Welcome to our New Faces column, where we are pleased to introduce some of the newest romance authors to be found at your favorite bookstore. This issue we welcome Kerrelyn Sparks, whose debut novel is For Love or Country, just out from Forge.

Kerrelyn, welcome to TRR! Tell us about yourself.

I was born in Texas (just like my parents and grandparents) and have lived in the Houston area all my life. Boring, right? So I learned early in life to compensate for this lack of movement and excitement by using my imagination. I wolfed down books by Mary Stewart and Victoria Holt where I could travel anywhere in time and any place in the world. Growing up in a house with four brothers and no sisters, books became my closest companions and my refuge. With four brothers I needed a refuge! Now, I can look back and be grateful though. All those years of joyful reading were actually training sessions on how to construct my own books. And those four brothers taught me a great deal about how a man's brain works (term applied loosely).

Are you coming to romance writing from another job?

I work full time now at romance writing, though just saying that makes me laugh cause it conjures up an image of me in a well-equipped home office, not me scribbling away on scratch paper at the dentist office or volleyball practice. If you're a mom, you know what I mean. I'm a former high school teacher, taught history and French, and really loved it.

What led you to write romance?

I've always loved to read. Most anything. I was even desperate enough to occasionally read a textbook. What led me to Romance books? I think the turning point came when I read a Nancy Drew book where she actually kissed her boyfriend! I was shocked cause she'd never done that before in the sixty-five previous books. It was only a small peck, but I must have read that page a hundred times. I even re-enacted the scene with a pillow. Okay, give me a break, I was nine years old. It wasn't long before poor old Nancy was thrown aside, and I was sneaking my mother's library books into my room, you know, the ones she read late at night when the kids were asleep. She was addicted, and soon, so was I. But why? Well, it's thrilling to experience a man and woman falling in love. And I love the happy endings. And I love the strong heroines who persevere and thrive with attitude. And I love the heroes who are strong enough to love the strong heroines. I just noticed I'm using the word "strong" over and over, and I think that is a key. Romance books carry strong emotional power.

Tell us about your road to publication.

I started writing in February of 1998. I had wanted to write for years prior to that, but I suffered from lack of confidence and became an expert on procrastination. Now I could kick myself! (No, wait, I'll do it tomorrow).

I joined RWA in late 1998 with my first historical romance completed. I was so proud! It might have had seventeen different Points of View, but it was certainly a masterpiece, right? It bombed in contests. I tried to keep a sense of humor about it and started a second manuscript, jokingly titled INSATIABLE AND SAUCY. To my surprise, it finaled in a contest (and I was stuck with that title!). I wrote a thank you letter to the editor judge and asked if he'd like to see the full manuscript. Meanwhile, I kept polishing the manuscript, and it kept finaling. After I received a request for the full manuscript, I began hunting for an agent. In July 2000, I received an offer from an agent and four days later, the Call from the editor. I referred the editor to my new agent, who was so new she hadn't even seen the full manuscript yet. Things were wild for the next month with editors from six different publishing houses asking to see INSATIABLE AND SAUCY. I didn't end up with the original editor who made the Call, but with Forge Books. The book is now titled FOR LOVE OR COUNTRY (I wonder why?).

What kind of research was involved for your first book?

Plenty. To accurately create a different time period, every little detail has to fit. The way the characters talk and dress, the architecture, the furnishings, the customs, the food, etc. I had a map of Boston in 1769 that really helped. And there's a website that was very instrumental in helping me describe the Turtle, Quincy's submersible. The Turtle was real, by the way, and you can see a replica and diagram of it on the Connecticut River Museum website. I enjoyed the research because the American Revolution is such a fascinating time period.

Who are your influences as a writer?

Gee, so many. I started off with Mary Stewart, Victoria Holt, Phyllis Whitney, and Anya Seton. Then there's Kathleen Woodiwiss, Julie Garwood, Dorothy Dunnett, Jayne Ann Krentz, Roberta Gellis, Mary Jo Putney, Linda Lael Miller, and the list goes on and on. I would say that those who have influenced me the most are Julie Garwood and Jayne Ann Krentz cause their writing style most appeals to me.

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

My husband is very proud and supportive, though he wishes I made more money. My children take it in stride like it's no big deal, so my attempts to impress them fall short. My parents are delighted and believe they are responsible for raising a brilliant daughter. Over all, I'm very lucky cause they all want me to be happy.

Tell us about plans for future books.

FOR LOVE OR COUNTY has a sequel titled TAKING LIBERTY. It stars the younger sister, Caroline, and takes place in South Carolina in 1780. Sorry to say, I don't have the release date for it yet. I've recently started the third and last book of the Love and Liberty series. This one is tentatively titled LIBERTY BELLE. After that, I have many ideas for different times and places. Who knows what will happen next?

How can readers get in touch with you?

I love to hear from readers! You may email me at kerrelyn@kerrelynsparks.com or write to me at P.O. Box 5512, Katy, TX 77491-5512.

Kerrelyn, thank you for joining us,a nd best of luck! Readers, we have a review of FOR LOVE OR COUNTRY on our Historicals page. June 5, 2002