Aren't most romance heros, or heros in fiction of any kind, generally superior to real men? Same goes for heroines and real women.

I decided to write category romance as I'd recently discovered them, and enjoyed them.

I don't fiddle or edit or change while I'm going through that first draft.

Action, reaction, motivation, emotion, all have to come from the characters. Writing a love scene requires the same elements from the writer as any other.

I find I use the Internet more and more. It's just an invaluable tool. I do most of my research on the Net now - and certainly do the bulk of my communicating through email.

I don't base any character on a real person, and really don't do composites either. I make them up.

I don't believe for one moment you can write well what you wouldn't read for pleasure.

I don't think you can write - at least not well - if you don't love stories, love the written word.

I believe strongly in writing groups such as Romance Writers Of America that offer support, information and networking.

For over a year I continued to submit mss, and have them rejected - the last few with rejection letters indicated the story was pretty good, but I was American.

Every writer has to figure out what works best - and often has to select and discard different tools before they find the one that fits.

Certainly the plagiarism, and dealing with the fallout of it, was the most difficult thing I've ever faced since I started writing.

And each book has to receive your best effort every single time. No slacking.

Actually, I find it great fun to develop family series with lots of characters.

I generally write a first draft that's pretty lean. Just get the story down.