The very first romance novel I read was Wuthering Heights.

My second romance novel was The Thorn Birds.

Wow. Those are two very different books on opposite sides of the spectrum, aren't they?

I picked up both books at age 8. Wuthering Heights came from Starline Elementary School in my hometown of Lake Havasu, Arizona. It was a wonderful school, with a wonderful library filled with wonderful librarians (Mrs. Bush! Mrs. Quill!).

When I checked out Wuthering Heights, I didn't realize it was the abridged version, and I was confused by the narrator. Up to that point in my reading career of Beatrix Potter and Little Miss books, first-person narrators were the protagonists in a book. So I didn't quite understand why Heathcliff was going after this "Cathy" chick when the narrator was free for the picking!

The Thorn Birds, on the other hand, came from my parents' stash of books kept in the laundry room cupboards. It resided next to Sidney Sheldon novels, and I instantly understood this story better and immediately fell in love with Maggie and Father Ralph. (In fact, they have a son named Dane, who is my character's name in HIS FAVORITE INCONVENIENCE. A little nod to my romance-book-loving roots.)

I love romances, and these two books started my path down that road. That road wound past Harlequins and Loveswepts and into the titillating territory of Fabio covers (e.g., Johanna Lindsey) and then into the more risque Bertrice Small sagas (think of her as the trailblazer for authors like E.L. James).

Almost 30 years later, I can't envision a life without romance novels. I can't read a book or watch a movie unless I know it will have a romance in it, no matter how small.

And now I can't envision NOT being a writer for this rather fabulous genre.

-Sydney