Writerspace: Lucy, your career has really taken off this past year. Are you surprised by how quickly readers have taken your books to heart?

Lucy Monroe: Yes. Absolutely. I've been so blessed by reader and editorial response that sometimes it's almost deblitatingly overwhelming. I can't quite make myself believe that it's all realy. Reader letters mean so much to me and I've been really touched by each one taking the time to write.

Writerspace: I really loved THE BILLIONAIRE'S PREGNANT MISTRESS, What would you say was the most difficult scene to write?

Lucy Monroe: Believe it or not, the resolution. You spend so much time building an emotional expectation in the reader, you don't want to disappoint them by writing a truncated or overly pat ending. Making it ring true and give final emotional closure for the reader is so important to me that I stress over it more than any other part of the book.

Writerspace: Your heroes all have a strong sense of family, are they based on anyone in real life?

Lucy Monroe: This comes from my own strong sense of family. I have five siblings and most of us are like tightly woven strands on a really sturdy rope. My mom raised us to be this way and she herself comes from a closely knit family. I know few families as wrapped up in each others lives as ours and it's something I enjoy sharing with readers.

Writerspace: What authors did you read that made you think that you could do this for a living?

Lucy Monroe: That's an interesting question because I don't think I read anyone and said, "I think I can do this." I mean I started writing because of a conversation with God I had in the bathtub, but I can clearly remember the day I knew for sure I was going to make it. I was reading Jayne Ann Krentz's "Eclipse Bay" and about halfway through I was just overwhelmed with a good feeling, one that I often get reading my favorite authors. And I thought, "One day a reader is going to read one of my books and feel this way." I'd been writing for a while by then, but that was when I *knew* I wasn't giving up...ever.

Writerspace: What are you working on currently?

Lucy Monroe: I'm trying something new (and no, that doesn't mean I'll stop writing anything I'm currently publishing) and writing a werewolf historical for Berkley.

Writerspace: You have a Brava release coming soon titled 3 BRIDES FOR 3 BAD BOYS, can you give us a sneak peak of what the novellas are about?

Lucy Monroe: I loved writing this book! Each of the three brothers is a hard case, but for different reasons and it was so much fun watching them be "tamed". :)

Writerspace: What else do you have coming out?

Lucy Monroe:A lot! LOL I'm just hoping readers don't get sick of me. :) My 2005 releases are:

Writerspace: Do you have any tips for future writers who are looking to get published?

Lucy Monroe:Don't give up, keep improving your craft and don't think that a rejection means you aren't a good writer. It means you haven't found and editor yet who loves your story as much as you do.

Writerspace: What is the one thing about you that your fans would be surprised to hear? Do you watch reality tv? soaps?

Lucy Monroe:I rarely watch TV, but I think something that might surprise my readers is how much I love children and enjoy teaching. I homeschooled for years, taught Sunday school, and am doing an advanced writing seminar for my children's school. My nieces and nephews are constant fixtures in my home and neighbor kids too. Oh...and I love luxury hotels, body wraps and will take a bath over a shower any day of the week!

Writerspace: Do you prefer chocolate or vanilla ice cream?

Lucy Monroe:Banana split! I'm a total chocoholic, but nothing beats Banana split ice cream...a close runner up might be dark cherry almond. Oh...and my favorite brand is Tillamook ice cream...the best! Yum!

Writerspace: Favorite comfort food?

Lucy Monroe: It used to be Tapioca pudding - homemade by my mom, but with her health challenges that hasn't been on offer for a long time, so I now turn to chocolate. Just about any kind. LOL

Writerspace: Favorite snack?

Lucy Monroe: Triscuits with a thin slice of sharp cheddar cheese, and a pickle slice or a green olive.

Writerspace: Lucy I want to thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview. I know readers will love THE BILLIONAIRE'S PREGNANT MISTRESS as much as I did. To learn more about Lucy's upcoming books go to her website http://www.lucymonroe.com/.