Kisses Don't Lie

Good With His Hands

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My love affair with books began (probably through osmosis) while I was still in my mother’s womb.  Mom delighted in a good love story, and perhaps signals from what she read were sent to my developing mind, setting the course for me to become a romance author.

I’ve had other interests along the way—aerospace and environmental firms, movie reviewer, and even a minute in the medical field—but nothing has ever held my interest the way writing romance does.  After all, what’s better than falling, and being, in love?

So what took me soooo long to get started?  Lack of inspiration?  Hardly.  When I was just six years old, my family decided to leave their eighty acres of trees and wildlife behind and take me with them to the city, where I would meet all the inspiration I’d ever need for my love stories.  He had blond hair and green eyes and I knew from the moment I laid eyes on him that he was the one. He and I would grow up, have 2.5 kids, a home in the suburbs, and our very own three-car garage.

And I knew he liked me, too, ‘cause boys only throw mud balls at the girls they like.

Ahhh, love at first sight.  If you’ve ever experienced it, then you know what I’m talking about.  That first glance…your palms break out in a sweat…and when he speaks, the very sound of his voice beats a path to your soul.  Your heart feels like it’s about to bubble over with emotion. You want to dance and sing like you’re in a Doris Day musical.

Well, things don’t always work out the way they do in musicals… life gets complicated, stuff happens, and sometimes you forget where you’re going.  In my case, I really forgot.  But as it turns out, I had two great kids who needed a large supply of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, so the regular paychecks from jobs-along-the-way came in handy.

Eventually, though, I got tired of dragging myself to a three-sided cubicle and spending 8 hours a day reading about habitat for the Nyctea scandiaca. I wanted—no needed—more. I’d recently taken an on-line quiz that measured my sexuality quotient and I’d scored an 18. Not good. I wasn’t ready to say “good-bye” to my Victoria’s Secret underwear…and I’m pretty sure it’s a rule, when your sexuality quotient dips below 20, you have to start wearing white cotton granny panties.

What had happened? Had my youth passed me by? I took a long, hard look at what I wanted, and what I wanted was to write. And it had to involve men. I hadn’t forgotten all those fluttery, crazy feelings that new love inspires and I was aching to pour my heart out onto reams of 20 lb. brilliant white paper…‘cause God only knew how much lower my sexuality quotient might dip without immediate action.

Yes, it was good-bye business suits, and hello Victoria’s Secret sweaters and jeans.  And now here I am…still writing romance and still having fun.

FYI, basking in the glow of a 60-watt, pink desk lamp is so much nicer than sitting under  glaring fluorescent lights. Also, FYI, fuzzy socks, a steaming mocha, and a little dark chocolate are a great way to start each day, not to mention they help one get in the proper frame of mind to write passionate prose.

Though I live in my own little romantic dream world, I also enjoy gardening (I never tire of coming up with new ways to foil the attempts of local wildlife to strip my favorite plants of all their foliage), practicing the piano (after continuing to play some of the same songs for more than twenty years, it’s probably safe to say I won’t ever be a concert pianist), and hiking with my two yellow labs in Washington’s beautiful Alpine Wilderness.  Breathing all that fresh air gives me plenty of story ideas.

Fun Facts About Alexa...

Favorite color – blue
Astrological sign – Aries
Favorite soap – All My Children
Favorite song – Moon River
Favorite actress – Charlize Theron
Favorite actor – Kevin Costner
Biggest weakness – cowboys with biceps
Man I’d most like to save me from a burning building – Arnold Schwarzenegger
Least favorite chore – shopping
Favorite household chore – folding warm laundry
Favorite vacation spots – Maui, Malibu, and Las Vegas
Favorite movies – Romancing the Stone, Family Man, and Cold Mountain
Favorite amphibian – tree frogs
Favorite month – August
Favorite author – Linda Howard, the queen of steam
Best surprise I ever received – a bouquet of red roses and a limo at the airport

Some things I believe…

• I believe that love and laughter will keep you healthy…but a good man will keep you alive.
• I believe in every frog there is a prince; if you can’t see him, you’re not his princess.
• I believe in the power of the mind; change your attitude and you just might change your life.
• I believe in dreaming; if you find that special someone who makes you dream, dream BIG!
• I believe too many What Ifs… are not good for a person.
• I believe my dogs are perhaps the smartest dogs that ever lived. Certainly, the sweetest!
• I believe I was meant to be a rock star…if only I could sing.

Books I Highly Recommend:

• Rejection, Romance, & Royalties, by Laura Resnick (a sassy read about the business of writing) www.LauraResnick.com
• The Model Man, by Genie Davis (flirty, fun romance at a great price) www.geniedavis.com
• Candy Apple Red, by Nancy Bush (fans of Janet Evanovich may enjoy this book) www.nancybush.net
• The Year of the Fog, by Michelle Richmond (great book with an unexpected ending) www.michellerichmond.com
• Anything by Julia Quinn

My Links (writing and otherwise):

www.rwanational.org – Romance Writers of America
www.writersdigest.com – writing tips from the pros
www.romantictimes.com – news of upcoming releases
www.rosecityromancewriters.com – just one of many great RWA chapters
www.romancevagabonds.com – hear what your favorite authors have to say
www.freshfiction.com - contests and books from your favorite authors
www.booktour.com – news of upcoming author events