Five Fun Facts

1. Because Granny Donny thinks she’s living in a regency romance novel, I had to research modern-day horse-and-carriages in New York City. I spent a whole day riding with Daisy, a sweet black Percheron with a thing for carrots.

2. I needed a modern-day equivalent of sword fighting so the men could show their honor and courage. Naturally, I chose soccer. I wrote each soccer scene as if it was an old-fashioned fight to the death.

3. The sub-plot of the carriage driver Mateo was based on a true story. I won’t tell the story here (no spoilers!), but when you read Rogue you might recognize it. 

4. In a former life, I used to work in advertising in New York City. We sometimes had low-budget clients, and we had to bend all sorts of rules to “get the shot.” The story of the carriage crossing the Brooklyn Bridge is based on one of those shoots gone terribly wrong.

5. The scene of waltzing at midnight in Central Park is also based on a true story, except that I wasn’t one of the brave souls dancing. I was in a cab, driving through the park. The cab driver was so impressed, he pulled over and we watched. It was a sight (and sound) I swore I’d never forget.