What did you enjoy reading as a child? And what do you read now?
I read everything I could get my hands on, from Celia at School to literary classics, as well as works from England and the United States. These days, I mainly read mystery novels in both English and Spanish.
How and when did you start writing?
I've loved creating stories since I was a child. I used to invent my own versions of films I'd seen, although I didn't write them down. As a teenager, I began putting my own ideas on paper, and because I kept those early writings, I was able to draw on them years later when I started developing the stories I've now published.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I get up very early, usually around 5:30 a.m., because I like making the most of the morning. I spend the first few hours of the day working on the business. After breakfast, I reread what I wrote the day before or pick up where I left off. Then I take a break and spend some time in the kitchen. In the afternoon, I go back to writing, and later I read. I also make time to go for walks and play with my three Brittany Spaniels.
Where do the ideas for your books come from?
They come from the music I listen to, past and present experiences, and observing the people I encounter every day—even if we never exchange a single word, whether on the subway, on a bus, or while having coffee in a café. Sometimes I also revisit stories I've kept in my mind or ideas I scribbled down years ago.
Are any of your characters inspired by people you know?
I think every one of my characters has a little of me in them, but they're also shaped by the people I've met throughout my life, sometimes only briefly. The rest is completed by imagination.
What do you do when you're not writing?
I love cooking! Especially Spanish food, which I miss so much whenever I'm in the United States. I also love reading—I read every single day.
Do you have a particular writing method or routine?
A routine? I think most people would be surprised by my approach! I don't outline my plots. I usually have a general idea and a few key scenes in mind, but that's as far as I go. I once tried writing a proper outline for What's in a Kiss?, but Emilie and Jamie drove me crazy. In the end, I gave up and let them lead the way instead. I think they did a pretty good job.
Sometimes I begin with the dialogue from a scene that might end up near the end of the novel—or somewhere in the middle. Other times I start at the beginning and let the story grow naturally as new ideas emerge and the characters take shape.
What do you find easiest about the writing process? And what do you find most difficult?
Dialogue comes most naturally to me, and it's the part I enjoy writing the most. Descriptions are probably what I find the most challenging.
Who has supported or inspired you to keep writing?
My family has always been a tremendous source of support—my children, who are now adults, and my husband, Javier. But friendships and the experiences we gather throughout life also leave their mark. Everything influences us: the good times, the difficult ones, the things that fascinated us as children, later as teenagers, and eventually as adults.
Is there anything you'd like to say to your readers?
Like every author, I hope readers enjoy what I've written. Above all, though, my goal is to entertain. If my stories can also touch people's emotions or tug at their heartstrings from time to time, that's wonderful—but laughter matters too. I have a great time writing my books, and I hope my readers have just as much fun reading them.
