With more than 70 books and special projects to your name, how do you create such original storylines and characters time after time?

I love to write! And I love to create. It honestly makes me happy! I can’t imagine not writing—I love getting to know readers and other authors, and the adventure is endlessly meaningful to me. So the creative process gets charged by making new friends and constantly admiring my writing sisters’ works. If I ever get a little rundown, I head to the beach for two days. It works!

You’re known for ‘sexy hunks with attitude and heroines with plenty of sass.’ Do you consider this sass to be a part of your own personality as well?

When I read this question to my husband, he exclaimed, “Yes!” Women are supposed to be intelligent and fun and sassy. We’d be boring if we weren’t!

You have bull riders as the subject of quite a few of your romance novels. What draws you to this profession?

My teen years were spent in a town where there was a large FFA group. I never wanted to date the football players; I was much more interested in the FFA boys. Many of them were my friends. Several of the guys tried their hand at bull riding. I have a black-and-white photo of one of my boyfriends on a bull in mid-jump. This was before PBR was huge and all the fun that goes along with it now. It was just small-town guys giving it their best shot. I admired that. But I’ve written about just as many other fields, too, like military heroes. Both my dads were in the military, and all my uncles. I was born on a military base. All my heroes work hard, no matter their profession—my heroes are tough and stubborn, but they’re always chivalrous!

What inspired you to create the story of the long-lost twins in HEART OF A BULL RIDER?

I thought it would be fun to see what would happen if two completely diverse worlds collided. What would they have in common? Would they be able to relate to each other at all? I liked the idea of the inherent conflict. They had a lot to learn from each other, and about themselves.

What upcoming books or projects do you currently have underway?

I’ve just finished a Hell’s Outlaw trilogy for Random House Loveswept, which is releasing in May, and am starting a trilogy for Diversion Books about a magic wedding dress, and lots of small-town angst and drama. And sex. My heroes and heroines fight their attraction to each other, but great chemistry is hard to override.

About Tina Leonard

USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author Tina Leonard has sold over 3 million copies of her titles. She has made the USA Today Bestseller, Waldenbooks, Bookscan, and Ingrambook lists, and has written and contracted 71 books and special projects. She is best known for her sparkling sense of humor, endearing communities, snappy dialogue, and memorable characters that include sexy hunks with attitude and heroines with plenty of sass. For more information, visit www.tinaleonard.com or follow her on Twitter: @Tina_Leonard.