Welcome to New Faces, where you'll meet brand-new authors in the romance arena! We're pleased to introduce Adele Ashworth, whose historical romance MY DARLING CAROLINE is new on the shelves this month. Adele talks about her background and getting that first book published.

Tell us about yourself, Adele.

I'm originally from Albuquerque where I lived until the age of 16. In 1979 I moved to Salt Lake City, living there until 1986 when I graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in journalism. That same spring I moved to Scottsdale, Arizona and lived there until just two years ago when my husband, a pilot, took a job in the east and we moved to Virginia. But I'm a southwest person at heart and we're planning to return sometime next year. I've been happily married for almost nine years and have two young children- Andrew, age seven, and Caroline, 19 months.

What did you do before trying yout hand at writng romance?

During my first summer in the Phoenix area, I took a job as a flight attendant with America West Airlines, working in the airline industry for nearly seven years before deciding to give up my steady income to write my first book. Since that time I've been able to indulge in my two life passions- being a stay-at-home mom and writing romance novels.

What led you to write romance? Are you a longtime reader?

I began reading romance at the age of twelve when I discovered Victoria Holt. At thirteen I read SHANNA by Woodiwiss and I was hooked. For the next fourteen years I read everything by Deveraux, Woodiwiss, Lindsey, McNaught, Garwood, Rogers- all the big authors of the 70s and 80s- as well as Harlequin romances and regencies.

Then in 1990, about six months after I married, I began that "I don't know what to do with my life" kind of thing. I knew I didn't want to be a flight attendant forever, but what was left? I'd just turned 27 (really old!) and because I'm not "businessly inclined" decided the only thing left was grad school, although I wasn't entirely fond of that idea either. What happened next I will never forget. In March, after coming to believe grad school was my only option for career success and happiness, I went to my local bookstore, stood in the center of the reference aisle studying all the "How To Pass the GRE" books on the left, turned to my right and saw Kathryn Falk's book on how to write romances. I bought it without opening it, drove home filled with the kind of elation one would feel upon discovering the cure for cancer, showed the book to my husband, and he laughed and laughed (although he's since been very supportive). I didn't actually start writing for three more years but our lives have never been the same.

Tell us about your road to publication.

I was extremely naive about the publishing business. My only reference was Falk's book, and I'd never heard of RWA- or any other organizations or publications that might have put me in touch with other writers or helped me learn. I wrote my first book in a frenzy, on my own, and it took me all of three months to complete. The day after Thanksgiving, 1993, I sent a partial to three different agents. One of them called me two weeks later and offered a contract. I just figured, "Hey, this publishing stuff is easy! They'll sell it in a month and it will be on the shelves next year!" Then my eyes were ripped open by reality. That book went nowhere, and as I look back on it now, the story had a lot of problems.

In the fall of 1994, I began writing MY DARLING CAROLINE. I finished it six months later and it was one-third longer than it is today. I had one person read it for typos and glaring errors, then started to submit. It took me a year of working with a new and wonderful agent- cutting, re-writing and polishing- before she actually took me on as a client. She sold it in nine months.

Who are your influences as a writer?

I'm influenced by different writers at different times, and in different ways. Right now I'm really into reading contemporary romances by Jennifer Crusie and Nora Roberts, and series romances by Vicki Lewis Thompson and Susan Crosby. I've always loved Susan Carroll regencies- and her style in general. Katherine Sutcliffe and Julie Garwood are two of my longtime favorite historical romance authors. Outside of romance my favorite author is Anne Perry. Her Victorian mysteries are just so classy.

What does your family think of having a romance author in their midst?

This has always been funny to me, but not one person I know- family member or friend- reads romance. They're all excited for me, and they don't take it trivially, but I don't think even one of them really understands the complexities of romance novels, or just how racy they can be. Yes, there have even been some who've suggested that this is only what I'm "doing now" and that someday I might "branch out into real literature." Agonizing, really, and I'm hoping to convert them! But they all intend to read MY DARLING CAROLINE and I'm sure they'll all love it, if for no other reason than because I wrote it. My mother (a college professor, mind you), during a recent appointment with her hairdresser, picked up a copy of July's Walden Book Report, saw my name inside, and STOLE it. I don't think she's ever stolen anything in her life. That's devotion.

Tell us about plans for future books.

I've just completed PRECIOUS, my second historical romance for Berkley, due out next September. For now, I'm taking a couple of weeks off, then it's back to the computer to polish up another proposal.

How can readers get in touch with you?

Readers can write to me at ronadele@cfw.com and let me know how they like MY DARLING CAROLINE. I look forward to hearing from them!

Thanks, Adede! Readers, check out our review of My Darling Caroline.

15, 1998