I started writing to keep myself from going crazy hunting for a library job in the awful job market 40 years ago, and I discovered I loved it. A few months later, I got a job as a young adult librarian in what is now my local public library and finished a book over the year, setting it aside for five years while I concentrated on work (by then, Head of Reference and later Assistant Director) when I started contacting a few publishers who quickly responded with standard rejection letters until Penguin misplaced the manuscript and felt so apologetic they offered a two book contract. I published a book a year, and one reissue, for 16 years until they closed the line. Those books are still selling steadily as e-books for Belgrave House. In 2021 Camel Press brought out, Mistress of Fashion, the first book in my Ladies of Independent Means trilogy. Mistress of Herself is the first book in a duology sequel to Ladies of Independent Means. Retired from full-time library work, I continue part-time in the best job of all, reference librarian in a very busy library.
