I love doing these quizzes and I’ve been so busy of late with Pets In Space that I haven’t had time for answering questions. Found this one in the April issue of Marie Claire magazine.

If I weren’t a writer, I’d be: Not breathing. Writing is at the core of me.

Best career advice I’ve gotten: Keep up with changes in your industry, at least to be aware of them, even if you don’t adopt them yourself.

3 Qualities that got me where I am today: Optimism. Humor. Never give up (persistence?)

Moment I felt I’d ‘made it’: When Angela James called me in the summer of 2011 to say Carina Press wanted to acquire my Priestess of the Nile. My first published book! And that opened the door to everything in my writing career since, even the self publishing.

Kind of work I’d do for free: Put me in  movie!

Favorite perk of my job: Ok, do I really have to confess I write in my bathrobe and fuzzy slippers??? Maybe I’l mention my feline co-workers instead…..

Worst pitfall of the job: Waiting for reviews, hoping readers like the book!

How I made my first dollar: Babysitting

Who do I admire and why? Single working mothers – that’s a hard row to hoe and you’re torn in many directions, trying to do your best. I was one after I was widowed. Hugs to all single parents everywhere.

Last thing I binge watched:  NBC’s ‘Timeless’. Or Making the Team.

Book that left a lasting impression on me: Wow, hard to pick just one. I reread Nalini Singh’s Shield of Winter fairly often, does that count?

Song that always makes me cry: “Amazing Grace”, especially played on bagpipes.

Song I want played at my funeral. Well, “Amazing Grace” for sure. But also “Fun Fun Fun” by the Beach Boys because that IS my personal anthem.

First album I bought: Who can remember? Maybe something by the Beatles but also maybe “Ferry Cross the Mersey” by Gerry and the Pacemakers. The first two singles I ever bought were “Five O’Clock World” and “Down in the Boondocks” though.

If I could live in a foreign country it would be: Australia! I have some good author and reader friends there and I know they’d make me feel right at home.

One thing I’m good at: Networking.

One thing I’m bad at: Waiting for anything!

How I clear my mind after a bad day: Cup of tea and a good book. Or possibly chocolate and a good book.

Something nice I did for myself recently because hey, why not? I’m having my hair cut today. Chris has been a friend of the family since my younger daughter was just a few months old and I love going to see her.

If I could compete in an Olympic sport, I’d like it to be: Pairs figure skating with a very hunky partner. But actually, I’d be good at archery.

My first kiss: Magic.

3 Qualities I thought I wanted in a partner: Tall, dark and handsome, plus good sense of humor. (Hey, I never said I was a math major.)

3 Qualities I know now matter: OK, still going for the handsome thing because, hey, romance writer here! But a good sense of humor, someone who’ll be a strong partner in all life’s ups and downs, and very caring.

Advice to a woman with a broken heart: It’s ok to cry. Take things one moment at a time. Time may not ever erase the memories but they do lose their sting and there is more happiness out there when you’re ready to seek for it.

What my high school boyfriend would say about me: Remember that tall, dark and handsome person above? The one who also had the sterling other qualities? Yup, I married him and we were very happy for sixteen years of marriage until he was killed in an accident. So I think if he were still here, he’d be very proud of our daughters and he’d be very proud of me being a published author.

And that’s all for this quiz folks!

(If you don’t have your copy of Pets In Space yet, there’s a week  left for the charity Hero Dogs, Inc., to collect 10% of the royalties so don’t wait too long if you want to help support service dogs for veterans. Thanks!)

Even an alien needs a pet…

Join the adventure as nine pet loving sci-fi romance authors take you out of this world and pull you into their action-packed stories filled with suspense, laughter, and romance. The alien pets have an agenda that will capture the hearts of those they touch. Follow along as they work side by side to help stop a genetically-engineered creature from destroying the Earth to finding a lost dragon; life is never the same after their pets decide to get involved. Can the animals win the day or will the stars shine just a little less brightly?

New York Times, USA TODAY, Award Winning, and Best selling authors have eight original, never-released stories and one expanded story giving readers nine amazing adventures that will capture your imagination and help a worthy charity. Come join us as we take you on nine amazing adventures that will change the way you look at your pet!

10% of profits from the first month go to Hero-Dogs.org. Hero Dogs raises and trains service dogs and places them free of charge with US Veterans to improve quality of life and restore independence.

The blurb for Star Cruise: Stowaway: Cargo Master Owen Embersson is shocked when the Nebula Zephyr’s ship’s cat and her alien sidekick, Midorri, alert him to the presence of a stowaway. He has no idea of the dangerous complications to come – nor does he anticipate falling hard for the woman whose life he now holds in his hands. Life aboard the Nebula Zephyr has just become more interesting – and deadly.

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