At eleven years old
when I read my first few romance novels – my grandmother’s Barbara Cartland
collection – I was hooked. There was something magical about the stories and
how they unfolded.
What I didn’t know at the time was that my grandmother would
be the reason behind my writing.
“Speaking of romance,” my mother said over coffee one
morning, “Your grandmother was quite the romantic writer.” “Grandma?” I
shrieked. The reference caught me off guard, Grandma had been deceased for
years and my mother rarely spoke of her. “Yeah” she answered. “Your grandmother
wrote love letters to your grandfather when he was away on business.” “She
did?” I never heard this before. “Yeah, didn’t you know?” Mom continued, “She
placed first in a writing contest.” Love letters? Contest? Whoa. I had no idea.
When I started to write romance in my twenties the genre
fascinated me. Intrigued by such appeal I often questioned from where my desire
to write emerged. After my mother’s revelation, I thought long and hard about
my grandmother’s writing. When did she start writing? What inspired her to
write?
Mystified as I was to learn about my grandma’s writing
prowess one thing was for sure, it offered a new perspective: Romance writing
was in my genes.
My grandmother would have been ninety-seven years old this
past February and I still think of her when I write, I can hear her giggle as
I’m crafting a sexy scene. “Gracias Abuelita for your gift. I know now I was
born to write.”♥
Maria Cox is a PRO member of Romance Writers of America; she has
also served as President of the Phoenix Writers Club. Maria has been writing
stories since she was a young girl. She picked up her first romance novel when
she was just eleven years old and has loved the genre ever since. Maria writes
sensual romance, stories that showcase strong, sassy, and sexy characters. When
not writing fiction, Maria works as a technical writer. She lives in Queens,
New York. Please visit her site www.mariacox.net and/or follow her on Twitter.
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