What do you find romantic?

Ah... romance.:) I love unexpected gifts, and not necessarily the store-bought kind. My husband always brings me the first spring gardenias for my office. I find that incredibly romantic, more so than if he bought me a 10-carat diamond necklace, although I certainly wouldn't refuse that.:)

Why do you like reading and writing romance?

I've always been a sucker for romantic songs and romantic movies and the simple yet complex concept of falling in love. I didn't actually discover romance novels, per se, until adulthood. But once I did, I was hooked. The journey to love, its pleasures and pitfalls, has always captured my imagination. And frankly, I find writing/reading happy endings incredibly refreshing when in real life they are sometimes all too few and too far between. In my humble opinion, romance novels not only provide entertainment, they can provide hope, something we could all use in abundance at times. I feel very fortunate to be able to convey that message through my stories.

Well, my husband is a retired neurosurgeon, so I guess you could say that I know the whole doctor psyche intimately. In the Marrying An M.D. series, each of my doctors have in part been impacted on an emotional level by their career choice--be it a wound that threatens to end a surgeon's valued career, a tough schedule that aided in the break down of a previous marriage or a past loss that drove one to his chosen field of administering to premature infants.

 Being a doctor is not only what they do, it's an integral part of who they are. It's not difficult to understand that concept when you consider they confront healing and saving lives on a regular basis, a very weighty responsibility. My doctors can be enigmatic, sometimes brooding, charismatic, but always, always honorable. I truly enjoy writing doctor heroes, which I suppose is a tribute to my husband.

What type of conflicts do you like to weave into your story plots?

In my first three books, I tackled some fairly heavy issues ranging from the deaf culture to domestic violence. Those are the external elements that drove the internal conflicts. In my opinion, it's an author's greatest challenge to make even the most common internal conflicts--past relationships gone bad, abandonment, uncaring parents, to name a few--seem refreshing to the reader. You'll find in most of my books characters with varying layers/degrees of conflict.

For instance, my heroine in Dr. Desirable had a horrible relationship with a doctor (she later discovered he was married) and this makes her a bit gun shy when it comes to relationships, especially with doctors. She also grew up as a healthy child with a severely asthmatic sister and she's always been the nurturer, very compassionate and giving, the reason why she became involved with the lonely, visiting physician in the first place. It all ties in together. I believe that giving characters these multi-layered conflicts lends itself to making them more real and multi-dimensional. I enjoy watching characters change and grow as they overcome all the emotional baggage while discovering honest-to-goodness love on their way to the happy ending.

Actually, in 1992 I began writing a big (huge) political mainstream romance (that was very similar in plot to a movie released two years later). It was a fantastic learning experience, and it will never see the light of day.:) I wrote two more 'bigger' books but it wasn't until 1997 that I came upon an idea for a series romance.

I've always read category books but I feared I was too wordy to even attempt a shorter format. As it turned out, I really, really liked writing in the shorter format. My first effort was promptly rejected (the second wasn't worth submitting) but my third sold in July of 1999. Because I enjoy exploring the emotional impact of falling in love--and exploring sensuality between two people destined to be together--Desire is a great fit for me. Since my first book's release in July 2000 (Cowboy For Keeps), it's been a wonderful and an incredibly fulfilling experience. I can't imagine doing anything else. Not many jobs allow you to work all day in your pajamas, if you so choose, while exploring an imaginary world involving the search for love. Loads of fun!

I would like to take credit for the plot for His E-Mail Order Wife because I think it's a good one, but first I have to explain. This is Book #8 of a 12-author series known as Dynasties: The Connellys. Authors who are invited to participate are given histories, continuity elements and basic plot/character outlines for their individual stories. They all share certain elements that continue on through the series. Beyond that, it's up to the author to write the book, make it their own, including developing the conflicts, characters, etc. In short, the plot wasn't mine per se but the writing itself is definitely mine, and I had a wonderful time doing it.

As far as the whole Internet dating scene, although I've been out of the dating loop for twenty years, I do have friends my age who are utilizing the Internet to connect with other singles. I guess overall, it's made the world a much smaller place and I suppose opened up more opportunities for singles. To quote the octogenarian grandmother, Lilly, from His E-Mail Order Wife (who is responsible for some heavy-duty matchmaking), it's "Much like a high-tech coming out party, minus the caterer.":)

What did you like about your hero and heroine in "His E-Mail Order Wife?"

My heroine, Kristina Simmons, is full-figured, something I had not attempted to write before His E-Mail Order Wife. I really enjoyed developing her character, highlighting her strengths, her wit, yet conveying how cruel and judgmental people can be when it comes to 'perfection.' She turned out to be very wise, very compassionate and although her size is a part of her conflict, I tried very hard not to make her morose or sullied by self-pity.

The hero, Drew Connelly, is the widowed father of a six-year-old daughter. He's emotionally wounded and it takes a good-hearted, strong woman to peel back the layers of his pain and alleviate his guilt so he can finally love again. This is a story about healing and trust and I'm very pleased with how it all came together. I hope readers will be, too. Overall, the entire Connelly series (beginning in January 2002) has been well-received. I'm proud to have been a part of the experience.

As far as upcoming releases go, I've recently completed a book for the Dynasties: The Barones continuity series entitled The Sheikh's Proposal due out in September 2003. I also have the Sheikh's Bidding coming out in January 2003, Renegade Millionaire (featuring Dr. Rio Madrid from Dr. Destiny), March 2003, and my current work in progress, Marooned With A Millionaire (The Love Boat meets The Wizard of Oz during The Perfect Storm:)), release date to be announced.

Kristi, thus far you've had a very busy writing career.  You and your family live on a ranch in Texas.  Share a comment or two about your life outside of writing.

Although I'm always thinking about other ideas for books, I still have two very active kids at home so my life isn't all about the career. My husband manages to take care of our small ranch including Texas longhorn cattle, the horses, the house pets (3 dogs, 3 cats) and tends to the gardening. I do feed the catfish in the tank (Texan for pond) every evening. It's a nice break and a means to get out of the office and back to nature. Guess you could say that in some ways we're stereotypical Texans, and we have the accent to prove it.:)

What are your three favorite bookmarks (web sites)?

Only three? There are some really great romance sites out there, and I'm thrilled over the recent discovery of RomanceEverAfter.com. I'm just going to share three that I use a lot from a professional and personal standpoint.

I just like to add in closing that the most rewarding aspect of writing books is hearing from readers. I can be contacted at KGOLDAUTHOR@aol.com or through my website at http://kristigold.com.

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