Cara Summers

Cara Summers, blames her tenth grade English teacher for nudging her into the writer's life. Sister Rose Terrence insisted that she enter a short story contest sponsored by the Detroit News, and Cara won! Of course, she was thrilled with the award -- a dictionary that still sits on her desk -- but at that time, her goal in life was to become an actress.

Eventually, she attained that goal, and it was only after her three sons were born that she turned her full attention to writing again. Cara believes that her background in theater has influenced her writing, allowing her to create new characters and bring them to life for the reader.

She sold her first Temptation to Harlequin in 1994, and that book, C.J.'s Defense, also sits on her desk -- right next to the dictionary. When she isn't working on her next Temptation or Blaze, Cara teaches writing to college freshmen at Syracuse University and roller blades (weather permitting).