1--What is the title of your latest release?
LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP
2--What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
A ray of sunshine, Calamity Jane heroine meets a grumpy, reclusive Mr. Rochester type hero (without a crazy wife locked in the attic!) and turns his ordered world completely upside down.
3--How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
I live next to the River Thames, and I spend a lot of time gazing across it to the county of Kent, so I thought it would be fun to finally set a book there.
4--Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?
I absolutely would! Lottie Travers is a heroine who likes to seize the day and take the risk, so she really ever looks before she leaps—and neither do I. I think we’d have a lot of fun and get into a lot of trouble together.
5--What are three words that describe your protagonist?
Tomboy, feisty and fun-loving!
6--What’s something you learned while writing this book?
I had to research how to train an Arabian horse even though I’ve never ridden a horse in my life!
7--Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I’m a total panster but have to edit as I go. For some reason I cannot move forward until everything before is perfect. That means I don’t do multiple drafts of a book, just one long continuous first draft that keeps me banging my head against my desk until I get to the end. But that does also mean that when I write the end, it doesn’t need that much work after!
8--What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
Curry! I adore all spicy food, but Indian cuisine is definitely my favorite.
9--Describe your writing space/office!
Neat and tidy (because I cannot work in a mess) and with bold accents of red everywhere. It’s a proper author’s space, filled with books, stationary and little reminders of my career for all the times I spend doubting my ability or banging my head against my desk. My imposter syndrome is REAL.
10--Who is an author you admire?
Sabrina Jeffries, who is both a fabulous writer and a fabulous human being.
11--Is there a book that changed your life?
Montana Sky by Nora Roberts remains the best book I have ever read. How she managed to construct three separate romances into a story about estranged sisters learning to love one another and still weave in a whole plot about a crazed serial killer on the loose too, completely blows my mind. If you haven’t read it—you must. Just make sure you have a whole day clear because I guarantee that once you start it, you won’t be able to put it down until it is finished/
12--Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)/Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
That’s not an easy question to answer because Look Before You Leap is actually my 30th published book and the second book on a contract for 4. However, I pitched the Miss Prentice’s Protégées series to my editor the day after I handed in the final book of Merriwell Sisters trilogy, and a couple of weeks later, to my utter delight, they bought it. I first got ‘the call’ way back in September 2015 for my debut, That Despicable Rogue. I couldn’t believe then, any more than I do now, that anyone would want to read my stories in print. I genuinely have the best job in the world.
13--What’s your favorite genre to read?
Romances—especially romcoms from every time period.
14--What’s your favorite movie?
I can’t decide between Bridget Jones’ Diary (only the first one) and The Holiday.
15--What is your favorite season?
Spring. I love to watch everything blossom into life.
16--How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
With people that I love, wherever that may be
17--What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
I watched some great TV series lately. Three that really stand out are The Diplomat (Netflix), Slow Horses (Apple TV) and Ludvig (BBC but coming to PBS I believe soon). All have a bit of a crime/thriller edge.
18--What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
As I mentioned before, anything spicy. Indian, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese. But I also love Italian and, being a Brit, you can’t beat some of the great British classics like fish and chips and a really rich beef stew and dumplings.
19--What do you do when you have free time?
I love to travel to new places. I’ve always had the travel bug but now that my children have both flown the nest and my husband and I no longer have to pay for them, we’re spending their inheritance on all our bucket list trips. I’m off to India and Japan this year and Egypt next. I’m also working my way around Europe, the Caribbean and intend to visit all 50 states in the USA. I’ve done 22 states so far and next on the list is a road trip around all those big sky states in the north—Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska and the Dakotas.
20--What can readers expect from you next?
I’ve just written the end on Pride Comes Before A Fall, the 3rd Regency romcom in my Miss Prentice’s Protégées series, so that should come out in the Summer of 2026. Next on my list of things to write is a contemporary romcom set here in the UK, with a British heroine and an all-American hero who really doesn’t understand why the Brits are annoyingly British, lol.
Miss Prentice's Protegees #2
In this hilarious second installment of a Regency romance series, a single lord is forced to settle down...and when a houseparty brings a happy-go-lucky lady's companion his way, his grumpy heart is unexpectedly warmed.
Nine years ago, Lord Guy Harrowby, Viscount Wennington, was publicly humiliated by a failed and reckless romantic gesture. Despite this, his mother clings to the promise he made her then: that she would have a house full of grandchildren by his thirtieth birthday. Still single, embittered, and swiftly approaching thirty, Guy's work is his life. In desperation, his mother blindsides Guy with a weeklong house party at his estate filled with annoying debutantes, all competing to be his wife.
After failing as a governess, Lottie Travers is struggling as a lady’s companion. Raised in an all-male household, she’s developed habits that get her dismissed. Even after years of Miss Prentice’s teachings of how to be a lady, she climbs trees better than she embroiders and can’t resist riding horses astride, in breeches. But with the family farm in trouble, and her father now in dire need of her wages, she’s determined to conquer her wildness once and for all.
Even with his home full of eligible women, there is only one who catches Guy’s eye—though he tries to deny it. For Lottie, succeeding in her new role proves difficult when the Wennington estate is filled with horses, and a spark ignites between her and the grumpy lord. Will they remain stuck in their ways, or learn that they may just be the perfect match?
Romance Historical | Romance Comedy [St. Martin's Griffin, On Sale: June 24, 2025, Trade Paperback / e-Book , ISBN: 9781250896094 / eISBN: 9781250896100]
When Virginia Heath was a little girl it took her ages to fall asleep, so she made up stories in her head to help pass the time while she was staring at the ceiling. As she got older, the stories became more complicated, sometimes taking weeks to get to the happy ending. Then one day, she decided to embrace the insomnia and start writing them down. Fortunately, the lovely people at Harlequin took pity on her and decided to publish her romances, but it still takes her forever to fall asleep.
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