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Where do you get the ideas for your books? Ideas can come from anything at any time. I never know what triggers them. The opening scene in the first chapter of GOSSAMER came to me at night. It actually woke me up. I saw and heard it as if I were watching a movie inside my head

I can't find your books. Where do I go to get copies? Paperback books have a fairly short life span --generally 4 to 5 months -- sometimes longer and sometimes shorter. New titles are readily available at major book retailers and some discount retailers (Barnes and Noble, Books a Million, Borders, Waldenbooks, etc.) around the country during the release month. They can also be found in most independent book stores that carry romance titles and some grocery store book racks. They are also available from online retailers amazon.com, bn.com, bam.com, alibris.com, and others. Most major book retailers generally keep one or two of my titles on the shelf year around, but shelf space is at a premium and older titles are pulled to make way for newer ones. If you're having trouble finding my titles, ask the bookstore to order them or contact the publisher at: www.penguinputnam.com or write them at: 375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014.

Can I buy copies of your books from you? Not as a rule. I am not a retailer or a wholesaler, I'm a writer. I do keep a limited number of titles on hand for promotional purposes and I occasionally sell copies of my books that I've purchased from booksellers or the publisher, but I don't make a habit of purchasing cases of my books in order to sell them. My house is a home not a warehouse and my shelf space is also at a premium.

What happened to your book, ALMOST A GENTLEMAN? I can't find it anywhere. The book that was originally titled, ALMOST A GENTLEMAN, was published October 2002 by Berkley/Jove under the title, ALWAYS A LADY. The title was changed after EVER A PRINCESS, the book containing the sneak peek of the upcoming title went to press. Only the title changed. The book remains the same.

What is your daily writing schedule? It varies. I'm an early riser and I walk 3.5 miles a day five days a week. After my morning walk and my morning chores, I start my writing day. But I like to work from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. because no one calls or drops by at that hour and there are no interruptions. So, my daily writing schedule is flexible. I try to write 5 to 10 pages a day, but I give myself permission to goof off once in a while.

Where do you write? I have a bright, cheerful home office. I also have a laptop and a nifty little writing gadget called an Alphasmart that allow me to work virtually anywhere.

Do you have a favorite among the books you've written? The book I'm working on is always my favorite.

What comes first in your book, the plot or the characters? The characters. The characters always come to me fully formed and in the midst of a life-altering event. They tell me their names, their history, and their problems. The story evolves from that.

Why do you write romance? Because I'm a romantic. Like Julia Roberts's character, Vivian, in PRETTY WOMAN, "I want the fairy tale."

How long did you write before you sold your first book? I wrote for seven years before I sold my first book. I sold the second book I wrote before I sold the first one.

Do you choose your book titles? Yes and no. I always give my books a working title when I begin writing them, but they aren't always published under those titles. My publisher reserves the right to change titles as needed, so I try not to get too attached to the working title.

Do you have an agent? Yes. She's with an agency in New York.

How did you get an agent? I queried her and when she responded favorably to my query, I sent copies of my published books and a proposal for her to evaluate.

Will you write down my story and send it to your agent or publisher so they can publish it? No.

Can I send you my story to evaluate or proofread? No.

Would you like to hear my story? No.

Why don't they make a movie of one of your books? Because Hollywood has yet to discover me.

Who do you have to know in order to publish a book? Yourself. Although, librarians and postal employees are also very valuable connections.

What do you say to people who tell you they've always wanted to be a writer? "Are you writing?" Followed by, "why not?"

What advice do you have for aspiring writers? Stop looking for short cuts and magic formulas. Do the paperwork. Sit down and write. It's the only way to learn your craft.

What advice do you have for aspiring romance writers? Join Romance Writers of America. You can find them at www.rwanational.org. Then, stop looking for shortcuts and magic formulas. Do the paperwork. Sit down and write. It's the only way to learn your craft. Write what you love, write from the heart, and keep learning and growing. Strive to make your writing the best it can be. And always remember that the single most important thing in your writing career is the work in progress.

CLEARLY A COUPLE

TALK OF THE TON Anthology by Eloisa James, Julia London, Rebecca Hagan Lee, and Jacqueline Navin
Berkley Sensation. June 2009
ISBN: 978-0-425-23051-0
Jove. May 2005
ISBN: 0515139300

TRULY A WIFE by Rebecca Hagan Lee
Berkley Sensation. May 2005
ISBN: 0425201945.

HARDLY A HUSBAND by Rebecca Hagan Lee
Berkley Sensation. October 2004
ISBN: 0425198790.

MERELY THE GROOM by Rebecca Hagan Lee
Berkley Sensation. April 2004
ISBN: 0425195252.

BARELY A BRIDE by Rebecca Hagan Lee
Berkley Sensation. August 2003.
ISBN: 0425191249.

ALWAYS A LADY (Orginally titled ALMOST A GENTLEMAN) by Rebecca Hagan Lee.
Berkley/Jove. October 2002.
ISBN: 0515133477.

EVER A PRINCESS by Rebecca Hagan Lee.
Berkley/Jove. February 2002.
ISBN: 0515132500.

ONCE A MISTRESS by Rebecca Hagan Lee.
Berkley/Jove. September 2001.
ISBN: 0515131687.

A HINT OF HEATHER by Rebecca Hagan Lee.
Berkley/Jove Seduction. September 2000.
ISBN: 051512905.

WHISPER ALWAYS by Rebecca Hagan Lee.
Berkley/Jove. October 1999.
ISBN: 0515127124.

GOSSAMER by Rebecca Hagan Lee. Berkley/Jove.
January 1999.
ISBN: 0515124303.

TAKING CHANCES by Rebecca Hagan Lee.
Diamond. Book Two: A Town Called Harmony Series.
August 1994.
ISBN: 0786500220.

Twice Blessed by Rebecca Hagan Lee.
A HOMESPUN MOTHER'S DAY Anthology. Berkley/Diamond Homespun. May 1994.
ISBN: 0786500085.

SOMETHING BORROWED by Rebecca Hagan Lee. Berkley/Diamond Homespun. February 1995.
ISBN: 0786500735.

HARVEST MOON by Rebecca Hagan Lee.
Berkley/Diamond Homespun. July 1993.
ISBN: 1557739145.

GOLDEN CHANCES by Rebecca Hagan Lee.
Berkley/Diamond Homespun. August 1992.
ISBN: 1557737509