I am a past editor (1989-1991) of the Romance Writers of America's national magazine, Romance Writers Report (RWR). I'm also a recipient of the organization's National Service Award, the highest honor for volunteer work from RWA®. When I had energy to burn, I supplemented my income as a professional wedding photographer, but I've retired from the business and only take pictures now of my backyard birds and family.
I turned seriously to writing fiction in 1990 after I attended my first national romance writers conference in Boston. Maybe all those years of sticking to the facts and striving to be objective made me retreat into creating Happily Ever After stories. Like most wordsmiths, I've collected enough rejection slips from book editors to wallpaper my bathroom. If I've learned anything in the never-ending journey through my craft, it's how to listen to constructive criticism. I thank the contest judges, editors, and critique partners, past and present, who've helped guide me along the way to publication.
My first novel, Guess Again, a contemporary tale of romantic suspense, is available in multiple download formats and trade paperback from Hard Shell Word Factory.
Please take a moment and read the excerpt of a scene from Guess Again that won second place in the Best First Kiss category of the Smoky Mountain Valentine Contest sponsored by the Smoky Mountain Romance Writers in 2002.
My first short story, The Gargoyle Who Loved Me, appears in the Mundania Press science-fiction/fantasy anthology, Beyond the Mundane: Flights of Mind. I wrote it as an affectionate tribute to paranormal romance stories and horror flicks, especially those populated by vampires, shapeshifters and bad boys. Check out the mini preview that features my gutsy heroine in conversation with a sexy vampire on the Excerpts page of my Web site.
I'm married to Peter Pan, who gave up flying for the earthbound pleasure of driving a street rod (a 1939 Buick named Buford). We have a teenaged daughter, a tree-squirrel-chasing cocker spaniel and an assortment of aquarium fish. In addition to writing, my interests include movies, reading, music, angel stories and collecting old-fashioned hatpins.
By the way, I've been told that Santella means "little saint" in Italian and "little devil" in Portuguese. Take your pick.
Nora in a Nutshell
Birthplace: Bayonne, N.J.
Sun Sign: Gemini
Celtic Lunar Symbol: White Mare
Siblings: One older brother
Degree: Bachelor of Journalism, University of Missouri
Frequently remarks: "Where are my glasses?"
Favorite Things
Anime Series: "Inuyasha"
Anime Feature: "Vampire Hunter D."
Animated Feature: Disney's "Mulan"
Bird: Baltimore Oriole
Books: Biographies, mysteries, romance, especially paranormal
Colors: Purple, royal blue, fuchsia
Fabled Animal: Unicorns
Fairy Tale: "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" by Brothers Grimm
Fictional Antihero: Jean-Claude, master vampire of St. Louis
Fictional Hero: Jacob MacArthur Catlin, aka The Dragon
Fictional Heroine: Anita Blake, aka The Executioner
Food: Italian
Game: UNO® Attack!™
Gemstone: Ruby
Jewelry: Kirks Folly
Magazine: Entertainment Weekly
Mail Order Catalog: The Pyramid Collection™
Movies: Action/adventure, sci-fi, comedy, and thrillers
Myth: Vampires
Opera: Bizet's "Carmen"
Reference Work: Any dictionary
Singer: Maria Callas
Song: Enya's "Only Time"
TV shows: "Highlander," "Babylon 5," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"
Word: Camerata
I love to hear from readers and my fellow writers. Please feel free to e-mail me with your comments or questions. Or you can send me a letter through snail mail at:
Nora Santella
P.O. Box 404
Peculiar, MO 64078-0404
