Welcome to new Faces, where we turn the spotlight on some of the newest authors in the romance genre. This week we welcome Candace Irvin, whose debut book For His Eyes Only is a Silhouette Intimate Moments release. Hello, Candace!

Tell us about yourself--where are you from?

Yikes! Growing up, I dreaded this question. I'm a Navy brat. By the time I was in junior high, I'd lived in Northern California (born there), the Philippines, Southern California, West Germany, South Carolina, and Nebraska. I used to tease my father that he did it backwards. He was supposed to take the hicks out of the sticks & show us Paris, not the other way around! But Dad's a smart man. When he retired, he opted to take his family back to the simple life. Even though I now live forty minutes from Boston and take advantage of the city's cultural opportunities regularly, I miss the laid-back life of the Midwest--and all those wide-open spaces!

Are you coming to romance writing from another job?

Yes. Like my father, I heard the call of the sea at a fairly early age. I was ten, standing on the deck of my dad's current ship in the middle of the Atlantic on a dependent's cruise, when the siren sang. I promptly told my father I was going to be a sailor just like him. Of course, he didn't take me seriously at the time. But twelve years later, when I was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy, he was forced to.

My most rewarding assignment was heading up the USS Samuel Gompers' damage control. I spent my days fighting fires, plugging leaks, and cleaning up toxic spills and gases. My nights were spent driving twenty-five thousand tons of steel across the Pacific. I traded all that in four years later for two a.m. feedings when my husband (then an Army officer) and I had our first child. Shortly thereafter, we added two more rug rats to the crew. Now, I drive a van instead of warship--and the toxic spills have changed, too. Though I swear some of them are just as noxious!

What led you to write romance?

I've always been an avid reader of romance. I grew up on Historicals. I cut my teeth on THE PROUD BREED by Celeste DeBlais, even going so far as to name my own horse after Tess' stallion! When I started writing three years ago, I just assumed I should write historical. My first manuscript was a time travel involving a Naval officer who was swept overboard and back to 1783 off the coast of St. Eustatius Island. Even then, suspense was woven throughout my work, since the heroine was mistaken for a spy by the privateering captain & Colonial secret agent who pulled her from the sea. But writing that book, I also learned my voice was suited more for contemporary fiction, so I made the switch. For me, it's been a better fit. I still love curling up with a great Medieval or Colonial tale, though.

Tell us about your road to publication.

Like most writers, it took me a while to figure out what the heck I was doing. My college degree is in Political Science--not much help there--so I had to learn the hard way. Trial and error. I'm also pretty sure I read every "how-to" book on the market. (Debra Dixon is a goddess! ) Before I sold, I'd been writing for just over two and a half years and had three manuscripts under my belt. Even though I found my voice early into my second manuscript, I still had a lot to learn about the needs and desires of the publishing industry. Somehow, it all managed to come together in FOR HIS EYES ONLY. Luckily, Gail Chasan at Silhouette agreed and offered to buy it.

I also worked with a fantastic critique partner my first two years of writing. Though we remain great friends to this day, she's since stopped writing. (sigh) Even now, when I get really stuck and am ready to bash my head into the keys--or toss my computer monitor out the window--I call Sharon. Somehow, she manages to talk me down and restore my sanity.

What kind of research was involved for your first book?

I was blessed while writing FOR HIS EYES ONLY. Since I'm a former Naval officer and ship-driver, creating and writing my heroine, Lieutenant Jade Parker, was fairly easy. Now my hero was a different story. Special Agent Reese Garrick required a bit more research. But I enjoyed every minute of it. I'd rather not say which federal agency Reese works for since that would give away one of the book's plot points--but I interviewed a wonderful agent out here in Boston who helped me breathe life into Reese. I also hooked up with a brilliant nuclear physicist who helped me fine tune another crucial plot point.

Who are your influences as a writer?

Wow--this is probably the easiest and the hardest question I'm asked. I take different things from different writers, some of them well-known and some up & coming. Most of my absolute favorites write suspense. I just came off a Michael Connelly binge. BLACK ECHO and BLACK ICE were just fabulous, and I'm still drooling--and insanely jealous--over Connelly's chapter one hook in BLOOD WORK. I bought THE POET a few weeks ago, but my husband stole it and then had the nerve to tell me I was supposed to be writing, not reading, when I whined. (I hate it when that man is right!) I also sincerely admire Jonathan Kellerman, John Grisham, Sandra Brown, Linda Howard, and Tami Hoag. In the straight romance field, I absolutely adore Suzanne Brockmann. Then there's Merline Lovelace, Marilyn Pappano, Debra Cowan, Gayle Wilson--gosh, I could go on all night!

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

While my husband's unfailing support means the world to me, I will always treasure an incident that occurred toward the completion of my second manuscript. My daughter was just learning to read & she picked up the thick sheaf of papers, flipped through them, and looked up at me with total awe and said, "Mommy, did you write all these words?" I laughed and told her yes, and then I smiled--because I'd even figured out how to get all those words to go together!

Tell us about plans for future books.

I have another military romantic suspense at Harlequin Intrigue that I'm waiting to hear on. I'm currently writing my first mainstream military suspense. I've also completed the synopsis and first three chapters for the sequel to FOR HIS EYES ONLY. The sequel features Jade's best friend and the ship's doctor, Lt. Karin Scott and Reese Garrick's partner, Special Agent TJ Vasquez.

How can readers get in touch with you?

I would love to hear from readers. I can be reached via e-mail at CandaceLPI@aol.com or via snail mail c/o the New England Chapter-RWA, PO Box 5036, Framingham, MA 01701. Readers are also invited visit my website and take a peek at the cover of FOR HIS EYES ONLY. The address is . Be sure to check out the Author Appearances page--I'd love to connect in person!

Candace, thanks, and best of luck! Readers, we have a review of For His Eyes Only on our Category page -- don't miss it.

May 2, 1999