Collette Cameron

Tell us a little bit about yourself, your hobbies and interests.

An escapee from the Pacific Northwest’s rainy, gray coast, I am a USA Today bestselling, award-winning author. I write Scottish and Regency historicals, featuring rogues, rapscallions, rakes, and the intelligent, intrepid damsels who reform them. I'm also working on an inspirational fantasy series. I have a quirky sense of humor, enjoy trivia and inspiring quotes, like castles and anything cobalt blue, and am a self-confessed Cadbury chocoholic. I also adore dachshunds. Blessed with a compulsive, over-active, and witty muse that won’t stop whispering new romantic romps in my ear, I still live in Oregon, although I dreams of living in Scotland part-time. You’ll always find a dash of inspiration and a pinch of humor in my sweet-to-spicy timeless romances.® My motto for life? You can’t have too much chocolate, too many hugs, too many flowers, or too many books. I'm thinking about adding shoes to that list.

When and why did you start writing books?

When my youngest child went off to college, I found myself with a bad case of empty-nest syndrome. I'd needed something to fill the hours outside of teaching, and because I'd contemplated writing a book for years, I decided it was now or never. That was in February of 2011. I had a scene that had been running through my head for months, and I wondered if I could write an entire story around it. I decided to give it a shot and plopped myself in front of my computer. I had no idea what I was doing. Six months later, I had a 156,000 word monstrosity. I rewrote the book twice to reduce it to it's current 80,000 words. My first book, Highlander's Hope (now titled The Highlander's Heiress) released via Soulmate Publishing in May of 2013.

What made you decide to tackle writing as a career?

I've always enjoyed writing and it came easily to me. For years, I thought that someday I might write a book but never a romance novel. They have too much dialogue. So what do I write? Historical romances. Once I started writing, I realized I'd found my true passion. I left teaching in 2016 to write full time and have never looked back.

Which one of your books or characters is your favourite?

That's like asking a mother which of her children is her favorite. I can't say because my other characters might get their feelings hurt. Usually, though I'm most engaged with the characters whose story I am currently writing.

Which one of your books was the hardest to write and stretched you the most as a writer?

I've written 50 books so far, so there is more than one. The Earl's Enticement, A Rose for a Rogue, and my newest, How to Win a Duke's Heart, were all challenging for different reason. My Mother died while I was writing The Earl of Wainthorpe, and I was going through a personal crisis when I wrote Passion and Plunder. Personal emotions eek into the stories and can make the tales stronger, I think.

Who is your favourite author and book?

I don't have a favorite author or book. I read a lot of my fellow historical romance authors books. When I first started reading historical romance, I adored Kathleen Woodiwiss. I named my daughter Brianna after her character, Heather Brianna, in The Flame and the Flower.

What book are you reading right now?

Christmas Kisses: A regency Holiday Romance Anthology.

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

Everywhere! I keep a small notebook in my car, purse, and with me when I watch TV. I'm constantly writing names down and when I see or hear something that sparks my interest, I jot that down too.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I am an avid gardener and love working in my yard and vegetable garden. I also enjoy hiking--we have hundreds of beautiful hiking trails in Oregon and walks on the beach. I dabble in interior decorating, and I like to sing and bake. Oh and travel. I want to live in Scotland!

Do you have any new books in the works?

I'm writing the last book in my Seductive Scoundrels Series and then will move on to book four in my Daughters of Desire (Scandalous Ladies) Series. I'm part of a really fun anthology, The Wedding Wager, and am also writing a story for the fourth round of Wicked Earls releasing in 2023