I spent my formative years on the east coast of Australia. My family encouraged a love of books, the bush and travel, and I often managed to combine all three. There was the long trek to the marvellous Finders Ranges of South Australia – with Tolkien. Walking in the rugged Grampian Ranges of Victoria – with Tolstoy. And reading gothic romances while camped under the snow gums in the Australian Alps.

I got hooked on romance early. In my teens I spent long afternoons playing tennis with my best friend. Between endless games on baking gravel, we’d stagger to her house to recover, and in that house was an unending store of books, all with that distinctive rose on the cover. That’s how I discovered romance and have been addicted ever since. All those strong silent types, flashing-eyed Italians, haughty Spanish aristocrats and the rest. No wonder the boys at school just didn’t make the grade!

Fortunately I found my own romantic hero while studying at university, where despite the distraction I completed my honours degree in Classics.  I was also fortunate to spend lots of time travelling, backpacking through Egypt and Greece, ‘tramping’ in New Zealand, sightseeing in Europe and living in Germany for more than a year. 

Of course, I emerged from University with no idea of a career path. I decided against the postgraduate degree and took a job in the public service: perfect preparation for an author!  In my first job I spent six weeks proof-reading various versions of the Australian Government’s purchasing manual: every – single – word – of – it. Checking the text of a novel is so much more fun! For years I wrote and amended and redrafted and revised: government plans, letters for cabinet ministers and reports for parliament. All good grounding for a would-be author, especially since, in my case at least, the first draft is rarely the final.

Then the inevitable happened. I decided to write romance. Those books had been a constant through the years of job change and travel. My chance came when I took leave to spend time with my children.  Between preschool and school activities I produced my first novel and discovered Romance Writers of Australia – and thank goodness. Without the help of authors who knew what they were doing I might still be writing stories just as good as that first manuscript!  Since then I’ve been active in RWAust writers’ groups and competitions, attending annual conferences and loving the support I get from so many other writers. I had short stories and a romance book published in Australia but it wasn’t until late 2005 that I found success with Harlequin Mills & Boon.

I live with my hero (still the same one after all this time) and children at Lake Macquarie, north of Sydney.  We are neatly situated between the Hunter Valley’s marvellous wine country, some of the State’s most superb beaches and the beautiful lake.

I’m always thinking of possible further travel (strictly for research purposes, of course) and in the meantime fantasise about gorgeous men and their love lives. It’s hard work but I have no regrets!  My circle of writing friends and fearsome critique partner keep me on the straight and narrow, writing stories I hope readers will enjoy as much as I do.