Writers start as readers. I discovered early that a book was a whole world. As a child, I sneaked books into bed. I nearly ruined my eyes reading by the thin strip of light shafting in the crack of my bedroom door. When I was in middle school, even though I didn't like our creepy basement, I volunteered to take the bedroom down there so I could keep my light on without my parents' knowledge. One summer, I stayed up till 2 or 3 every night reading the complete works of Mark Twain, Shakespeare's plays and every Ann of Green Gables book I could get my hands on. Stories of adventure, laughter, pain or triumph'I willingly traded a full night's sleep for time spent with my literary friends. In 2001, I started writing my own stories. In May 2006, my debut novel, MAIDENSONG, was published by Leisure Books under my real name, Diana Groe. ERINSONG followed in November 2006 and SILK DREAMS in July 2007. These are epic, dramatic tales'full of passion and angst in exotic settings. When I wrote DISTRACTING THE DUCHESS, its light-hearted and frankly sexier style was such a departure from the first three books, my editor suggested a different penname. Emily Bryan was born. Light or dark, serious or silly'we need equal portions of laughter and tears to stay balanced. I hope you make room on your bookshelves for both my incarnations. Just don't be mad if I keep you up some night. After all, don't you deserve happily ever after?Happy Reading,Emily