Lucy Ashford, an English Studies lecturer, has always loved literature and history, and from childhood one of her favourite occupations has been to immerse herself in historical romances. She studied English with history at Nottingham University, and the Regency is her favourite period. Lucy has written several historical novels.

She lives with her husband in an old stone cottage in the Peak District, near to beautiful Chatsworth House and Haddon hall, all of which gave her a taste of the magic of life in a bygone age.

Her garden enjoys spectacular views over the Derbyshire hills, where she loves to roam and let her imagination go to work on her latest story.

Annie Burrows was born in Suffolk, England, to parents who loved to read. Her home was always full of books, and every Saturday they went to the local library to stock up on more! Always a bit of a daydreamer, Annie began to make up stories in her own head during long walks to and from school, and during the prolonged bouts of illness that kept her in bed.

Part of every family holiday was spent visiting stately homes, or exploring ruined castles. As soon as they got home, Annie and her older sister would either dress up as lords and ladies and romp around the garden, or, if it was raining, draw intricate plans of their very own imaginary stately home, complete with secret tunnels and a maze in the extensive grounds.

Her love of stories meant that when she was old enough to go to university, she chose to study English literature. She wasn't sure what she wanted to do beyond that, but meeting a handsome student of math, who was also the owner of a very powerful motorbike, helped her make up her mind. She married him, and followed him to Manchester, where he earned his doctorate.

For many years Annie felt it was important to stay at home to raise her two children, but one day, when the youngest was at senior school, she began to wonder if all those daydreams that had kept her mind occupied whilst carrying out mundane chores, would provide similar pleasure to other women.

Her first attempt at working one of her storylines into a manuscript that she could send to publishers took almost two years, mainly because she kept tearing it up and starting all over again. Having to get a job to help pay school fees and university tuition for her children didn't help either. This first completed novel was rejected by every single publisher she sent it to, but by this time, writing had become an addiction.

Fortunately, Mills & Boon eventually accepted another one of her manuscripts, and His Cinderella Bride was published in September 2007. Because all she wants to do is write, having to go out to work to earn money had been really getting in the way!

Bronwyn Scott is a pen name for Nikki Poppen. Nikki lives in the Pacific Northwestern United States, where she is a communications instructor at a small college.

She enjoys playing the piano and hanging out with her three children. She definitely does not enjoy cooking or laundry-she leaves that to her husband, who teaches early morning and late evening classes at the college so he can spend the day being a stay-at-home daddy.Nikki remembers writing all her life.

She started attending young-author conferences held by the school district when she was in fourth grade and is still proud of her first completed novel in sixth grade, a medieval adventure that her mom typed for her on a Smith-Corona electric typewriter!

She has since moved on to RWA conferences and a computer. She loves history and research and is always looking forward to the next story. She also enjoys talking with other writers and readers about books they like and the writing process. She'd love to hear from you!

Lara Temple's life has been about changes - she has lived on three continents and gone from the military to Wall Street to wife, mom, and philosophy student. But with one constant - ever since she can remember she has been writing stories.

In 2014 she took the plunge and sent a manuscript to Harlequin's SYTYCW contest which has come out (March 2016) as "Lord Crayle's Secret World" and her second novel "The Reluctant Viscount" is due this summer.