Welcome to our New Faces column, where we're delighted to introduce new romance authors to our readers. This time we're visiting with Nancy Herkness, whose debut book is a contemporary romance called A Bridge to Love, published by Berkley.

Nancy, welcome to TRR! Tell us about yourself.

I was born and raised in the mountains of West Virginia. A graduate of Princeton University, I majored in English and was accepted into the Creative Writing Program. My senior thesis was a volume of original poetry.

I write book reviews, press releases and newsletters, and am a member of Romance Writers of America. I live in suburban New Jersey with my husband, two children, and a golden retriever.

Are you coming to romance writing from another job?

I always laugh when I hear this question because my career has been so varied. Believe it or not, I wrote my first romance manuscript right after I stopped working in sales and marketing for a financial software firm. Before that I was in retail buying at Lord and Taylor in New York. Now I’m a full-time mother and writer, my two favorite jobs.

What led you to write romance?

I’ve read romance since I was a teenager, starting with the Bronte sisters, Jane Austen, and Georgette Heyer. When I read my first Kathleen Woodiwiss book I was blown away. Since then I’ve always wanted to write my own romance novel.

It took me awhile to get around to prose writing though. During my high school and college years, all of my creative work was done in poetry. That was invaluable training for writing tight, vivid prose. In fact, I teach a writing workshop on using the techniques of poetry to strengthen prose.

Tell us about your road to publication.

After analyzing all of the wonderful information I’d gleaned from the Romance Writers of America and the New Jersey Romance Writers, I took a two-pronged approach to getting published. Because I write single title, I decided I needed an agent to keep me out of the slush piles. So I sent out many, many proposals and received many, many rejections from literary agencies.

At the same time, I entered unpublished writers’ contests. My main purpose in doing this was to make it to the final round of judging so an acquiring editor or agent would be reading my work. I got the unexpected benefits of positive feedback amidst all the rejections and some excellent constructive criticism which improved my book a great deal.

After almost a year of persistence, I found an agent who loved my book and sold it to Berkley. The week after I accepted Berkley’s offer, a contest coordinator called to say that the judging editor had requested my full manuscript. Although I don’t know if she would have bought the book, it seemed like a good sign so I think both avenues were successful.

What kind of research was involved in your first book?

Kate is an engineer so I wanted to make her office and her bridge design as authentic as possible. Fortunately, I had two excellent resources: my father and my best friend, both of whom are engineers. They helped me with the proper equipment and terminology.

The climactic scene in A BRIDGE TO LOVE takes place on the George Washington Bridge which meant I needed to do some in-depth exploring. My husband and I walked across the bridge while I took dozens of photos, then drove back and forth across it while I made copious notes. Theoretically, everything that Kate and Randall do on the bridge is possible, if rather dangerous. I highly recommend the walk on the bridge; with the height, the wind, the view and the noise, it’s an amazing experience.

Tell us about your debut book.

Set in New Jersey and New York, A BRIDGE TO LOVE is the story of a soccer mom and a C.E.O.

Widowed a year ago, Kate Chilton is holding things together for the sake of her two young sons. Memories of her happy marriage keep her strong until she discovers that her dead husband had a shocking secret.

Randall Johnson clawed his way to the top of the ladder of success from a dirt-poor childhood in rural Texas. Now the CEO of his own corporation, he has no time for women with baggage…until he meets Kate.

As Kate’s world disintegrates around her, she has to decide if Randall can help her build a bridge to her future…or if he’s just one more wrecking ball in her life.

Who are your influences as a writer?

The authors whose writing I most admire are: Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer, Barbara Kingsolver, and Ian McEwan. I can only hope they influence my work.

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

My daughter loves it; she’s a voracious reader, and the fact that Mom made her visit five bookstores in two days was her idea of heaven. I think my husband secretly enjoys the ribbing he gets about the love scenes. My son thinks kissing is gross so he can’t imagine why anyone would want to read OR write about it.

Tell us about plans for future books.

Right now, I’m line-editing my second book, SHOWER OF STARS, which Berkley is publishing in July of 2004. The heroine is a journalist who is determined to adopt a baby from China. The hero is a meteorite hunter who’s found what may be the most valuable space rock on Earth. She needs to demonstrate the financial ability to support a child so she decides to write a book about the hunter. He makes a slightly different proposal.

As soon as the line-edits go back to my editor, I will be starting on Book 3 which is still milling around in my head. The only thing I can definitely say about it is that some scenes will be set back in my home territory of West Virginia.

How can readers get in touch with you?

Readers connected to the Internet may visit my Website at www.NancyHerkness.com and email me from there. Snail mailers may write me at: P.O. Box 124, Glen Ridge, NJ 07028. I LOVE to hear from readers so please be in touch!

Nancy, thank you for joining us, and best of luck! Readers, we have a review of A BRIDGE TO LOVE in our Contemporary section.