Marie Tuhart can't remember a time she didn't have a book in her hands.  A voracious reader since childhood, she has a TBR pile that is so big she finally gave up and rented storage space!  (The books are all organized and packed in boxes, along with reference materials for her writing.)

 

Though her family doesn't really understand the stacks of books in her study, or the way Marie will stare off into space when she's thinking of yet another sexy scene between her hero and heroine, they support her completely in her writing endeavors.

 

She began writing at 19, and quickly finished a story with a hero who was a companion and race car driver -- not exactly what the market wanted.  Undaunted, she went on to pen her second novel, set in the world of publishing.  (Another hard sell.)  Her third novel, the book of her heart, was set in the world of movies, another "no-no" at that time in romance.

 

The writing lapsed for a while, as Marie went back to school and entered the working world.  But her dream never really died, and in 1992 she decided to join RWA and get serious about getting published.  Judging by the quality of her rejection letters, Marie knows she's "this close" to publication.

 

When she isn't reading or writing, Marie loves to spend time in bookstores.  She also loves movies, animals, her ten nieces and nephews and her thirteen great nieces and great nephews.  Since her older brother and sister clearly went forth and multiplied, she has been relieved of that particular pressure.  As the youngest of three children, she's assured her family that the only "babies" she plans on bringing into the world are her stories!

 

A world traveler, Marie loves to search out corners of the globe she hasn't experienced yet.  While still totally open to finding her own tall, dark and handsome, she is certainly enjoying the journey.  Her Aries Sun makes her impatient, courageous, and something of a daredevil.  Her Virgo Moon makes her exacting and a perfectionist for that telling detail.  And best of all, her Scorpio Ascendant gives her a cat-like curiosity for more than one sexy walk on the wild, dark side, which she really likes to use in her erotic novels.

 

"My dream," she says, "is to give readers as much pleasure with my erotic romance stories as my reading has given me.  That, for me, will be true success."