Welcome to New Faces, where we're pleased to introduce some of the newest authors on the romance scene. This week we welcome Jenni Licata, whose debut historical romance, Unveiled, is now available from Leisure Books. Welcome, Jenni!

Tell us about yourself.

I grew up in Michigan, for the most part-meaning I was an Air Force brat. I was actually born in Landstuhl, Rheinland/Pfalz, in what used to be West Germany, and also lived briefly in Torajon, Spain, Oscoda, Michigan, Ft. Walton Beach, Florida, and Zaragoza, Spain before landing in what I consider to be my hometown of Midland, Michigan. Moving so often helped me learn how to be an independent person. I understood early on that I would have to entertain myself, and was very happy to do so, LOL. Storytelling grew naturally out of my penchant for daydreaming.

I met my husband Steve while on a visit to see my brother, who is in the United States Army. My "visit" extended, and I ended up marrying Steve four months later. I cringe now, thinking about how many things might have gone wrong. We were so young... But God was smiling on us, and we're even more in love now than we were then. I feel blessed to have found him. Together we have four sons, whose ages span from 4 months to 14 years. No, I'm not a glutton for punishment. *grin* Well, maybe I am, because I love them all to pieces.

We live in a small town (maybe 1300 people) in northeast Indiana, having two years ago purchased a Victorian-era home (circa 1872) complete with wraparound porch, stained glass windows, and hardwood floors throughout the entire lower floor. I could live in this house a very looong time. I'm a homebody at heart-moving so often will do that to you-and while I enjoy traveling, I love nothing better than to relax on my back porch with my laptop and a glass of iced tea, looking out over my flower garden, and watching my sons practice their basketball moves.

We also have a dog (Pugsy, an overly rambunctious but lovable miniature Schnauzer) and a cat (Emily, an overweight, self-important Tabby who considers herself queen of the household and demands that we comport ourselves appropriately) who also vie for their fair share of my attention.

Are you coming to romance writing from another job?

Alas, I am one of those mothers who really would like to stay home with her children but cannot afford to! *Yet.* I'm currently working as the billing director for a local advertising company. Mundane number crunching. I've worked in various administrative positions over the years, none of them exciting enough to tell you about. I'm working hard toward the day I can reduce my hours to work part-time, and eventually quit the corporate life altogether.

What led you to write romance?

My older sister began passing me Harlequins when I was 10 years old, which is not as precocious as it sounds since back then they *might* have kissed on page 183 when the entire book spanned only 184 pages. I read hundreds of them. Then when I was 13 I picked up her copy of Kathleen Woodiwiss' ASHES IN THE WIND, and oh, was I ever hooked! I devoured all the historical romances our library carried, taking them home in grocery sacks. Used Book Stores became my favorite haunts.

When I was 16, I thought about writing for a living while studying careers in social studies, but when I discovered most writers don't make much money, I thought surely a career in business would be more practical. Isn't it funny how things come full circle in life.

By the time I had my third son, I went through a period of soul-searching. I was in a job that I didn't like, and I just kept asking myself, "Is this what you want to do for the rest of your life???" I'd kept writing for myself all this time, and I think was beginning to realize that I wouldn't be happy unless I gave it a real effort. Not just writing bits and pieces of stories here and there, but a full manuscript, following the story from beginning to end. With my husband's blessing, I joined RWA in 1993 and found a chapter that was just under a 2-hour drive away. That chapter was a Godsend. They required a 5 page sample of one's writing in order to join. With shaking hands, I sat down and wrote 5 pages of what would become my first manuscript-and they loved it. Their encouragement and belief in me helped me to recognize my talent for what it was. I will never forget that.

Tell us about your road to publication.

It took 2 years to finish that first manuscript, which received both form letter rejections and extensive, detailed rejections from various publishers. It won second place in the first contest I entered, and also gained me an agent, with whom I parted ways a year later due to differences in approaches toward the industry and my career. That manuscript still hasn't sold, and I doubt that it ever will due to various problems I can see clearly now-but one thing it did have was voice. Unlike some authors, I had little difficulty finding mine. I just didn't know what it was as I was writing it, LOL.

I began UNVEILED shortly thereafter. UNVEILED took 18 months to complete, I think, but I had suffered a period of writer's block somewhere during that time which was actually caused by stress and depression over my job. I left that company by the wayside, and that took care of that problem. I gathered up a couple of first place contest wins and began the agent safari, which took approximately 6 months total. My new agent, with whom I clicked on a personal level immediately, began submitting it to the various houses. Six months later, on October 24th, 1998, I received the news that Leisure wanted to purchase it. I was given a publication date of July 1999, and things haven't been quite the same ever since!

Writing historical romance is like dreaming a dream that later came true. How many people get to say that? I am completely in love with what I do, and feel very fortunate to have discovered it while I'm still young. (I just turned 33)

BTW, when I first started entering the Golden Heart with my first book, I received 10s, 9s, 8s, 7s. The next year they eliminated the 10s, and so I received 9s, 8s, 7s, and a 2. By the time I entered UNVEILED, I received 7s, 6s, and 5s. That was the year I sold. This is just a caution for other writers-don't place too much importance on contest results! They really don't mean much. As with everything else, they are subjective. Placing just means that the stars aligned perfectly for you at that moment.

What kind of research was involved for your first book?

I've always been a complete Anglophile. Jane Austen is a major passion of mine, and I devour any material that has photos of the English countryside, or tidbits of information about its history. It was quite natural for me to venture over to English soil in my writing. Still, I didn't know enough of what I needed to know to write a book set in England. There is so much a writer needs to know-social customs, historical happenings, monarchs, politics, architecture, food and drink, dress. And that's just so that you can get started. But I love to research, almost as much as I love to write. I have accumulated quite a few reference books of my own and I love to continue adding to them. Still, no matter how much I research, I know there are things I'm missing that only a trip to England will ever help me capture. My husband and I are hoping to do just that for one of our upcoming anniversaries.

The premise for UNVEILED actually presented itself in an odd way. I was flipping through a dictionary, searching for a particular word, when the word MOHOCK jumped out at me, spelled just that way. Intrigued, I sifted back to it and found that it referred to a band of bored noblemen who preyed upon the citizens of London at night for sport. Further investigation placed the Mohocks in Queen Anne's reign, and a nasty band of rogues they were! Perfect fodder for a historical romance plot. I thought this the perfect demonstration that ideas for stories exist everywhere. A writer has only to look.

Who are your influences as a writer?

Not a fair question! Ohhh, there are so many. Susan Wiggs, Jill Barnett, Julia Quinn. LaVyrle Spencer and Katherine Sutcliffe in their earlier days. Laura Kinsale... always Laura Kinsale. My all-time favorite book is FLOWERS FROM THE STORM. Kinsale never fails to amaze me with her insight and ability.

My critique buddies also influence me no small amount. We meet once a month for chatter, Mexican food and margaritas, and laughingly call ourselves the GMTAers. *g* There are four of us all together, and three of us sold our first books last year. The fourth went on to critical acclaim in several contests and is right there with us, I am certain. Be sure to watch for Liz Flaherty's ALWAYS ANNIE in June '99, and Tina Runge's TREASURES OF THE HEART in December '99.

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

My husband tells me he always knew I would publish (gotta love that man!). He tells everyone he meets about my books, and knows as much now about the romance industry as he does about bass boats and power saws, LOL. My boys tease me about writing mushy stuff, but I know in their own way, they, too, are proud of their mom, and guess what? They have inherited my love of history, manor houses, faraway lands, and adventure. Oh, and my 4 month-old's eyes assure me that he has known from the very first that his mom was special, LOL.

My mom and dad are inordinately proud of how hard I've worked for this, as are my brothers and sisters. My oldest brother (remember, the one who introduced me to my husband?) is still in the Army, and tells me he is selling thousands of copies of my books. All in all, I think I am surrounded by wonderful men. :)

Tell us about plans for future books.

Well, gosh, I wish I knew more to tell you here. I am currently working on a project with the tentative title of WHEN LIGHTNING STRIKES, a light-hearted historical set in Regency England, but it is not as yet contracted. Unfortunately I am being required to finish it before submitting it as the fulfillment of my option clause. I'm reasonably certain it will be picked up, though. And after WLS, I have the working premises for dozens of other stories. It's just a matter of which one speaks to me the loudest. :) Rest assured it will probably take place in England between the years 1700 and 1820-that is the span of time that appeals to me the most as both a reader and a writer.

In the meantime, watch my website at http://jennilicata.romance-central.com for news of upcoming releases.

How can readers get in touch with you?

I love to hear from readers! Besides visiting my website, you can e-mail me at jenni@jennilicata.romance-central.com , or drop a letter into the mail to: Jenni Licata, P.O. Box 278, South Whitley, IN 46787-0278. You can also reach me at the Ladies of Leisure message board at http://www.insidetheweb.com/mbs.cgi/mb523653

Best wishes, Jenni! Readers, don't miss our review of Unveiled.

July 5, 1999