Award-winning author Cindy Kirk started writing after taking a class at a local community college. But her interest in the written word started years earlier when she was in her teens. Cindy confides, “From the time I was a little girl, I thought everyone made up different endings to books, movies and television shows. Instead of counting sheep to go to sleep at night, I made up stories. Only later did I discover not everyone does this. I wrote my first book when I was fourteen. It was what would now be considered a young adult romance novel. It was about a girl who was attracted to an older boy (I think he was eighteen) who didn't know she was alive. I made the mistake of letting a teacher read it. Though she said it was good, I could tell by her expression she didn't like it. I threw the pages away and, although I wrote in my diary at sixteen ‘I don't know what I'd do if I can't be a writer,’ it would be years before I’d attempt to write another novel.”Unlike some writers, Cindy wasn’t interested in shorter works of fiction. Once she began writing again, she jumped feet first into book length fiction. She loves reading and writing romance because she believes in the power of love and in happily ever after. An incurable romantic, Cindy loves seeing her characters grow and learn from their mistakes and, in the process, achieve a happy ending.With over forty published novels under her belt, Cindy has written everything from inspirational romance (romance with a faith element) for Harlequin's Love Inspired and Harper Collins Christian publishing, sexy contemporaries for Harper Collins and books for Harlequin's Special Edition line which fall somewhere in between. She’s now writing a series set in Door County for Montlake Romance. These stories, which take place in the fictional community of Good Hope, Wisconsin, are a perfect fit for someone who enjoys writing emotionally satisfying stories about real people in the context of home and family.Cindy hopes that once you read her books you’ll be able to tell she is an eternal optimist, one who truly believes in the power of love. She invites you to kick off your shoes, pick up one of her books and get to know her.She and her high school sweetheart husband live on an acreage in Nebraska with their two dogs.