Or so she thought.

Instead of becoming an artist, however, Margo became a registered nurse, and worked in the intensive care unit of a large trauma center in Detroit. It was a far cry from being an artist, but a very satisfying career nonetheless.

For several years before settling down to have children, Margo and her scientist husband did a good bit of traveling. She considers her backpacking trips in the Canadian Rockies near Lake Louise some of her most interesting and challenging excursions. While carrying a pack weighing 45 pounds, it was necessary to carefully choose the books she would take along. Usually, it was John Steinbeck or Charles Dickens who accompanied her, and though they're still her favorite authors, Margo has added several wonderful current authors to her list.

While in Europe, the ruins of towns and castles that were more than 500 years old gave Margo an appreciation of time that, as an American, she didn't have before. This sense of the past was augmented by a degree in history, which she went back to earn after several years of nursing practice. She recalls that there were times in her studies when she thought fiction couldn't possibly be any stranger than history — especially the medieval period. It was tough to believe that the professors weren't making it up as they went along.

When Margo and her husband decided to have children, they came quickly. A girl and two boys arrived in four short years. It was a crazy life for a while — with multiple school activities and sports events while Mom worked part time in ICU and Dad's commute was an hour away — but the kids are teenagers now, very independent and all very close.

Writing became Margo's great escape from the stress of work, and the hustle of daily life when her kids were small. She had read her first romance novel during a family vacation, and decided right then that "happily ever after" stories were what she needed. Combining historical fact with an imagined scenario was fun, but in order to do it right, she studied the genre on her own and attended two writers' conferences given by the Detroit Women Writers' Association.

Since 1999, when Margo's first book, The Bride of Windermere, was released, she has sold more than five novels to Harlequin — all historicals. She is writing full-time now, and enjoying the flexibility in her schedule — something she didn't have while nursing. With three teenagers at home, and lots of family activities, she likes to be available for whatever comes up. And she likes the fact that she's indulging her artistic side once again.