I have always been fascinated with the American West and the adventurers who braved the wild, unsettled frontier.  The first time I crossed the Salt Flats of Utah, my mind immediately envisioned the pioneers crossing the harsh environment by wagon or even on foot.  As a young girl, my favorite pastime was watching old Westerns on TV.  You can imagine my shock when I began studying American history and learned that very few wagon trains were attacked by "wild Indians".  And shootouts in the middle of town at high noon seldom happened. In the "old days"  most of the people were just ordinary men and women who were trying to cope with difficult situations, much as we do today, but without modern conveniences. I love reading historical romances and I love writing them.  The characters in my novels have virtues and faults, the same as anyone else.  They also have hopes and dreams, and passon and lust, just like anyone else.