Since my first romance novel was released there have been quite a few raised eyebrows. Several folk have even ventured to put the question into words. Undoubtedly, there are many others who wonder just how a minister's wife ever became a published romance author!

It all really started back on the black soil plains of the Darling Downs in Queensland where I became a bookworm. Besides my Mum, Dad, two brothers and a sister and, not counting the snakes and the different times we had plagues of frogs or mice, there was only one dog on that grain farm, one cow, one rooster and a few hens. What else was a girl to do except read? And then when we moved to live in Toowoomba and became city-slickers I discovered glorious libraries – and romance novels.

Despite the hard work and study during the years of school and then training to be a general and midwifery registered nurse, romance novels continued to be my favorite reading material. Like so many other writers, English had been my best subject at school and so it followed that I kept diaries from the age of fourteen. In them I poured out my hopes and dreams, but above all, my spiritual journey, my personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. And sometimes I read the pages over again now and still cringe as I’m reminded of my failures as well as the blessings and victories.

After we had been married some time, I plucked up the courage to give Ray my diaries to read. His comment? “You have a talent for writing. What are you going to do about it?” Until then, it had never entered my head I could write anything but letters and diary entries. I firmly believe that any God-given talent should be developed. So then, like many other writers before me the questions simmered: “What will I write? How do I start? Would anyone anywhere ever want to read my writing?”

The first step of preparing for this new venture was the Famous Writers School correspondence course. By the time I finished the course our third baby had arrived. There weren’t many hours to write in those hectic years, just a few articles and short stories until my hero once more challenged me.  I’d just thrown down a Christian romance novel in utter disappointment. “Too preachy, not at all like real Christians! Sentimental garbage!” My usually patient husband became weary of my moans. “If that novel’s so bad, you write one better!”

Me? Write a whole novel?

The idea brewed and came to fruition. Many times I’ve read and heard the words “write what you enjoy reading the most yourself.” Well, that was romance of course, especially romance with specific spiritual elements included, but only when I started did I discover how difficult it is to “write one better.” And I know there is still more for me to learn to “write one better” than any of my stories so far.

And during all these years writing novels? After church ministries in Sydney, country New South Wales and Queensland, we church-planted again in Maitland, north of Sydney, there have been three short term ministry and study teams to Africa – Zambia, Kenya and Ghana,and ministering at a church in Northampton, England, for two years before returning home to settle in the beautiful island state of Australia, Tasmania.

Our two sons and daughter have grown up and our family extended to include two delightful daughter-in-laws and grandchildren we try hard not to spoil - but usually fail.

Check out more about my very own hero on About Ray and family on the Photos page.

In college I met my very own hero. The year after we were married Ray and I applied to our missionary society.  It must have been one of the rare times they had to apologetically tell applicants there simply were no openings right then for a minister and nurse on the mission field they were currently targeting. We settled into local ministry and continue to this day to work as a team. You can see something more of Ray's daily devotional writing and poetry by clicking here. So, for over forty years now we have thoroughly enjoyed ministering at various churches, including starting three new ones.

As in many good romance stories, this hero and heroine came from different types of backgrounds. I was the farmer’s daughter who loved wide open spaces, the nurse from a far more conservative background than Ray. He was from Rockdale, a suburb only about eleven kilometres from the centre of Sydney. While my favourite occupation was reading fiction, his whole family loved sport - cricket, baseball, rugby league football – especially that St George/Illawarra team. 

Over many years now, God has been moulding and changing us both, drawing us together in a loving relationship that still grows stronger each year. Besides the ministry and commitment to Christ, one thing we both have is a love of books - although our tastes do vary considerably. Another thing we share, especially in more recent years, is Writing.

Ray expresses this so much better than I can... But I'll let him tell you on his page About Ray.

My faith and love for God led me to a deep conviction that part of His plan for my life was to not only be a nurse but train for ministry. However, those two years of completing a course at the Churches of Christ Bible College in Sydney started me along an entirely different path than the one I had taken for granted – being a missionary nurse.

Many years later, many rejections and rewrites later, in God’s timing my first contract was signed with Harlequin Mills & Boon for my first medical romance. It was followed that same year with a contract with Barbour Publishing Inc for that many times revised inspirational romance for their Heartsong Presents book club. My career as a romance novelist had begun.

Since then, becoming a member of various writers’ organisations has been a tremendous help.  These include Romance Writers Australia, Faith Hope Love chapter of Romance Writers America,  American Christian Fiction Writers, Australian Romance Readers Association and Omega Writers (Queensland).  After two years as president of Society of Women Writers Tasmania I am currently vice president.