Welcome to our New Faces column, where you can meet debut romance authors. This issue we're visiting with Elaine Nichols, whose first release is Cowgirl Be Mine from Silhouette Special Edition.

Elaine, welcome to TRR! Tell us about yourself.

I'm originally from Albany, in upstate NY. I now live in the scenic Catskill Mountains. I'm an Animal Sciences graduate with a major in Horse Husbandry.

Are you coming to romance writing from another job?

Right now I'm writing full time. I've worked a wide variety of jobs, everything from court transcriptionist to public relations headhunter. I would love to continue writing full time.

What led you to write romance?

I've been reading romances for a long time. I started with gothics, such as Victoria Holt, Mary Stewart, Phyllis B. Whitney, moved on the Georgette Heyer regencies, and so on. There are so many wonderful authors out there. I love romance because I love happy endings. I have wanted to write for Harlequin/Silhouette for a long time. I've always enjoyed the different series they've published through the years.

Tell us about your road to publication.

I've been writing a long time. I started in my teens but it's been the last 7 years or so I became very serious about publication. I joined a local RWA group five years ago and now belong to about 6 different RWA groups, some of which exist only on the internet. I also have worked on two RWA newsletters, one of which has been for the last 2 years. RWA is a great networking tool and you get to meet the pros in the business. I also belong to a small online critique group. I love writing about cowboys and cowgirls. Cowgirl Be Mine was accepted by the first editor who saw it, so I count myself fortunate. I've had a lot of rejections through the years.

What kind of research was involved for your first book?

Cowgirl Be Mine involved a great deal of research because the heroine is an amputee. I received information from rehab centers, doctors, prostheses manufacturers. I'm an avid horseperson with a 20 year background in owning and training horses, but I also spoke with a former woman bull rider who gave me some input for the opening scene of the story.

Who are your influences as a writer?

There are so many. I love a good romance I can sink my teeth into. Emotion, angst, digging down into a character. I like Julie Garwood, Judith McNaught, Heather Graham Pozzessere to name a few, Catherine Anderson.

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

I find it easier to promote myself online than to someone in person. My family has no such problem mentioning my books. They're happy and proud, especially in light of the hard work it takes to get to this point.

Tell us about plans for future books.

My agent has my next work which should go out to my editor sometime soon. Hopefully the editor will like it. This story involves a woman running from her past and the pain of losing her sister. Determined not to care about anyone, she runs head first into a man who doesn't believe in happy-ever-after and a little girl who thinks she's unloveable.

The story I'm working on now is a woman who had it all, but after being physically scarred, hides herself from life. She returns home to find her farm occupied by a man who has everything to gain by sending her away.

How can readers get in touch with you?

Through my website www.elainenichols.com or they can email me directly, elaine@elainenichols.com. I'd love to hear any feedback on Cowgirl Be Mine.

Elaine, thank you for joining us, and best of luck! Readers, we have a review of Cowgirl Be Mine on the Category page.

November 10, 2001