Her characters are full of life, easy to identify with, and tempered with a little humor.

Kathie writes at night with country tunes playing from a local radio station while the rest of the world sleeps. It's the quiet time of the night that inspires her to craft her stories with a unique style of sensuality, interspersed with a little humor.

She has been a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart finalist twice. Her June 2001 release, His Baby Surprise, received the National Readers' Choice Award for Best Short Contemporary Romance of 2001. All of her books have been listed on the Waldenbooks Category Romance Bestsellers list.

Kathie and her husband have three children and live in the Illinois area her family settled in the early 1800's when they moved from North Carolina. Besides writing, Kathie loves to read romances, travel to historic locales, and delights in trying to rid the world of chocolate—one bite at a time! She also enjoys meeting readers and writers at the numerous conferences, workshops and booksignings she attends.

She loves hearing from her readers. If you would like to receive promotional items from Kathie, send a SASE (minimum 6 1/2" x 9 1/2"), with $0.83 U.S. postage to PO Box 2064, Herrin, Illinois 62948-5264.

Kathie recently took a break and answered a few questions for Writers Unlimited.

WU: Why did you decide to become a romance author?
KD: It was the perfect way to combine two things I love to do—read romance and write. When I was in school, I think I was the only one in class who looked forward to writing term papers and essays, and even as a child my favorite books always had a handsome prince, a fair maiden, and a happily-ever-after. When I decided to seriously pursue a writing career, I don't think I had any other choice but to write romance.

WU: Do you write full time or do you have another career?
KD: I write full time. I used to teach decorative painting, folk art and basketry at a local craft store and for a community college in our area. I quickly discovered that teaching, keeping up with my three, very active children and trying to write was all but impossible. Something simply had to give. It was difficult to give up teaching the painting and crafts that I've always loved, but once I made the choice, I never looked back, nor have I ever regretted my decision.

WU: Can you give us an example of a typical day in the life of Kathie DeNosky?
KD: Since most of my writing is done at night, my typical day starts about 2 or 3 in the afternoon when I wake up and stumble to the coffee pot. After downing a cup of much needed caffeine, I usually check e-mail, return phone calls and go to the post office to get the mail. After I return home, I do a few household chores, then after dinner I read or, depending on which night it is (I'm hooked on the Amazing Race and Trading Spaces), I watch television with my husband, Charlie. Around 10 p.m., I sit down at the computer and start writing. I sometimes get a call from my critique partner and fellow Ditzy Chix, Roxann Delaney (another night owl) at around 11:30 when she gets off work, then, after an hour of discussing where our stories are going and brainstorming a few points that need refining, I start writing again. About 5 or 6 in the morning, I finally shower and stumble to bed so that I can do it all over after a few hours sleep.

WU: Readers today demand accuracy in the books they read. How much research about life styles, setting, dialect, etc. goes into one of your stories?
KD: I tend to do a lot of research before I ever start a book. I travel to the area where the book is to be set, interview people, study books about the local culture and do extensive internet searches for even the tiniest facts. I want to make sure I have everything as accurate as I possibly can. Nothing is more frustrating than to read a book where the setting is a ranch in Texas, but the dialect or speech pattern is clearly East coast or the trees and animals in the book aren't indigenous to the area.

WU: Tell us about any upcoming releases and works in progress.
KD: I have several books coming in the next seven months. This month, I have In Bed with the Enemy, the second installment in the Desire Lone Star Country Club sequel. Then in August, I have Brant, the first of my own Lonetree Ranchers series, followed in October by Morgan. In November I have a novella in the Silhouette Christmas Anthology, Home For The Holidays. Colt, the third and last of the Lonetree Ranchers series, will be released in December and Remembering One Wild Night, part of the Texas Cattleman's Club Desire series, will be on bookstore shelves in January. I'm also working on another book set in the Smoky Mountains of eastern Tennessee and one set on a Wyoming ranch. They should be released sometime later in 2004.

WU: How do you come up with the ideas for your books? Do you have a brainstorming session with someone or do they just kind of "pop" into your head?
KD: I get my ideas from almost everywhere. I can read something in the newspaper, see something on television or hear something on the radio and my imagination is off and running. After a brainstorming session with my critique partners to work out the fine details and make sure I have all my plot points in order, I'm ready to sit down and write.

WU: A lot of aspiring writers suffer the agony of rejection after rejection. How hard or easy was it for you to "break in" to the published ranks?
KD: I can't say it's the easiest thing I've ever done. I sometimes joke about being an overnight success in just eight short years. Seriously, it is hard to sell that first book and at times the rejection is heart-breaking. But I'm a firm believer in talent, hard work and perseverence winning out. My motto has been, and will always be, NEVER GIVE UP.

WU: Any words of wisdom for those that would like to follow in your footsteps?
KD: Learn the craft of writing, then hone and polish your skills. When you aren't writing—read. When you aren't reading—write. And never give up. You never know, the next manuscript you submit to an editor just might be the one they buy.

WU: Where can readers contact you?
KD: I can be reached at kathie@KathieDeNosky.com or readers can stop by my website at http://www.KathieDeNosky.com. If they prefer snail mail, my address is PO Box 2064, Herrin, IL 62948.

Visit http://www.KathieDeNosky.com for information on Kathie's upcoming releases, contests, and more.