I suppose you could say I've always been a dreamer. In my mind's eye, I can still see my first-grade teacher shaking her head and scolding, "Hope, stop daydreaming and pay attention."

I tried, really I did. But how could the dreary assignment on the chalkboard begin to lure me away from the dashing Disney fairy-tale figures populating my head? Cinderella and Prince Charming, Snow White and Prince Charming, Sleeping Beauty and Pr...

Well, you get the picture.

In middle school, I "graduated" from romance a la Walt Disney to grownup love stories by the likes of Victoria Holt, Anya Seton, and Daphne Du Maurier. Someday, I promised myself as I thumbed through my dog-eared copy of "Forever Amber," I'd write a romance novel of my very own.

That dream has weathered a Master's degree in Psychology, a Ph.D. in Education, a four year stint as a federal government research consultant, and several years as a freelance writer. In 1994 I finally packed up my graduate school texts, purchased Kathryn Falk's small, pink paperback entitled How to Write a Romance and Get It Published and joined the Romance Writers of America. I've never looked back.

As a romance writer, I get to spin fairy-tales of my very own--life-affirming stories in which the hero and heroine find not only their soul mate but their souls into the bargain. The theme of redemption underscores my historical romance trilogy, The Men of Roxbury House. In the first book, Vanquished, desperate circumstances drive my photographer hero, Hadrian St. Claire to accept an unsavory bargain: he has one month to ruin suffragette leader, Callie Rivers, by seducing her and capturing her fall from grace with his camera's lens. Only lovely, soft-spoken Callie doesn't fit Hadrian's mental image of a dowdy, man-hating spinster. As the passion between them flares from spark to full-on flame, Hadrian finds himself the one in danger of being vanquished. Read an excerpt from Vanquished or purchase your copy at Amazon.com. Likewise in Enslaved and Untamed misunderstandings and old grudges drive lovers Daisy and Gavin and Rourke and Kate to seek desperate measures to reach their ultimate Happy Beginning.  Alas, when was love ever wise?

Whether I'm writing a historical or contemporary novel, for me the setting is like another character in the book. In addition to my beloved historicals, I also write sexy, fun contemporaries for Harlequin's Blaze line. My contemporary debut, It's a Wonderfully Sexy Life, is set in my native Baltimore, MD, and many of my most cherished memories are definitely gastronomic. Think the smell of old bay seasoning heaped atop a tray of steamed hard crabs, Bertha's mussels drenched in garlic butter and served with a side loaf of the house white, and yes, the hands-down most bodacious crab cakes to be found in any city on earth. The Haunting is set in historic Fredericksburg, Virginia where I spent almost seven years as a rabble rousing preservationist and proud "come-here." Strokes of Midnight, which features a shoe shop-a-holic romance novelist who can't seem to uh...stay in her own bed, takes place largely in Manhattan where I now live.

Whether I'm writing sexy, sophisticated historicals or sexy, ballsy contemporaries, an overarching theme in all my books is "compassion for all creatures great and small," namely the four-legged companion animals with whom many of us share our homes, hearts, and lives. As many of you may know, I spent six challenging but wonderful years launching and operating a national grassroots campaign, The Pet Overpopulation STAMP OUT. The campaign's goal, issuance by the US Postal Service of a commemorative stamp to educate the public about the importance of spaying or neutering pets, was achieved in 2002 thanks to widespread public support. More than 200,000 Americans wrote to Postal Headquarters urging that "Spay/Neuter Your Pet" be issued as a commemorative stamp. Celebrities including Mary Tyler Moore, Betty White, and Bob Barker added their voices to those of veterinarians, animal advocates, and yes, politicians from both parties. The stamps, depicting the adorable, furry faces of a former shelter puppy and kitten, were introduced to a national audience on Bob Barker's "The Price is Right" TV game show in early 2002 and then later formally issued at an American Humane Association conference and gala by none other than Joe Camp and the newly discovered Benji. Printed in a quantity of 250,000, "Spay/Neuter" proved to be a sell-out item, second only to the Elvis stamp in terms of sales. Talk about a fairytale ending...

Wishing you fairytale dreams and lives filled with Happily Ever Afters,
Hope

Hope has been profiled in numerous newspapers, magazines, and television shows across the country for both her novels and her advocacy on behalf of domestic animals. A segment on NBC’s Today Show included Hope gamely suggesting that romance novels "would make great how-to books for men." Roving reporter Mike Leonard then filmed himself sitting on the edge of his hotel room bed, ostensibly reading Tempting from cover to cover.

Find out more about Hope in any of these articles:

• Pages Magazine featured Hope as their lead in in their spotlight on authors who give of their time for worthy causes. Read the whole article.

• Front Porch Fredericksburg named Hope one of thirty local People to Watch in 2007. The magazine dubbed Hope the Word Weaver and highlighted her April 2007 romance novel, The Haunting, set entirely in Fredericksburg. To find out why Hope is so passionate about Fredericksburg, read the full article.

• Romantic Times Book Reviews Magazine (August 2006) ran a full-length feature on Hope and her novel, Vanquished. Contributing columnist Michele Bardsley dubbed Hope "the come-back kid" and provided readers with an excerpt of Vanquished, the first book to roll out Hope's new "Men of Roxbury House" historical romance trilogy.

• Front Porch Fredericksburg chose Hope as Fredericksburg's Artist-in-Action for 2003 and also ran an article entitled: "Romance on the Rappahannock".

• Read an interview with Hope about The STAMP OUT Campaign and how she worked to make this very personal dream-come-true for millions of American companion animals and their owners.

• Additional articles can be found by the curious in Towson
Magazine; The Free Lance-Star; The Towerlight; Linn's Stamp News, The Palm Beach Post, Richmond Times-Dispatch and ANIMALS Magazine. Also Hope has made appearances on Central Rappahannock Regional Library's weekly cable show, CRRL Presents, and BookCrazy Radio's "Neckel and Eckert" show.

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April 2007 »	••	Romance writer 'Haunts' the city is the title of an article in the Free Lance-Star about Hope and The Haunting, set in her hometown of Fredericksburg. See a photo of Hope from the interview in her snapshots section lower on this page.
January 2007 »		Front Porch Fredericksburg names Hope one of 30 People to Watch in 2007. "Word Weaver. Romancing the Burg" And Pages Magazine features Hope as their lead in in their spotlight on authors who give of their time for worthy causes. Read the article.
August 2006 »		Romantic Times Book Reviews runs a two-page feature article dubbing Hope "the comeback kid" and announcing the release of Vanquished, the first book in her new historical Men of Roxbury House trilogy, as well as forthcoming sexy contemporary romances for Harlequin's "Extreme Blaze" line of category romances.
July 2006 »		Vanquished, the first book to launch Hope's historical "Men of Roxbury House" trilogy hits bookstores. Reviewer Nina Davis of Booklist praises Vanquished as an "intelligent, sexy historical romance in the style of Jo Beverly." Enslaved and Untamed to follow in June 2007 and February 2008, respectively.
2005 »		Fredericksburg, VA artist, Mirinda Reynolds, creates The Hope Cat to honor Hope's work trapping, spaying/neutering, and re-homing stray and feral cats. The fiberglass creature is later auctioned with the proceeds going to support the Greater Fredericksburg Area SPCA among other local charities. Right: Hope sidles up to artist Mirinda Reynolds' "Hope Cat," created to honor Hope's work trapping, spaying / neutering and re-homing stray cat.
2003 »		Front Porch Fredericksburg chooses Hope as Fredericksburg's Artist-in-Action for 2003 and also ran an article entitled: "Romance on the Rappahannock".
2002 »		Hope is honored at the 2002 Genesis Awards for winning one of the Top Ten Victories for Animals: two U.S. commemorative postage stamps alerting Americans to the need to "Neuter/Spay" their pets. The stamp images -- and Hope -- are included in the two-hour taped awards program aired on Animal Planet. Find out more about the awards.
2002 »		A segment on NBC’s Today Show covering the 2002 Romantic Times Booklovers Convention includes an interview spot with Hope gamely suggesting romance novels "would make great how-to books for men." Roving reporter Mike Leonard then filmed himself sitting on the edge of his hotel room bed, ostensibly reading Tempting from cover to cover. At Left: NBC Today Show contributor, Mike Leonard (center) parties with Hope and fellow authors at the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention costume ball in Reno, NV.
September 2002 »		250 million "Spay/Neuter Your Pet" postage stamps go on sale nationwide, the result of Hope's six years of leading the charge for the national grassroots Pet Overpopulation STAMP OUT Campaign. Hope attends the U.S. Postal Service "first day of issue" ceremony in Denver, CO where she hobnobs with celebrities, postal officials, and event emcee, Benji and her trainer, Joe Camp.
September 2002 »		Hope's first lead title historical romance, Tempting, hits bookstores. A "My Fair Lady"meets "Pretty Woman" story, Tempting features a Jewish hero from London's East End who aspires to election to Parliament and a country-bred ingenue who mistakenly finds herself trapped in a brothel. The book's unique characters and unusual storyline garner a nomination for an RT Reviewers Choice Award for Best Innovative Historical Romance.
May 2002 »		Hope releases My Lord Jack, a Scottish-set historical romance featuring animal-loving, vegetarian hangman hero, Jack Campbell. My Lord Jack is later nominated by Reviewers International Organization for its Dorothy Parker Award of Excellence.
November 2000 »		Hope's first book, a Regency-set historical, A Rogue's Pleasure, is released to rave reviews. A Rogue's Pleasure is later nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award for Best First Historical Romance. Right: Hope at her very first signing, at the Barnes and Noble in Annapolis Mall, Annapolis, Maryland

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Hope, you describe your books as "sexy, sophisticated reads" and indeed the sensuality content of certain of your titles borders on what one might expect to see in erotica. Do you consider your books to be erotica?

»» In a word, no. That said, sexual expression AKA passion in its myriad forms is part and parcel of the human experience, arguably one of the greatest gifts the Universe bestows on us as both thinking *and* feeling beings. Whereas in traditional erotica, the sex is oftentimes the story, in my books, the characters' sexuality is an important reflection of who they are in terms of personality, life circumstance, and yes, place in time. Whether I'm writing an historical or contemporary set romance, the characters always, always drive not only the storyline but the level of sexuality expressed. Basically, people don't stop being who they are when they make love. In It's a Wonderfully Sexy Life (Harlequin, Extreme Blaze, December 2006), the heroine, Mandy Delinski, battles her weight and low self-esteem. How she feels about her body at first negatively impacts her ability to be open to the possibility of not only lovemaking but also love with sexy "bartender" Josh. In Vanquished (July 2006), both my hero and heroine must overcome traumatic experiences from their pasts before they can come together not only as sexual partners but as life partners. Their initial sexual chemistry and then connection is hugely healing for them both.

Your previous titles were all historical and now you're writing contemporaries as well. Has the transition been difficult for you and will readers of your previous titles still be able to hear your voice in the new contemporaries?

»» Surprisingly, no. Whether my book is an historical, as is Vanquished and the two forthcoming trilogy books, or contemporary, the writer's "voice" is still very much mine. Just as humans have many facets to our personalities, a writer's voice is not necessarily a one dimensional construct. For example, I'm a huge runner and all-around exerciser have been for years, but I also love such sedentary pursuits as reading historical fiction and nonfiction and sitting in dark movie theaters during matinees munching a barrel's worth of popcorn with extra-extra butter. Likewise, readers will hear "Hope" loud and clear in both Vanquished and It's A Wonderfully Sexy Life. In Vanquished, the prose is admittedly a little more formal, a little more elegant, if you will, to reflect the 1890s era, the London setting, and my lifelong love of all things British starting with a grade school addiction to "Masterpiece Theater." At the same time, It's A Wonderfully Sexy Life celebrates the quirky culture of my native Baltimore, Maryland, home to steamed crabs and strangers who hail you as "hon" on the street. Both very different cultures, eras, and experiences and yet both are equally "me."

Your books have ranged from featuring a Scottish vegetarian executioner hero who also happens to be a virgin to a weight-obsessed Baltimore lady cop. Where on earth do you get your ideas?

»» The short answer is I'm blessed (or cursed, as the case may be) with a "rich interior world." The longer answer would involve tossing back a question of my own: where don't I get ideas? When you're a writer, all the world is quite literally a stage, your stage. Even the most mundane outings and interactions serve as fodder for that next character, that next storyline, that next plot twist. It may be something as simple as stealing a (annoying) mannerism exhibited by a fellow subway rider and then grafting it onto my villain or something more involved such as coming across a sensational headline in the newspaper and using that as the catalyst for playing "what if" in my mind. And by the way, not only am I an A-list people watcher but I'm also a eavesdropper par excellence, so if you ever find yourself seated at an adjacent restaurant table from me, consider forewarned to be forearmed. ;)

I wanted to post a customer review of Vanquished to amazon.com but it seems kind of involved.

»» I know the first time I posted a review of a writer friend's book, it felt sort of daunting but actually it's as easy as one-two-three. Readers who wish to post a review can do so by going to www.amazon.com, clicking on Books among the product listing, and then typing in "Hope Tarr." Once my book list comes up, click on the particular title you want to review and then, once there, click on the hyperlink for "Write an online review." It's that easy -- really!

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Above: Hope signed copies of The Haunting at the 2007 "Readers for Life" annual benefit booksigning.   Romance Writers of America conference in Dallas, TX: July 2007 Seize the day--or at least the bull by the horns. Hope has her eight seconds of "fame" riding "Big Red" (aka mechanical bull) at Cowboy Red River Saloon in Dallas, TX. • top •
Above: Hope signs copies of Vanquished and Enslaved at "Cafe D' Amore" at BookExpo America in the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan, June 2007.   Book Expo America Buzz: June 2007 Hope's back from Book Expo America, held this year in Manhattan. BEA is the publishing industry's largest trade show devoted to all things publishing and a virtual who's who of contemporary literati. Check out her pictures from the Rock Bottom Remainders' VIP reception and charity concert held at New York's famous Webster Hall. The Webster Hall gig was the kick-off to the Remainders "Still Younger than Keith Tour," with proceeds going to support several literacy charities. The all-author band includes mega selling author, Stephen King, a founding member. (www.rockbottomremainders.com). Over noshes and vino at the reception, Hope rubbed elbows and clinked glasses with literary heavy hitters Frank McCourt (below far left photo), Mitch Albom (above, alongside Hope’s bio), and humor columnist and young adult author, Dave Barry (below right). She also caught up with fellow romance authors, Kathryn Caskie (below far left) and Sophia Nash. (Note, we're neither confirming nor denying, but there's a rumor bandied about that Dave Barry pronounced the trio "hot"). Sure all those Expo autographing sessions and glad-handing and after hours wining and dining and dancing were hard work, but Hope wouldn't have it any other way. Sometimes a woman has to shut down her computer, dig out from under all those mounting manuscript piles, and have a life. You know what they say about all work and no play... • top •
Above: Puttin' on the Ritz. Hope and author buddy, Carole Bellacera, share "tea and sympathy" (and loads of laughter, too) at the Pink Bicycle Tea Room in Occoquan, VA. Below: Hope takes a break from the 2003 Romantic Times Convention in Kansas City, MO to catch up with Old Book Barn Gazette editor, Tanzey Cutter. You can read Tanzey's monthly romance column, Tanzey Talk, online at www.writerspace.com. Right: Authors and cover models get cozy at the Cover Model Reunion Dinner. From left to right: Terri Wright; Hope Tarr; Camille; Kathleen, a reader; and Lori Pepio. Above: Queen for a day. (From left to right) Hometown buddies Malia Scanlan, Kate Hopper, Laurie Gravatt, Nancy Greer and Rebecca Snyder help Hope (center) ring in the big 4-0 at Bistro Bethem in downtown Fredericksburg, VA.	Hope cruises Georgian Bay, Canada, with Harlequin Blaze Senior Editor (and Canadian tour guide extraordinaire), Brenda Chin.
	Hope with best-selling author, Cathy Maxwell (left) and General Manager, Kelly Justice (right) at The Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia's historic Shockoe Slip, April 2007.
	Left: Hope joined fellow romance authors Cathy Maxwell, Mary Jo Putney and Rebecca York and more as well as Romantic Times Book Reviews Magazine Founder and CEO, Kathryn Falk at the Ft. Meade Officers Wives Club historical day book signing and luncheon in February 2007. • top • Above: Hope takes time out from Heather Graham's Vampire Ball to "set a spell" with cover hunk -- and new RT Mr. Romance winner -- Charlie Meadows. Other writers, from left to right: Darlene Gardner, Terri Wright, Lori Pepio, and Heidi Betts. • top •