The characters are always the focal point of a book for me, whether I'm writing or reading. I may enjoy a book that has an intriguing mystery or a good plot, but to become one of my real favorites, it has to have great characters.

In truly good writing no matter how many times you read it you do not know how it is done. That is beacause there is a mystery in all great writing and that mystery does not dis-sect out. It continues and it is always valid. Each time you re-read you see or learn something new.

I taught English and history, so my education for that really helped prepare me for writing historical fiction.

I'm always writing about character first. Plot, such as it is, comes from the characters.

But, how do you know if an ending is truly good for the characters unless you've traveled with them through every page?

I visited England immediately after I finished writing 'The Marrying Season,' before any editing or revisions.