Welcome to New Faces, where we're pleased to introduce some of the newest authors on the romance scene. This week we welcome Cherie Claire, whose debut historical romance, A Cajun Dream, is now out from Zebra. Welcome, Cherie!

Tell us about yourself.

I'm a native New Orleanian, but I currently live in Baton Rouge. My paternal family has been in Louisiana since the beginning of the colony, around 1718. Their stories have always interested me, and my debut novel contains pieces of my family in it. I am a journalism graduate from LSU married to a Bostonian whom I met while living in Southern California in the 1980s. I have two children, Joshua and Taylor.

Are you coming to romance writing from another job?

Yes, I have a day job. I'm an arts and entertainment journalist at The Advocate, a daily newspaper in Baton Rouge and a columnist with Whispers internet magazine for women. The first romance I read was a Harlequin Super-romance that had a journalist as its heroine. I quickly paid for the book and slipped it into my grocery bag without anyone looking. Then as secretly as I bought it, I read the book - in one sitting! After that, I was hooked.

What led you to write romance?

That book! And this was only in 1991! I was a bit of a snob before that. Not that I looked down on romance. I had picked up one a long time ago when the genre was quite different and I didn't like it at all. Times have changed and romance books snagged me when they did. In 1991, when my children were young and I really needed a creative outlet, I discovered the new romances and decided I wanted to write one. I had written short stories, screenplays and plays before that and thought I would be better suited for historical romance. I love history and some of my best journalism stories are historical culture pieces.

Tell us about your road to publication.

Being a journalist, I thought I could write mass market fiction easily. Boy was I surprised! I started writing before I joined RWA and started going to conferences, but I didn't start growing as a writer until I started going to RWA meetings and being involved with critique groups. I learned so much from RWA and conferences and other writers. Since I work and have two small children, the first book took five years to write. I'm still trying to sell that one, which has been rewritten numerous times, I might add.

A Cajun Dream actually came to me in a dream. I woke up at 2 a.m. one night and saw the whole story. Then I sat down and wrote it, chapter by chapter. It took a year and came out beautiful. What an incredible experience that book was! I sold it shortly thereafter. I had sent it out to agents and editors and was getting nowhere. As a New Year's resolution in 1998, I sent out five queries and got a positive one back from Ann LaFarge at Kensington. She asked for the manuscript and bought it six weeks later. Ann is of Acadian descent, knew the subject well and has been a joy to work with.

What kind of research was involved for your first book?

Lots! I live in Louisiana, so I wanted to make sure everything was perfect. I read everything I could get my hands on. I know so much about Cajuns I should have a degree. I work three blocks from the Louisiana State Library, so on my lunch hours I used to go over there and raid their periodicals. I found some great stories in the most unusual places and used them in A Cajun Dream and in my Cajun-themed novella which comes out in November. I think the smallest details can sometimes be the best parts of a book and I tried to use these in my stories.

Who are your influences as a writer?

My mother used to tell me I could be anything I wanted, and I always believed that. So I would have to say she was my greatest influence. My creative, dramatic sister supported me a lot as well - as still does. My husband has been an absolute jewel, the true hero of my life. So, I would have to say my family was and is my greatest influence. Besides, my favorite writer is myself. Should it be otherwise? After all, don't we write books that we would most like to read?

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

My mother did ask me when I was going to write a "real" book. But she's very proud of me. My brother used the word "trash" when I showed him my cover, so there are a lot of stereotypes to conquer. My sister, who hates romances and can't understand the lure of "those books," read my novel and loved it. So I try to keep it all in perspective. Besides, I wrote the book for me and for my readers. If someone in my family doesn't like it, that's OK. They're not my target audience. I do expect them to come to my booksignings, however. :)

Tell us about plans for future books.

My next book is a novella titled "The Letter" within an anthology titled Snow Angels. It's due out in November. If readers like A Cajun Dream they will like "The Letter" because it is more of the same. Basically, an Irish immigrant fleeing the famine inherits a baby when her best friend dies. She intercepts a letter and ends up in bayou country where she gets stuck with the hero, a good-looking Cajun who wants to fatten her up with all kinds of Cajun cooking. It's my ultimate fantasy.

How can readers get in touch with you?

My web site is http://www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/Bayou/4745/ or they can email me at ccoen@ix.netcom.com

Cherie, thanks for joining us! Readers, we have a review of A Cajun Dream on our Historical page.

June 18, 1999