Historical Romance Author

ABOUT JOSIE

Are you a romantic who searches for the love story, no matter if it’s in an action-thriller, mystery novel, or a horror movie? I know, the struggle is real. And from my twelfth-year when I absconded with one of mother’s bodice-rippers, I’ve been hooked.

As a teenager, the boys were not at all (!) into me. Except as a friend. Oh, I had a talent for being the cutest boy in school’s friend. So, I penned serial fan-fiction about the latest boy bands for my girlfriends.

After college, my tastes took a detour to tragedy. I devoured stacks of classic lit with few Happily Ever Afters. Enough! I was done with trains, poison, consumption, heroes who weren’t Heroes, and writers showing what tragedy awaits a person (usually female) who wants more.

I’m an ICU nurse with a Masters in Nursing, who resides in Ohio with two dogs, four children, and a delicious hero-husband who brings me coffee in bed. I love reading, music, cooking, teaching, champagne, learning about people, and of course, writing romance.

Josie Sailing the Solent — Sailing the Solent

I’ve recently been honored as a finalist in the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart Award. Other accolades include: winner and two-time finalist of the Maggie Award by the Georgia Romance Writers and finalist in The Emily by the League of Romance Writers.

As a staunch defender of the romance genre, I ask any naysayers, ‟What is more profound in our human experience than falling in love?” And you know, no one has ever been able to provide an alternative. Ever.

How many books are in your series?

My current series, Rakes & Ruin, has 7 planned books but sometimes another character pops up (which is what happened here) and who knows, there might be more! I also have a related series in progress featuring the four daughters of Oliver St. Clair (we met him as a wee terror in Mad About the Boy and as Nick’s BFF in Lessons for Marquesses with Georgiana.) He’s also Julian’s brother in Better Love Next Time.

What is the heat level of your books?

Overall, my books rate a 3-4 out of 5. I write open door and name body parts but how many scenes and how far they go (and when and how often) depend completely on the characters themselves. Some of my characters are well, like bunnies, and others, especially those entrenched enemies to lovers, might hold-out longer.

How would you describe your books?

My books are much like the those I love to read: rooted in history and spiced with wit. I crave hard-fought HEAs. So there is angst, often simmering just inches below the humor. And while my books are steamy, my MCs fall in love out of bed. They are smart, yet flawed, and travel a twisty road where they are ultimately transformed by love.

Why do you write romances set in the 18th century?

So much happened! Conflict is the life blood of romance and in my little corner of the romance world things were pretty wild. Sporting five-thousand brothels in Town and an annual bestseller, a Who’s Who of, ahem, London’s lights-o’-love, decadence was the rule. There were gambling hells, the original not-so gentlemen’s clubs, sumptuous feasts and sheets, a whole lot of muck and gin, and for some, perfume and cosmetics to cover it all up.

It was a time of great social, political and economic change. The novel as we know it was born during this time as well as the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. There was what many consider the first world-war (the Seven Years war which included the French and Indian War) and the American and French revolutions.

Fun fact: my books are set in the calendar definition of the 18th century, but British historians have coined the term “the long 18th century” to cover a more natural historic period which roughly runs from the end of the Glorious Revolution to the end of the Napoleonic Years.

Have you ever thought of writing in other time periods?

First, about 70% of my reading is Regency with the rest a mix of medieval and Victorian. But, second, I’ll likely avoid Regency forever because there are so many great writers out there doing it far better than I ever could. And discerning readers know the Regency world like I know every way to use mayonnaise. And while we’re talking about my favorite condiment-I’m torn between Hellman’s (Best Foods west of the Rockies) and Duke’s.

More About Me

I have a great sense of direction and am one of those annoying people (so I’ve been told) who say stuff like, ‟at the offramp, go west.”
I grew-up in Southern California and so, like the SNL skit, The Californians, always retell an event with what freeways and streets I traveled. I also think I can get anywhere in ‟twenty minutes”.
Also because I grew-up in Southern California, I thought the weather-person was always right. You know, 75 and sunny. Amazing! Until I moved to Ohio. Oh, how wrong I was.
I sailed the Pacific in a 52-foot ketch. Not glamorous at all. But it gets me through most anything now with the mantra, “I am not in the middle of the Pacific, steaming in foul weather gear with rain lashing my face. I can do this.”
One day, I’d love to write or at least, read HEAs for Emma Bovary, Lily Bart, and Anna Karenina.

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