Linda Conrad claims her mother gave her a deep love for storytelling and romance. In fact, one of her earliest pleasant memories is of being taken to the library and spending all day picking out a favorite book.

She enjoys growing roses, driving her little convertible in the sunshine, and reading clever cozy mysteries and sensual fun love stories. However, her real passion is passion -- both writing it and living with it. She believes true passion and intensity for life and love are seductive things, they consume the soul and make life worthwhile.

Born in Brazil to a commercial pilot and his wife, Linda Conrad was raised in Florida and has been a dreamer and storyteller for as long as she can remember. When Linda met her dream-come-true hero, they became vagabonds, moving to seven different states in seven years.

Extremely grateful to be living her life-long dream of sharing the sensual characters and passionate stories that live within her heart, Linda loves writing for Silhouette Desire.

Leena Hyat caught up with Linda Conrad in June for this interview.

THE GENTRYS: ABBY
Silhouette (Desire)
June 2003
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THE GENTRYS: CAL
Silhouette (Desire)
July 2003
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Forced to stay at the ranch for her own safety, she resists Cinco at every turn, until the danger drives her into his passionate embrace. But will the sexy cowboy be enough to satisfy her thirst for adventure once the danger is gone?

Writerspace: Please tell us about your June 2003 release, THE GENTRYS: ABBY.

Linda Conrad: Tomboy and Gentry sister, Abby, never wanted to risk losing her heart to anyone. But when she rescues her old crush Gray Wolf Parker from certain death, she gets swept away by flames of desire. Sexy Comanche Gray will do anything to repay Abby for saving his life, even if it means masquerading as her fiancé. But to win this woman, his heart will have to battle with his traditions - and the ancient spirits of his vision quest.

Writerspace: Please tell us about your July 2003 release, THE GENTRYS: CAL.

Linda Conrad: Injured racing celebrity, Cal Gentry, has come home to The Gentry ranch to nurse his wounds and find a nanny for his infant daughter. When tantalizing Bella Fernandez appears at his door, Cal thinks she's the answer to his prayers. He doesn't expect the blazing passion he feels in her presence - or the danger that has followed the south-of-the-border beauty to his door. Can the haven of their passion heal Cal and Bella's wounded hearts?

Writerspace: How did you come up with the idea for this mini-series? What makes each of these Gentrys special to you?

Linda Conrad: The Gentry ranch has been a project in my head for years. It's based on a real ranch in West Texas, where one of my friends from the Rio Grande Valley of Texas once worked as a cowboy. I had heard so many stories about that ranch that I could see it clearly. The Gentry characters all just seemed to belong there in my mind.

Writerspace: Did you plot each story extensively prior to beginning the first one (CINCO) or did each of the Gentrys tell you what their story was as you sat down to tackle theirs?

Linda Conrad: I'd love to be able to plot each story extensively, but unfortunately I just can't seem to do it successfully. I did have a good idea of who my characters were, what the Gentry family background was, and the theme of each Gentry's story before I began writing. But once I start on each story, the characters write their own plot.

Writerspace: Please tell us more about Captain Meredith 'Frosty' Powell, the heroine from THE GENTRYS: CINCO.

Linda Conrad: Frosty Powell is a retired Air Force Captain who has been forced into staying on the Gentry ranch to avoid being put into a witness protection program. She's tough but unsure of herself in social relationships. Better at fixing trucks than at dancing, Meredith is really out of her comfort zone on the Gentry ranch - and with sexy rancher Cinco Gentry.

Writerspace: What attracted you most about the Comanche hero, Gray Parker, from THE GENTRYS: ABBY? Have you written any other novels with Native American Indian characters?

Linda Conrad: Gray Parker is the most interesting hero I've ever written, but he was exactly the right guy for Abby Gentry. A man out of his time, Gray is over the top with his honor and his commitment to his heritage - - and to Abby. I've never written a Native American hero before, but I certainly plan on writing another in the near future. Gray and his background was great fun to create.

Writerspace: What or who inspired the character of your heroine in THE GENTRYS: CAL, Isabella Maria Fernandez?

Linda Conrad: Bella is a composite of many friends from my years of living in Texas. To me, she seems like the personification of the modern Latina - spunky, full of integrity and passionate!

Writerspace: What sort of research did you have to do for each of the books in this mini-series? Is there anything you found particularly interesting in your research that stands out in your mind even today?

Linda Conrad: There's always some research to every book. But the thing that stands out the most is the research I did on the Comanche nation. I'd thought I knew something about that particular tribe and the story of Cynthia Ann Parker, but of course I found out that I really knew next to nothing. I was fascinated by the Comanche heritage. I hope to write more about it someday.

Writerspace: What was the best piece of advice you received prior to becoming a published author and who gave it to you?

Linda Conrad: I received so much good advice from sympathetic published authors that it's hard to say what influenced me the most. There was business advice from Merline Lovelace, query advice from Sharon Sala, plotting advice from Maureen Caudill, writing advice from many, many others. All of it was important and I'll never forget any of it.

Writerspace: What advice would you give to aspiring writers today?

Linda Conrad: I just gave a week long class on setting goals for getting published. But I think it all boils down to one thing -- writing. The more you write, the better you get. The better writer you become, the more you can write. It's really that simple - and that difficult.

Writerspace: To you, what qualities would be essential in an ideal hero? When it comes to your personal reading tastes, which heroes from other authors' novels have you found memorable?

Linda Conrad: I love alpha heroes with a hidden soul. A man who can be tough with the guys and sensitive with a woman. Nora Roberts and Suz Brockmann (and several others) write these kinds of heroes.

Writerspace: How do you handle life's interruptions?

Linda Conrad: Not very well, but I'm trying to learn.

Writerspace: What is the most challenging aspect of writing for you? The easiest?

Linda Conrad: The most challenging thing is having all these stories in my head and not being able to write them down fast enough. The easiest is the actual writing.

Writerspace: What are you working on at present?

Linda Conrad: As usual, six projects at once.

Writerspace: In your opinion, how does Silhouette Desire differ from Harlequin Presents and Harlequin Temptation?

Linda Conrad: Over the last few years all the short contemporary lines seemed to have blurred together, but I believe that's changing now. Desire is and will remain the big, emotional fantasy line. Desire heroes are all alphas and the heroines all capable (gee, this is starting to sound like Lake Wobegon) In my opinion, Presents are a little more sophisticated and worldly than the other two, and Temptation is more down-to earth and gritty.

Writerspace: What can fans look forward to from you in the next two years?

Linda Conrad: I have a Desire release set for April 2004 called SLOW DANCING WITH A TEXAN, about a really sexy Texas Ranger. And I'm participating in Silhouette's Dynasties continuity series for 2004 -- called The Danforths. My contribution is the October release, POWER OF PASSION. I also have several other projects in the fire.

Writerspace: Linda, thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to do this interview. We look forward to your future releases!