My Publishing Anniversary

It was 21 years ago today that Tracy Farrell of Harlequin Historicals phoned me and said the words all authors want to hear: We love your book and we want to buy it.

It was a life-changing moment. I think that's easy enough to imagine. However, I really had no idea of just how much of a roller-coaster ride I was embarking on. There have been some tremendous highs and some very definite lows.

One of the highs? When THE UNWILLING BRIDE made the USA Today best-seller list.

The lows? Bad reviews can be like lashes of a whip and no, I do not and never will have the hide of a rhino when it comes to such things. Why would I? I agonized and sweated over my book and I care passionately about my work. Of course it's going to hurt if somebody doesn't like it.

Would I do things differently knowing what I know now? Oh, heck yes. There are many decisions I could have and probably should have made differently - but that's the virtue of hind-sight, isn't it?

That said, I've have had a career that thousands of unpublished writers would envy and I've made some great friends over the years, from both sides of the publishing aisle.

So, thanks, Tracy and Harlequin, for giving me my start as a published author on April 2, 1991. I am forever grateful.


That first book was A WARRIOR'S HEART. No revisions required, and they even used my title. Little did any of us know at the time, but it was also the start of a 14 book and one novella series.