lot. A lot. And I consider myself pretty disciplined (except for that piece of cake now and then…chocolate anyone?)

So, here is what I have written, am writing, and will write thus far. Hope you enjoy my little anecdotes about how each story came about.

A MOST UNUSUAL LADY

Completed, polished and spit shined at 105,000 words

What happens when a sassy daughter of an Austrian count and Italian princess turns Victorian London on its ear with her unruly antics? And what happens when Lord Worthington returns to London after ten years in Venice, and kidnaps the sister of his old arch-enemy. Trouble is, he has never met her and mistakenly captures her friend—feisty Lady Edwina.

So you think a lady in Victorian times wouldn’t behave the way the heroine in this story does? The inspiration for Lady Edwina von Seeburg seeded out of the life of Empress Elizabeth (Sissi) of Austria. She was the daughter of The Duke in Bavaria (brother to the King of Bavaria, and yes, that was his formal title). She was a beautiful, unruly princess raised wild and free in the countryside, who married Emperor Franz Josef of Austria, for love. Independent-minded, she was horse-crazy like Lady Edwina, disliked Viennese court, and willfully broke all the rigid rules—like Lady Edwina. People adored her, especially the Hungarians who made her their queen. I like to think I’m a bit of an expert on Empress Elizabeth. I have a collection of books about her, not to mention the German films that go through a rerun once a year.

WHEN A HEART DARES

Another polished manuscript at 100,000 words

In 1850’s New Orleans, Celine Kirkland lands in a terrible predicament when dashing cousins, one of whom she secretly loves, duel for her affections. The winner, Trevor, intends on asking for Celine’s hand, but she misunderstands his intentions and flees to San Francisco, only to learn she carries his child. When the Blackfoot Indians snatch her off the treacherous Oregon Trail, Trevor pursues her, and it is then these star-crossed lovers learn that when a heart dares, the rewards overpower the risks.

THE WAY OF THE WOLF

This is a sequel to WHEN A HEART DARES.

At 105,000 words, this is getting the final polishing

Twenty four years after witnessing his mother’s murder, Wolf goes in pursuit of her killer. He is a solitary, driven man, and a powerful force with nothing to lose. Along the way, he meets Mary Katherine Malone who intends to shed a fiancé her parents traded a small fortune for in order to gain social standing among Boston’s finest. What she needs is a partner for her secret, mysterious school and Wolf becomes the ideal candidate, but someone wants him dead.

WHAT NOW BELOVED

This is the third in this series and next in line to be completed

Cameron is the other dashing cousin who initially pursues Celine. Since his story takes place in China and San Francisco, research has been fascinating.

I got the entire, rich story during my various soaks in the tub. A hot, scented bath by candlelight does wonders for my muse!

AND THEN I LOVED HIM

Completed and polished at 100,000 words

Caitlyn MacGregor possesses a brilliant mind—and second sight. Confined to her Highland home during her growing years while she tends to a disturbed mother, life has been lonely, but peaceful. Peaceful, that is, except for a recurring nightmare of a man attacking her. What Caitlyn’s second sight fails to reveal is that beneath this distorted vision lies her destiny. He is Valentin, a handsome Russian royal who has traded a treacherous life at court for one in England’s quiet countryside. As different as the sun and the moon, they soon become lovers. Tragedy strikes, and Caitlyn’s second sight becomes their only connecting link.

This may be the only paranormal I write, time will tell. It is important I maintain the integrity of my intuition and not distort it by writing impossible situations. Every paranormal incident in this story comes straight from personal experience. The story seeded out of an experience in my life (the prologue) and grew from there.

THE MAD LADY OF CAULFIELD

Madison is cousin to Caitlyn and this is her story:

A Highland lady, Madison was contracted in marriage at birth to an English nobleman. Lord Caulfield wants nothing to do with her, but ends up wedding her in order to fill the family coffers he emptied with his wild and wicked ways. He first sets eyes on her at their wedding and is instantly beguiled, but this feisty woman with her odd ways rejects him at every turn. Just as the smoldering fire of mutual attraction bursts into flame, they discover a family secret that destroys the frail bond between them. Once again, she wants nothing to do with him, but by now, he is desperately in love with her, even though she might be half-mad.

THE SEDUCTION OF SARAH BANKS

1850’s England

Now here is a story I dreamed from beginning to end in one night! It’s not unusual for me to dream a concept, or parts of stories (I’ve heard Danielle Steele does that), but an entire novel from beginning to end? I have the outline of this done and am chomping at the bit to get to it because there are some odd twists and turns I am going to have a lot of fun playing with.

What happens when a woman wakes up in the bed of a handsome stranger and all she can recall is her name? I know amnesia is a well-used concept in the romance genre, but I guarantee, this one has a twist.

Research has been interesting. Did you know amnesia victims cannot set goals? Since our dreams and goals for the future are based on our past experiences, an amnesia victim has no frame of reference by which to create goals.

HIS LORDSHIP’S TATTOOED BRIDE

1850’s England and thereabouts

I have seven chapters done on this manuscript and had to put it aside to polish something else. This story begins in the desert outside of Istanbul and moves on into England. That’s all I’m going to say at his point.

A DUKE’S WICKED KISS

Another story I literally dreamed about.

Five years after being swept away by a kiss she’s never forgotten, Suri, her father a British Lord, her mother from a high-caste Indian family, travels to India to find her deceased mother’s family. Even though she is certain to be rejected, she nonetheless accompanies her best friend and new husband, only to run smack into the man who left the indelible kiss on her lips. He is now a recalcitrant duke, one who has the strange habit of insisting his pet accompany him wherever he goes—a sleek, green-eyed cheetah wearing a collar of precious jewels attached to a golden chain.

THIS ENEMY OF MINE

I juggle my timeframe here, but it is another dreamed of novel, so I MUST follow my intuition.

What happens when an American visiting her French grandmother in Paris finds herself in the middle of World War II? Transported with the matriarch to a village in northern France, she becomes the regional head of the French underground. Filled with a passion for the cause, her life is disrupted when a German infantry company settles into the village. Soon, she is held house prisoner by an enigmatic German officer. To her chagrin, the more time she is forced to spend with him, the more appealing she finds him. Despite being certain he suspects her role in the Underground, the captain fails to have her brought before a firing squad. Why not? Is it because of his growing attraction to her, or does he harbor a dark secret?

A ROSE IN SIBERIA

This is a special story on my “to be written” list. A novel, it will be based on my husband’s parents who had the most beautiful, loving marriage I have ever encountered. They cherished each other and every day they shared together was special. One day I found out why: Teenagers during World War II, they were each from families of nobility living in different parts of the Austro-Hungarian Empire when the Russians captured them. Each was sent to a concentration camp where they remained, he until 1949, she until 1950. Theirs is a powerful love story filled with terrible loss, but followed by hope and redemption.

MY NONFICTION

First in line for my nonfiction work will be about the Universal Laws of Abundance and how to be debt free no matter what goes on in the world.

Second in line will be about women and the Goddess who lives inside each of us.

And so on…