Morag: I live in Honolulu, Hawaii - and love it!

My mom is English and my dad came from Scothland. I grew up in both the Pacific Northwest and Glasgow, Scotland.

I've been a 'Jill of all trades,' working as a travel agent, model, bartender and bar manager, bookkeeper, salesperson and entertainment columnist.

We have two special pets: Maine Coon cats. They are very social kitties and follow me everywhere. Dynofelis Fergus McMouser is 25 pounds and Smilodon St. John Blue is 19 pounds. They will continue to grow for six more months! Already they can open doors and they would dearly love to learn to operate the ice maker in the refrigerator door!

When I'm not writing, I go to the Honolulu Sunday market, veg by the pool or on one of the many beaches, read, draw a little. This is the time of year to go to the North Shore to watch the professional surfers.

Julia: How did you get started writing? When did you decide to become an author and why did you choose to write romance?

Morag: My husband suggested I write a romance because I was always reading them. I recoiled at first because I have a degree in journalism and found writing articles didn't suit me. But I found fiction is very different.

Julia: What was it like to sell your first book? How long did it take?

Morag: Had my head in the clouds for about a week. :-) It took a year to sell BLOOD MOON OVER BENGAL!

Julia: What is your "creative process" like? Do you plan the basic plots and characters all in advance, or do you do a basic scheme and they develop as you go along? How long does it usually take you to write a story?

Morag: The basic theme and everything develop as I go along. It depends on how developed the story is when I sit down to write. BENGAL took a year and half to write. I had no idea where it was going. BRITAIN was more developed in my mind so it only took ten months. I'm working on BLOOD MOON OVER BERLIN now. I've had the idea for a number of years and I have until July to finish it.

Julia: I loved the setting of your first book and I am very excited about the others too. They are not the usual ones we see in romance. What makes this time period appealing to you? Where and how do you do your research? I can tell from BLOOD MOON OVER BENGAL that you did a lot of research, and I really felt transported to India in 1932.

Morag: It didn't take as much research as you might think. :-) My dad served in the British Indian Army during WWII and I listened avidly to his stories for years. Also, I read every book I could get my hands on by John Masters (he also served in the British Indian Army in WWII), M.M. Kaye, and Rudyard Kipling.

The early twentieth century is appealing to me because it seems to be a bridge between historical and contemporary. And that seems to be my voice: not quite historical and not quite modern. I love that my characters can smoke and drink - because I can't. :-) My characters can get away with more than in historical time periods. This is probably the only period I could write thrillers - I couldn't keep up with the 'now' gadgets!

I gather research from the Internet, pertinent books and movies.

Julia: You have a new book coming out this month - BLOOD MOON OVER BRITAIN. Tell us about it.

Morag: This is the back copy blurb:

LONDON, 1942

With the clouds of war dark and cold hanging over her, Britain is fighting the Nazis nearly alone. German U-Boats are sinking homeland-bound supply ships, the Desert Fox’s panzers are winning in North Africa and the Luftwaffe seems to be shooting the RAF out of the skies. But Britain has an ultra-secret weapon: The German Enigma Code has been broken, and agents at Bletchley Park are spending 24 hours a day decoding the messages. Hope remains.

Cicely Winterbourne is one of the workers at Bletchley Park. She’s an ordinary girl, but nearly every dirty little secret of WWII passes through her hands. One may get her killed. Already two people have been murdered, and Cicely must find out who wants her dead: the Germans, the Russians, or an entity too terrifying to consider. The world hangs in the balance, and as perhaps the only person in Britain able to save her country, Cicely knows she can confide in no one - not even Alistair Fielding, dashing war hero of Dunkirk.

The first law of espionage is to never trust anyone, not even those who make you burn with desire. Especially not when there’s a ... BLOOD MOON OVER BRITAIN.

Julia: What qualities do you think make up the perfect hero in a romance book - and what qualities make up the perfect heroine? So far, who are your favorite hero and heroine and why?

Morag: The perfect hero must rise to the occassion. He must be mentally and physically strong, he may be depended upon and be a take charge person. A leader. He doesn't involve himself in pettiness and certainly doesn't indulge in temper tantrums - although he may lose his temper, of course. I don't care for tortured heroes or heroes with only a 'convenient' flaw. His flaws must be realistic. And, of course, he must be tall and absolutely gorgeous!

The perfect heroine must also be mentally strong and confident. No shrinking violets. She may have insecurities but they must not rule her. Courageous, but smart enough to be frightened in dangerous situations. She must NOT be Too Stupid to Live!

Favorite characters from my own writing are always my current hero and heroine.
:-) From other writers, I'd say Claire and Jamie from the Outlander Series.

Julia: There is a great sexual tension between Elizabeth and Nigel from their first meeting, and your love scenes are beautifully sensual. What do you think are the ingredients for a great sex scene? Do you find them easy or difficult to write?

Morag: I find love scenes VERY difficult to write! But once I'm done I'm proud of them. The most important ingredient in a great sex scene is sexual tension. If it isn't there, it isn't a sex scene.

Julia: Do you ever have time to read for pleasure? What are some of your favorite books and authors?

Morag: I must read! It relieves stress and relaxes me. If I'm tense I can't write. Everything is blocked.

My favorite authors: Barbara Erskine, Diana Gabaldon, Ken Follet, Jack Higgins, Tess Gerritsen, Karen Marie Moning, and Shirlee Busbee.

My favorite books: HOUSE OF ECHOES and MIDNIGHT IS A LONELY PLACE by Barbara Erskine, JACKDAWS and NIGHT OVER WATER by Ken Follet, all of the Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon, BLOODSTREAM by Tess Gerritsen, THE NIGHT RUNNERS OF BENGAL by John Masters, and MURDER IN KASHMIR by M.M. Kaye.

Julia: What do you think of the covers for your books? Do you like them so far?

Morag: Love them!

Julia: What is the best way that we as readers can help to promote new authors such as yourself?

Morag: Word of mouth.

Julia: Can you tell us about future books?

Morag: I'm planning a WWI book, two roaring '20s books, two post WWII books, and two '60s books. So far. :-)

Julia: Your answer makes me very happy! :o) I'm really looking forward to them. Do you have anything you would like to say or questions you would like to ask the readers here at RBL?

Morag: I'd really like to know what RBL readers like to see in a romantic thriller!