I stumbled onto Paranormal Romance via Buffy.  I was/am a huge Buffy fan (though not as active in the fandom as I once was.)  I was a HUGE fan of the Buffy/Spike relationship.  The show didn't really "pay that off" for me (or a lot of other fans.)   So I went online to talk to fans about the show. I stumbled upon fanfic, read a LOT of it, wrote some of it, and then when I got a little burnt out, I needed something else to read that was "like it, but not really." This was how I discovered paranormal romance. I've been writing for as long as I can remember (though I started writing very regularly in junior high), but this was my introduction to the paranormal romance genre, and where I feel I "fit" for now. I also write erotica, under a different name. I produce my work independently and have no real intention of doing otherwise unless my sales someday warrant such a move.  I'm happy with creative control and controlling my own work, distributing my own work, and interacting with my readers online.