Say Hello To My Alter Ego: A Historical Romance Author

Once in a class at Penn State working toward a PhD in Curriculum, a professor assigned an article on the romance genre asking the class to speculate why it attracts a lion’s share of readers–13% of adult fiction. (Source: Nielsen Books & Consumer Tracker, BISAC Romance)

An avid romance reader, I never admitted that fact to the class. Even though romance readers are highly educated (42% have a bachelor’s degree, 15% post-graduate work or degrees according to RWA), I was embarrassed to admit my reading habits.

Having picked up Johanna Lindsey in college, this English major turned educator has always longed to emulate the greats such as Judith McKnight, Kathleen Woodwiss and Julie Garwood. Back in 1998 I started a manuscript and began researching Medieval England in earnest, overlapping it with studies as an English Master’s degree student. From there a few events such as getting married, snagging my first teaching job, having two children and then starting a digital media consulting company took front stage.

Last summer while on a beach vacation, the best time to pick up a romance book, I found a new author who finally pulled me back into the genre. After reading Monica McCarty’s entire Highland Guard book series, I got serious about the dream that never died, even after nearly 20 years. Picking up my old research which wasn’t even on a computer–gasp!–I decided 2015 would be the year I’d become a writer.

Joining RWA, registering for #RWA15 and, most importantly, opening up Google Docs and adding folders such as “Characters,” “Historical” and “Ch. 1” were the first steps. With little time to devote to writing, I research every chance I get, listening to The Time Traveler’s Guide to England on the way to work, for example. Whatever it takes to make this full-time mom and educator and part-time business owner have time to become an author.

Realizing I’ll have a hard time keeping my presence at a national Romance Writer’s conference quiet, I casually mentioned the conference in a Facebook group and was bolstered by the support. And so, my alter ego has been exposed.

As for the credibility of being a romance reader or writer…it appears another post is in order.

*Updated Dec. 2016: I spent 2015 writing a book, 2016 learning about publishing and am releasing my debut novel The Thief’s Countess in March 2017.*