A Wedding in Paris [NOOK Book]

Barbara Bretton sold her first book on Monday, February 2, 1982, when Vivian Stephens uttered the magic words, "We want to buy your book," and changed her life forever. Barbara was 31 years old at the time, unagented and unfamiliar with anything to do with the business of publishing. Writing had been her dream since childhood and the Harlequin American Romance line was about to make that dream come true. Her first book, Love Changes, became a launch title and she went on to write almost two-dozen books for the series.

Today Barbara Bretton is the USA TODAY bestselling, award-winning author of more than 40 books. She currently has over 10-million copies in print around the world. Her works have been translated into 12 languages in over 20 countries. In addition to writing for the American Romance series, Barbara has written Harlequin Historical, Intrigue, MIRA, Pocket, Crown and Berkley books.

Barbara has been featured in publications such as The New York Times, USA TODAY, Wall Street Journal and Romantic Times, interviewed by Independent Network News Television, has appeared on the Susan Stamberg Show on NPR, and been featured in an interview with Charles Osgood of WCBS, among others.

Her awards include both Reviewers Choice and Career Achievement Awards from Romantic Times, Gold and Silver certificates from Affaire de Coeur, the RWA Region 1 Golden Leaf, and several sales awards from Bookrak. She has also been a RITA finalist. Barbara was included in a recent edition of Contemporary Authors.

Barbara loves to spend as much time as possible in Maine with her husband, walking the rocky beaches and dreaming up plots for upcoming books. If she could walk and knit and read at the same time, her life would be just about perfect.

Prolific romance author Marie Ferrarella swears she was born writing, "which must have made the delivery especially hard for my mother."

Born in West Germany of Polish parents, she came to America when she was four years of age. For an entire year, Marie and her family explored the eastern half of the country before finally settling in New York. It was there that she was to meet the man she would marry, truly her first love. Marie was only 14 when she first laid eyes on her future husband, Charles Ferrarella.

From an early age, Marie's parents would find her watching television or tucked away in some private place, writing at a furious pace. "Initially, I began writing myself into my favorite shows. I was a detective on 77 Sunset Strip, the missing Cartwright sibling they never talked about on Bonanza, and the Girl from U.N.C.L.E. before there was a Girl from U.N.C.L.E., not to mention an active participant in the serialized stories on The Mickey Mouse Club."

Marie began to write her first romance novel when she was 11 years old, although she claims that, at the time, she didn't even realize it was a romance!

She scribbled off and on, while dreaming of a career as an actress.

During her days at Queens College, acting started to lose its glamour as Marie spent more and more time writing. After receiving her English degree, specializing in Shakespearean comedy, Marie and her family moved to Southern California, where she still resides today.

After an interminable seven weeks apart, Charles decided he couldn't live without her and came out to California to marry his childhood sweetheart.

Ever practical, Marie was married in a wash-and-wear wedding dress that she sewed herself, appliqués and all. "'Be prepared' has always been my motto," the author jokes. This motto has been stretched considerably by her two children, "but basically, it still applies," she says.

Marie has one goal: to entertain, to make people laugh and feel good. "That's what makes me happy," she confesses. "That, and a really good romantic evening with my husband." She's keeping her fingers crossed that you enjoy reading her books as much as she's enjoyed writing them!

Cindi believes in love at first sight, good chocolate, cold champagne, that people who don't like animals can't be trusted, and that God obviously has a sense of humor. She also believes in writing fun, sexy romances about people she hopes readers will fall in love with.

Blessed with an overactive imagination and a love of reading, Cindi wrote her first story at age eight about the family's Siamese cat. At age 12 she submitted her first manuscript, hand-written and illustrated with crayon drawings, to Little, Brown and Company. She received a very kind rejection letter advising her to study hard and keep working and one day she might be a real writer.

In addition to writing, Cindi enjoys reading, quilting, gardening, hiking, and downhill skiing. She lives in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado with her husband, who she met on a blind date and agreed to marry six weeks later, and three spoiled dogs.

Cindi loves to hear from readers. Email her at Cmyers1@aol.com.