FAQ

The dreadful, but honest fact is, that I, like so many romance authors, am a shy, introverted homebody. I’m quite at ease at home, puttering around my garden or sitting on my deck chair with my over-active imagination for company. Others might find that fact disconcerting, but for me, talking to make believe characters that traipse through my mind is the thrill of the job. I have no end of new friends, and exotic places to learn about and discover—or invitations to country house parties, masked balls, and illicit dalliances with brooding rogues!

In essence, I’m a rather boring person, really. Sorry. No glamorous past life, or high society living. I’m an average woman born and raised, and still living in a small town. That’s the ‘real’ bio of Charlotte. The official, glammed-up version follows below....

Charlotte is an award winning historical romance writer who pens sexy and sensual tales packed with emotion and romance. Her writing has been described as lush, and emotionally evocative as well as hauntingly sensual.  Available in both print and e-book formats, her books are published via the Harlequin Spice imprint as well as Harlequin HQN. In 2010, Charlotte’s book Sinful was nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewer Choice award in the Best Erotic Romance Category, as well, the same book was also nominated, and won for Best Erotic Romance award by readers at The Romance Reviews.

When not writing, Charlotte loves thumbing through cookbooks and cooking special dinners for family and friends and frequently she adds the sensual elements of food into her stories. Check out the extra’s within the website for some of her favourite recipes, as well as some recipes that appear in her books!
Of course, reading is a must, and so, too, is avoiding any and all forms of housework. Amongst her vices are good chocolate, her husband's coffee, her DVD of North and South with the ultra yummy Richard Armitage, and a really good book with a dark, brooding alpha male and hot love scenes! She also has a tendency to develop terribly naughty crushes on her heroes, much to her husband's chagrin!

Charlotte devours anything written by Lisa Kleypas, Mary Balogh, Nicola Cornnick, Gena Showalter and JR Ward-gotta love Phury, Rhage and V! She also adores period dramas, especially BBC productions which are normally filled with stunning costumes and heart-stopping, eye puffing angst.

An avid music lover, Charlotte listens to anything from Beethoven to Zeplin. She also has a very large collection of high heels, evening bags and glitzy costume jewellery, although she can mostly be found wearing jeans and T-shirts while toting around a coffee mug!

Charlotte lives in Ontario, Canada on Lake Erie’s North Shore with her husband and daughter as well as a Golden Retriever and English Springer Spaniel, both who are very ill mannered and overly spoiled!
Please feel free to drop Charlotte a line. She always loves to hear from her readers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q- Are you going to write any more books in the Addicted series?

Update! I’m thrilled to announce that readers can learn more about Lindsay and Anais (Addicted) as well as Wallingford and Jane (Sinful) in the novella that brings their children together. Pick up a copy of The Wedding of The Century, to read about the sexy love affair between Jase (Lindsay’s son) and Blossom (Wallingford’s daughter) I hope it gives readers a thrill to see what happened years after Addicted and Sinful left off!

Q -Are you going to write Garrett’s book (Lord Broughton, from Addicted)

A- This is a much trickier question to answer. Garrett has always been a difficult character for me. He doesn’t talk to me. I don’t have a clear vision of what his book would be, nor do I know him as deeply as I know my other heroes. That said, I won’t say that I will never write his book, but right now, it’s not looking like I will.

Q- Will your straight historicals be like your erotic historicals?

The market and the genre of erotic romance are changing. Books seem to be getting sexier and sexier all the time. My voice naturally lends itself to a certain level of sensuality, so, yes, I’m planning on my straight historical books to have plenty of steam—and emotion, just like my Spice books. My editor for HQN said, “take the love scenes where you need them to go”, so that’s great news for lovers of hot and spicy love scenes!

Where do you get your ideas?

I have absolutely no idea! Honestly. My ideas come from many things, but mostly they just pop right into my head—primarily when I’m making dinner or doing dishes. Sometimes a piece of music, or a visual from a magazine will start something. I’ve decided to add a page of inspiration on this site. Check under the Extra’s and you’ll find what inspired certain stories. I hope you enjoy that feature. I know that I’ve enjoyed writing about what inspired certain aspects of the book.

Q- I’ve noticed you have recurring themes in your books, why is that?

Now that you mention it, I guess I do. There is a certain level of heartbreak and redemption in my books, as well as the personal journey to self discovery. I suppose I enjoy writing the sort of books that I most enjoy reading. There are certain themes that I’m naturally drawn to, in both my personal reading as well as writing. These themes seem to inspire me most, I think because they fuel my imagination in a number of ways. Personally I love to write about the Ugly Duckling (the plain Jane as well as the heroine who is fuller figured.) I also very much love the best friends turned lovers, as well as the longing from afar theme, especially when it’s the man longing from afar.  I think that particular theme makes for a most sigh worthy read! I suppose these themes work the most for me because they induce a certain amount of angst and longing, and I really, really enjoy writing angst and deep emotion.

Q-What is your favourite part of writing?

Definitely the initial idea, day dreaming about it, thinking about the characters and the plot. I’m not a plotter in the sense that I sit down and write out the book, scene by scene. But mentally I plot the book. I find that this method gives me a more intimate understanding of my characters. I also very much enjoy the editing process. I like to use the perfect words to make the story sing. It’s during this process where you can add the little touches that can make a book so powerful. One thing readers must know, a book is never written. Writing is a process, and very often the finished product that reaches readers is drastically different than the initial draft produced by the author.

Q-Do you have any tips for aspiring writers?

Write what’s in your heart. Don’t worry about trends, and rules. Write what is burning to be written deep inside you. Writing, while having a technical side, is also an art form. You can’t stifle art with too many rules and writing is no exception. Follow the biggies (grammar, punctuation, point of view, pace), and free yourself from there. Know your characters as intimately as you know yourself and do your research, not only for historicals, but any book. And lastly, love what you’re doing. It’ll come through in the writing.   

Q-  Can I get my book signed?

Sure! You can send me your book after contacting me, or you can email and request a signed bookplate. I will be sending out bookplates once a month.

Feel free to send me more of your questions, as I’ll be updated this feature regularly.

All the best!