In this week's AuthorView, Jenna Petersen discusses why readers make great writers, romance writers make great colleagues, and marchionesses make great spies for King and for Country. Read on ...

MB: What or who inspired "Desire Never Dies?"

JP: Actually the television series and movie "Charlie's Angels" inspired the Lady Spies series, which includes "Desire Never Dies." Also James Bond -- I loved the idea of kick-butt female spies in a Regency setting -- ladies by all appearances, but watch out if you cross King and Country.

MB: What do you like most about "Desire Never Dies"?

JP: Oh, that is most definitely the journey my heroine takes. She starts off as very shy, unsure of herself, cloaked in grief. And through her relationship with the hero, she develops into a stronger, more capable spy who also embraces love. It was so fun to write.

MB: You've maintained www.PassionatePen.com for the last eight years. Tell us a bit about the project, what you learn from it.

JP: The Passionate Pen is a free resource for aspiring -- and published -- authors. The heart of it is the listing of romance publishers, which includes links to their main pages and submissions guidelines. There is also a page of romance literary agents and links to other resources for writers.

It also includes my personal diary, which I started in 2001 and charts my journey from aspiring author to published author -- on an almost week-by-week basis. I can't even get into everything I've learned from running the site.

Mostly that romance authors are an amazing, giving bunch who are always open to helping each other succeed.

MB: What do readers learn from interacting with authors at sites where writers talk craft?

JP: I think it's always fun to get a glimpse into the thought process of an author. And we all write so differently that it's kind of fun to know that some authors build character first, some think of a plot, some write from the seat of their pants, some are very detailed with preparation.

Also, many readers are aspiring authors, so I hope they get something from those kinds of discussions.

MB: Who is the most heroic person you know?

JP: I've known so many heroic people. My husband is my hero for all of his support. My mom is my hero for everything she sacrificed for me. My dad is my hero for always making me think. My brother is my hero for being brave and continuing to chase his own dreams. All the aspiring authors who email me at Passionate Pen are my heroes for not giving up -- and I know how hard that is.

And then there are the big heroes. People who go into burning buildings when everyone else is running out. Or chase the people who want to hurt others. I guess there is the potential for heroism in every person, which is what makes this world so interesting.

MB: Who's your romance hero: dark, brooding bad boy or white knight in shining armor?

JP: I'm most definitely a dark brooding hero-lover! I love that broken, angry beast who can be tamed by beauty. I write a lot of dark heroes, but my current hero, Lucas Tyler, is more of a Hugh Jackman-type bad boy. Not too brooding, but a bit naughty in his personality -- which is fun and sexy, too.

In real life, I love a man who is supportive and kind. My husband is both of those things. And in the end of my books, I think most of my heroes develop into those kinds of men. That's the key to happily ever after, after all.

MB: Answer the question you wish an interviewer would ask.

JP: Oh, tough one. I've done a lot of interviews, so I've been asked most questions -- or at least most of the ones I want to answer. Sometimes I wish they'd ask more about the romance genre instead of making assumptions, but that won't be a problem here.

Thanks again for having me, Michelle.