I spent years trying to get published the traditional way - desperately looking for an agent, but then my brother suggested that I check out self-publishing to see if that would be a better way to go. I did my research and loved the idea of having full control over what I wrote and published.

I have absolutely no regrets about taking this path. It's been really hard work, but I have learned so much and it's completely awesome.

I have so many, but off the top of my head...

I was first inspired by Francine Rivers and Dee Henderson. Their books spoke to my heart in a very special way.

In the indie publishing world, Cambria Hebert and Anna Cruise are my favorite "go-to" authors. I know I'll love everything they write!

From a learning stand point - Chris Vogler and Robert McKee have helped me so much with their amazing books on story structure and character development :)

I love getting pulled into another world. I love creating characters that I can fall in love with. They become like friends - real people I can hang out with while I write their stories. I love seeing them grow and become better people as they cope with the horrible things I put them through :)

I'm a big fan of romantic suspense, but I'll pretty much read anything with romance in it :)
I LOVE young adult romance the best. I think I'll always love it, no matter how old I get!

I work at a standing desk, which I really love. It's much better for my neck, back and shoulders.
My desk faces out to a window that overlooks my street and on the wall to my right, I have huge boards covered with my planning and also images of actors and models that have inspired the characters I'm working on.

I'm a bigger planner, so that's a huge part of my writing process.

I start with random ideas that pop into my head and I jot those down as inspiration hits me, I then go in-depth with character profiling and a really detailed outline that I refer to throughout the first draft.

Writing the first draft is the hardest part for me, but I get there in the end and then comes the fun of editing. I love being able to improve my work and iron out the kinks. I do self editing then also use critique readers and a professional editor to help me really get the book working.

After my final edits are complete, I send it off to my awesome team of proof-readers.

I've been using this process for years and it still works :)

I grew up in different countries around the world (the biggest portion in New Zealand where I was born) and I experienced many different cultures. I think this has helped shape my writing. It's given me an understanding of how people work. In spite of cultural differences and language barriers, a person's basic needs remain unchanged.

I love studying people and figuring out what their stories are and how they tick. Why they behave the way they do.
It's helped me become a better writer :)

I have to be honest and admit that some days it's really hard to keep going.
But the characters keep calling to me. My heart and head have so many stories that are burning to be told. I can't ignore them :)

Take the time to learn before you plunge in.
I've made so many mistakes and lost money by throwing myself into things without really understanding how they work first. I wish I had learned more about... 1. The writing process and then 2. How to market and sell my books properly.

I guess making mistakes is still a way to learn, but it would have been cheaper to do the studying part first instead of learning the hard way ;)

That I write from the heart, and character growth is really important to me. I like to see my characters become better people by the end of each book. And I LOVE romance...so no matter what, someone is going to fall in love.