As a girl, Nicola dreamed of being a journalist and travelling the world in search of the next big story.  Instead, she chose a career in the health industry while honing her writing skills with a daily entry in a "not-so-secret" journal! 

Luckily, she had the opportunity to travel but her dream to write was never far from her mind.  She worked as a physiotherapist for thirteen years before she tired of saying "I'm going to write a book one day" and actually did it.  She started writing late 2001 and found once she started she couldn't stop!

The inspiration for her first novel, THE TYCOON'S DATING DEAL, came from a magazine article on speed-dating and she sold this book in May 2003.  It won the CataRomance Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Harlequin Romance 2004.

Nicola currently writes for Harlequin Mills and Boon Romance and Modern Heat/Presents series, has published 23 books and sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide.

She's a Bookscan and Waldenbooks bestseller, has finalled in several awards including the prestigious HOLT (Honoring Outstanding Literary Talent), Booksellers' Best, Golden Quill, Laurel Wreath, More than Magic and won several CataRomance Reviewers' Choice Awards.

Nicola loves the hip, vibrant, cosmopolitan vibe of her home city, Melbourne, where she's set the bulk of her novels, highlighting  fabulous cultural and food havens like Acland Street (St. Kilda), Brunswick Street (Fitzroy) and Lygon Street (Carlton).

When she's not writing she's busy raising her two little heroes, sharing fine food with family and friends, cheering on her beloved North Melbourne Kangaroos footy team and her favourite, curling up with a good book!

Ideas can spring from anywhere and everywhere. I really enjoy travelling because I get the chance to sit back and watch people from other cities or countries going about their daily lives. I often wonder what their lives entail, who they might be waiting for, why they were running... my imagination takes over and a new plot is born!

Romance is important in my own life and I find it difficult to write about it if I'm not brimming over with 'warm and fuzzies'. I have my own TD&H hero to help with that!

In the ideal world, I would write the whole day (what bliss!) Instead, I have a family to raise so my work day starts at 8.30 pm when the little ones are down for the night.  I write for a few hours, longer if I'm on a roll or facing a deadline.   Sleep is a distant memory.

I used to like my first draft to be perfect.  These days, I have to write quickly to meet deadlines and juggle a young family so I let the words flow, get the first draft done, put it aside for a while before editing.  It's amazing what you'll pick up with 'fresh eyes'.

I'm a plotter! Once the muse strikes, I get the idea down on paper ASAP, occasionally outlining the whole story before I know what has hit me. I used to use detailed character charts but find I tend to fly by the seat of my pants a bit more these days and just follow the journey my characters take me on. Though I always resort to trusty pen and paper to jot down notes if I get stuck!

I absolutely must have the right title before I can start writing a story.  The title usually encapsulates the essence of the book.  And no, all those Harlequin titles aren't chosen by me.  The sales and marketing team choose 'hook' titles, words or phrases that are known to intrigue readers so that's where those interesting titles originate. 

Know your market.  Read widely.  Write what you love.  But most of all, write...and write..and write some more!  Develop your voice, let those words flow, find your niche in this wonderful, creative world of words.