Why do I Write Romance (and Cozy Mysteries)

Some people have dreamed of being an author since they were five years old.

Others accidentally stumbled into writing because they had an idea they couldn’t get out of their heads.

Some write to heal.

Some write to entertain.

Some write because they have something important to say.

Here’s the thing I’ve learned over the years:

Every one of those reasons is valid.

If you’ve ever wanted to write, don’t let anyone convince you that your reason isn’t “good enough.” Don’t let someone tell you that what you write isn’t “real” literature or that you should be writing something more meaningful.

Meaning is personal.

For me, writing has always been about hope.

It’s about escaping into a world where, no matter how difficult the journey becomes, love wins in the end.

Ironically, that’s exactly why I write romance.

I’ve lost track of how many times someone has asked me, “Why romance? Why don’t you write something more serious?”

I usually smile, but the truth is, I already spend my days dealing with serious.

My career has taken me through decades in logistics and now into Congressional affairs outside Washington, D.C. It’s work I genuinely enjoy, but it’s also work grounded in reality. Every day brings deadlines, complicated problems, and real-world challenges that affect real people.

When I leave the office at the end of the day, I don’t necessarily want to spend my evening immersed in more darkness.

I want hope.

I want kindness.

I want laughter.

I want characters who find their way back to each other.

I want the reminder that even after heartbreak, loss, mistakes, and impossible odds, tomorrow can still be better than today.

That’s what romance has always given me as a reader.

So that’s what I want to give back as a writer.

And if someone thinks that’s somehow “less than,” that’s okay. Because they’re not my audience.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned over the years is that you have to be comfortable writing the stories that light you up—not the stories someone else thinks you should write. If you’re chasing someone else’s definition of success, you’ll probably burn out long before you finish your first manuscript.

Write what brings you joy.

There will always be readers looking for exactly that.