I'm currently working on the paranormal romance novel 'In Deep Water', Book 2 in the 4 Elements of Love Series. I'm also editing my contemporary romance novel titled "Saved in Sri Lanka" (Romance Round the World, Book 1). And I'm co-authoring the romantic suspense novel "Forbidden" with Mike Wells.

My mother is from Sri Lanka and my father from Germany. I was born in Sri Lanka, but grew up in various parts of Germany. Having spent 19 years of my life there has made me quite 'Western / European', I'd say. But after that, I spent many years in Sri Lanka - where I live at the moment - and it has brought me more in tune to my Asian side. Trying to balance both can be as challenging as it can be fascinating, and it does show in my writing. I try to write books that somebody from India or the Philippines might enjoy just as much as somebody from Spain or England or Canada.

As soon as I could spell. :-) Seriously, I was the kid in school who loved writing assignments and would always have to read their essays out to the class. And I spent a lot of my free-time thinking up short stories and poems, even before my teens, when things got more serious.

Orderly and reduced to the bare necessities like computer and laptop, but with two 'decorative' items: a pocket calendar with beautiful landscapes, and one of my cats sleeping on my printer.

Uncluttering my mind. :-) I love putting thoughts into words, describing things and people, dealing with life and maybe conveying a message.

Being more independent and getting a fair chance.

That's just too hard to answer. To me, reading in itself is a pleasure. I prefer genres like romance, fantasy and science-fiction, but will also read anything else. I absolutely love Anne Rice's books, and these days I am discovering all the English classics, as well as books that my writer friends have written.

Too many to list. If I have to settle on a Top 5 of sorts: Anne Rice, Margaret Atwood, Jane Austen, Terry Pratchett, Michael Ondaatje

Reading and thinking of writing. Spending time with my family, including the four-legged, finned and winged members.

Everything seen as a whole, I guess. Interacting with writers and readers on Facebook and having a website including a blog seems to be the most useful (and fun) method of book marketing.

It helps me to reach a wide audience, to keep up with the writing world, and to improve and improve and improve.