Getting to know my characters. I don't start writing until I have the entire book in my head - and by this I mean the storyline. I simply can't make it work by plotting a book out scene by scene on paper or on the screen. I like to have my 'brain-outline' and then dive in to see what's really going to happen. I'm often amazed at what my characters do - without my permission... They turn the tables on me all the time. I'm sometimes very surprised how they'll set something up for me that turns out to have relevance much later in the story.

Smashwords has made my books available in different e-book stores, so I'm able to reach more people. The iBookstores in particular have been a wonderful addition.

They're lovely. They're the other half of why I write. Of course I write for me - but I keep writing because I often receive such great messages from them. When someone says they've read a book again and again (as I do with my favourite writers sometimes) then I know I've bought real pleasure to them. That's very addictive.

I enjoy gardening. Good exercise, and I can't live without pretty stuff outside the windows. And I'm a Soroptimist. Hands up if you know what that is? It's an international service club for women along the lines of Rotary. We quietly tackle projects that will benefit women and children around the world.

My husband, who brings me a mug of hot water, goes and has his shower, then brings me a mug of coffee, then starts on the 'time we have to start work today' routine. We have a specialist decor company, and when I'm not glued to the computer or having fun in the garden I'll be up a ladder hanging beautiful curtains.
It's a great way to meet people, overhear conversations, find interesting settings for stories, ask nosy questions.... It gets me out into the real world, and I think all writers need that.

Word of mouth is the most powerful thing there is. I think that's how some people find mine - friends telling friends.
Online newsletters sometimes tempt me, but I think my biggest source is a gigantic authors' loop I belong to. With way over two thousand members all sharing what they're writing, there's plenty to choose from there.

First proper story was my autobiography. I was twelve. It's beside me here on the bookcase. One of our teachers told us to write something during the long summer school holidays. I took her at her word and filled most of an exercise book. I've no idea why I chose myself as the topic. Easy research maybe?

Much thinking followed by hard slog. I don't do a fast first draft. I always re-read the last few pages I've written, make any corrections that are needed, and then go forward again. By the end of the book it'll only be a few touch-ups before it's finished.

I have very distinctive covers and I like each series to look absolutely like a family. Same fonts, same sort of feeling. I spend a lot of time on the royalty-free photo sites making my eyes very sore. You can search up to ten thousand photos at a time, and I've reached that limit several times when searching for the perfect couple. And yes, I generally want a couple because these are romances.
My cover designer Robin has added pieces of gorgeous New Zealand scenery to the bases of some of my covers so I can share my beautiful country with the world. Sometimes it's right where the story is set, and sometimes not. Nowadays we also have a silver fern with New Zealand Romance as my brand. So it's a couple, some scenery, a catchy title that's clear to read, and my name. Big - because I'm more important than my titles. It's imperative the covers look distinctive and eye-catching when they're reduced in size because a lot of the listings can be quite small. So no strange fonts for me. Obvious all the way! Did you know if you click the covers you can generally get a beautiful big clear version?

Lisa Kleypas. Rachel Gibson. Damon Suede. Melanie Harlow. Jessica Hawkins. Rosalind James. Nicole Snow. Kate Regnery. And let's have some downunder mentions, too. Catherine Robertson - three brilliant books, starting with 'The Sweet Second Life of Darrell Kincaid'. She can be so funny.
Tracey Alvarez, who lives here in Wellington and also sets her books in New Zealand like I (mostly) do. Our writing styles couldn't be more different, but I absolutely love the way her characters snap and snark at each other.
Serenity Woods - such a good friend, but I didn't meet her face to face for years! We do a final proof-read of each others' books and email a lot. And I love Karina Bliss's rockstar series.
Penny Reid - OMG! Just so funny and unpredictable. Don't let her weird covers and titles put you off.

'Jane, Stewardess of the Airlines.' See - I still remember the title. I've no idea who wrote it. Weirdly it was full of people with the names of my friends and family. There was even a Sue Hawley - and Hawley was my somewhat unusual unmarried name.
Impact on me? Well, I did actually apply to be a flight attendant with Air New Zealand once I was old enough. Wisely they decided I was far too opinionated and turned me down. I found a happy home in advertising instead.

I mostly grew up on English books - Enid Blyton's Famous Five. The Wind in the Willows. Alice in Wonderland (which we had a huge ancient illustrated version of). I became a fanatical science fiction reader in my teens and twenties. These days I read far and wide, because if you don't give something a try you might miss an absolute gem.