AccessRomance interviews author Debra Salonen.

AR: Tell us what your newest book, BETTING ON GRACE, is about. This is the first installment in a new series, right?

Debra: BETTING ON GRACE is about finding your “prince” -- even when he’s posing as a hit man. Grace is the youngest of the four Radonovic sisters -- the “Sisters of the Silver Dollar”, as their father called his gypsy princesses when they danced for the coins he’d toss at their feet. Kate (ONE DADDY TOO MANY - May 2006), Liz (BRINGING BABY HOME - August 2006) and Alex (THE QUIET CHILD – November 2006) will tell their stories as the series continues in Harlequin American Romance – and Grace will continue to be actively involved in their lives (she just can’t help herself).

Grace is the baby of the family. People have asked why I chose to start my series with the youngest sister. I tell them, Grace didn’t give me any choice. She’s a bit bossy… but with the best of intentions. She’s gregarious and kind-hearted, and she genuinely loves her Romani family. She hasn’t had the best of luck with men and isn’t looking for love when she picks up prodigal shirttail cousin Nikolai Sarna at the airport. But Nick isn’t in Vegas for the gambling, and the secrets in his past put them both in danger.

AR: You went on a special trip as part of your research for GRACE. Can you tell us more about that? And do you usually do that kind of hands-on research?

Debra: Since BETTING ON GRACE and the connected books that follow are set in Las Vegas, I felt it was important to do a little on-site research. Actually, for me, it was a bit like going home because my parents had retired to Vegas and lived there until my father passed away. But, boy, has it grown! I had a lot of fun getting re-acquainted with this interesting city. While the Internet affords the cheapest means to explore a new setting, nothing quite replaces being there in person. I loved climbing around Red Rock, riding the thrill rides atop the Stratosphere and trekking down the Strip. I think I might be a thwarted travel writer at heart.

AR: Are there any recurrent themes in your books, issues you find yourself particularly drawn to?

Debra: Family dynamics – the myriad relationships between siblings, mothers, fathers and extended family members – never cease to intrigue me. I’ve written stories about triplets, twins, dysfunctional families, sisters, brothers, the troubled bonds between mothers and daughters and fathers and sons. The four Radonovic sisters are strong, independent women. They love each other and their family, but each one struggles to find her individual place in the world. I think a lot of readers will identify with what Alex, Liz, Kate and Grace go through – for love and family. Plus, I also love secrets – and the way they have of sneaking up unexpectedly and wreaking havoc. In BETTING ON GRACE, Grace learns of a secret that would prove damaging to the memory of her dearly loved, recently deceased father if revealed. Her attempt to protect her mother and sisters from this knowledge puts her life in jeopardy.

AR: You sold your first book in 1999. What are some of the most important lessons about being a published author have you learned since then, things that you didn't know before you sold?

Debra: Selling a book will change your life, but it isn’t going to make you vastly happier, vastly richer or even a little bit slimmer than you were before you sold. Seriously, I was deliriously happy when I got “the call,” but writing for pleasure and writing on contract are very different. I’ve had to give up certain things – like housework and cooking – to do this. And I’m sure at tax time my husband looks at my income and wishes that call had gone to someone else. As for my body shape, well, all I can say is thank heavens for yoga.

AR: It seems that more and more authors are blogging these days. You started yours more than a year and a half ago. What made you decide to get a blog? How has the experience been for you so far?

Debra: Blogging sounded like a very bad idea at the time – more sitting on my butt in front of the computer. But since I’m not terribly HTML savvy (as my poor beleaguered web-guru will attest) I figured this was something I could do to keep my site fresh and updated on my own. And, boy, once I started, I was hooked. I warn people ahead of time that this is just me being me. If you’re looking for wisdom or deep thoughts, please feel free to drop some off on your way through.

The theme of my blog is centered on what it’s like to write six books under contract in “real time”. The madness, the overlapping deadlines, the eye strain. It’s all there.

AR: Finally, tell us what you do when you need to relax or have some fun.

Debra: A fine question. One I fully hope to explore after I’ve fulfilled my six-book contract.

No, seriously, I find great joy in walking every day – something my dogs insist upon. I love to read, and I belong to a book club because I feel guilty if I don’t read the book of the month. We’re reading Memoirs of a Geisha right now and plan to take in the movie when it comes out. And, after a hard day at the computer, I get to hang out with my granddaughter, who just turned two. Fellow grandmothers understand what that means. Non-grandmothers are going, “Bummer dude. She has to baby-sit.” Ah, well, they’ll understand some day.