Most writers are avid readers. Are you? If so, what do you read?

Everything. The books on my shelves (that are taking over the house) include Barbara Kingsolver, Margaret Atwood, Jennifer Crusie, Janet Evanovich, Cecilia Dart-Thornton, Orson Scott Card, Nora Roberts, poetry, non-fiction, children's books. I'm a compulsive reader.

What do you do for fun?

Read some more, watch HGTV, go for long walks at the park, fight a losing battle against the weeds. Yes, I consider weeding fun. I know it's abnormal, but I love my garden. I also collect antique china.

You've had some pretty unique and unusual plots over the years. How do you come up with them?

One moment of creative lightning. I either "see" the opening scene clearly in my head, or the "setup" of the story. With the MISSION: REDEMPTION mini series that start with SECRET CONTRACT, I was watching TV and was thinking about imperfect heroes. And it hit me that I'd like to write a book about imperfect heroines. But not something minor like 'she's too tall.' I wanted women who had a less than perfect past. And in that moment I already knew that they would be ex-cons. And I knew that during the course of the story, they would redeem themselves. Then the whole thing gelled and I had the basics for a Charlie's Angels meet The Dirty Dozen tale that I couldn't wait to get started on.

Your books are very fast paced and filled with action. What is harder for you, action scenes or love scenes?

Love scenes are harder by far! After having written over twenty books, there are only so many new ways I can come up with to describe the hero and heroine's moment of passion. My books vary in degree of sensuality. My sheik books are highly sensuous, because I think readers expect a hot desert tale--this is where I get creative with the love scenes. In my other books, I focus more on the action and adventure.

In your second book, SECRET SOLDIER, the heroine is trying to save war orphans. Do you have a favorite charity/cause you contribute to?

I support Habitat for Humanity, and also donate food to our local community food pantry whenever possible.

Do you have any more SDDU books lined up? Yes, I love "spending time" with these guys and I'm not about to say good-bye to them anytime soon.

What are you currently working on?

I'm outlining another SDDU book (embassy hostage crisis), plus working on a whole new series that's top secret, hush hush :-) for now.

If you weren't a writer, what would you like to be?

Either a pianist or a painter. Sadly, I'm terrible at both--but this is a fantasy, right? I think there is something magical about creating a thing of beauty out of nothing.