I’ve made up stories in my head for as long as I can remember – I put myself to sleep at night when I was young by rewriting the plots and endings of books I’d read. I assumed this was normal and everyone else did the same thing until I began getting weird looks when I talked about it. It wasn’t until I joined RWA years later that I realized it didn’t mean I was weird – it meant I was a writer.

When I was twelve I decided I wanted to write books when I grew up, but I got sidetracked by my love of animals and the need for a ‘real’ job, so I became a veterinarian instead. Eighteen years ago, when I realized I was now making up stories about my clients and their pets, I decided to try putting them down on paper. My first effort, which I still have in my office, was bad enough to make me squirm when I re-read it now, but I did learn one thing from that first manuscript – that making up stories is what I want to do.

My first book was PERSONAL BEST, published by Meteor Publishing Company in June of 1991 for their Kismet line. After writing thirteen books for Silhouette Intimate Moments, I’m now writing Harlequin Superromances. My most recent Superromance, STRANGER IN A SMALL TOWN, was released in December, 2007. It was the final book in my ‘Small Town’ trilogy. The first book in my new trilogy about the McInnes triplets, A PLACE CALLED HOME, will be released in August, 2008. The second book, whose working title is the very imaginative ‘Bree’s story’, will be released in December, 2008.

I consider myself the luckiest person in the world to be involved in two careers that I love. But more important than either career is my family – my husband and my three daughters. We live in a Chicago suburb with a menagerie of pets.

To learn a little more about me and my writing, take a look at the blog I share with some other Harlequin Superromance authors.

What I’m reading now . . .

I had a houseful of guests for Christmas, and between writing deadlines, cooking and having fun, I didn’t get much reading done. But I’m making up for it now!

I’m so excited that Susan Elizabeth Phillips has a new book out! WHAT I DID FOR LOVE was just released, so of course I made a trip to Borders to pick it up immediately. I can’t wait to read it.

Another of my favorite authors has a new book out, too. Cathie Linz’s SMART GIRLS THINK TWICE was a funny, charming book, and a wonderful wrap up to her Serenity Falls series. I can’t wait for the first book of her new series, MAD, BAD AND BLONDE, which will be released later this year.

Sherrill Bodine’s TALK OF THE TOWN was a fabulous book, set right here in Chicago. Her characters are wonderful, and her love scenes are hot! I love the Chicago setting – I felt as if I was walking around in the loop.

A couple of my favorite romantic suspense authors had new series out recently. Cherry Adair’s ‘Night’ series – NIGHT FALL, NIGHT SECRETS and NIGHT SHADOW, were wonderful, as usual. All of Cherry’s books are on my ‘buy immediately and don’t stop reading until you’re finished’ list. Cindy Gerard’s books are, too. Her trilogy of SHOW NO MERCY, TAKE NO PRISONERS, and WHISPER NO LIES, was every bit as good as I was hoping it would be.

I discovered a new historical author that I adore. Joanna Bourne’s MY LORD AND SPYMASTER and THE SPYMASTER’S LADY were completely addictive. Wonderful characters, intricate plots and real depth of emotion kept me reading – I couldn’t put either book down. I’m waiting impatiently for her next book.

One of my favorites, Susan Donovan, has a new book out, and that was an automatic buy, as well. THE GIRL MOST LIKELY TO… is on top of my TBR pile. Other favorites of mine, like Rachel Gibson, Susan Andersen and Susan Mallery had books out recently, and I loved all of them.

I’ve also read some non-fiction. Malcolm Gladwell’s books THE TIPPING POINT and BLINK were interesting and thought provoking. So I got my husband his new book, OUTLIERS, for Christmas. Then I took it away from him and read it first. I wasn’t disappointed. His books are really thought-provoking.

I have to tell you about one other author that I just love. Zoe Sharp is a British thriller writer, and she’s written a series of books with Charlie Fox as her heroine. I read FIRST STRIKE and was blown away. SECOND SHOT and THIRD STRIKE are also available in this country, and they were even better than FIRST STRIKE. Then I tried to find her titles that were only printed in Britain. I managed to find two of them, HARD KNOCKS and RIOT ACT, on a trip to London a couple of years ago. But I somehow managed to lose RIOT ACT before I could read it. I’ve ordered my daughter in France to scour any bookstores that sell English books for the English versions of her earlier titles. I’ll keep you posted on how my search goes.

I could go on and on, but I’d rather hear about books you’re reading and enjoying. If you have any book suggestions for me, please email them to me at margaret@margaretwatson.com. Happy reading!

…and take a look at what some other Superromance authors are writing.

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My latest research trip . . .

Here are pictures from my latest research trip to Maine. The small towns and scenery will be great inspiration for my next novels!

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