Welcome to our New Faces column, where you can meet some of the debut romance authors to be found on your local bookshelves. This time we're visiting with Victoria Bylin, whose first historical romance is Of Men and Angels, now available from Harlequin Historicals.

Victoria, welcome to TRR! Tell us about yourself.

We collect refrigerator magnets. That may seem like a strange way to start a bio, but it says everything about the last few years of my life. When my husband changed jobs, we packed up our two sons, the dog and a hundred boxes, and then we drove from Los Angeles to northern Virginia. We bought a refrigerator magnet for every stop we made, and each one tells a story.

The California magnets reflect the past. I grew up in Los Angeles and attended both UCLA and UC Berkeley where I majored in history. I met my husband right after college and fell head-over-heels in love with him. Twenty-three years and eight addresses later, we're still going strong. The magnet that reflects this part of my life is from Los Angeles International Airport. I fly home to see my mom as often as I can, but it's not often enough for either of us. I also have a Los Angeles Dodgers magnet. I still love those boys in blue.

The magnets from the states along Route 66 mark the start of my journey as a writer. I'll never forget driving through eastern Arizona and realizing that I was leaving everything I'd ever known behind. At that moment, a thunderstorm struck. The rain came so hard that we had to pull off the road. It was terrifying, but then the clouds parted and all four of us saw a double rainbow over I-40. I'll never forget it. I took it as a promise that good things were in store for all of us. For me, that meant writing a book.

The magnets from the east coast reflect who I am now. My favorite one came from the Smithsonian where Dorothy's red slippers are on display. She wanted to go home and found out she was already there. We also have planes from the Air & Space Museum and magnets from dozens of Washington DC landmarks. But more telling are the magnets that serve a purpose. A red business card lists the phone numbers for my son's high school, and a colorful rectangle displays the delivery number for Pizza Hut. When I have to meet a deadline, we eat a lot of pizza. Not to mention Subway sandwiches and Chinese take-out.

At my last count, we had 142 magnets. I can't wait to see what will be adding as the future unfolds.

Are you coming to romance writing from another job?

"Medical transcriptionist by day, romance writer by night . . ." That's me! Seriously, almost every job I've had has been related to putting words on paper. I've worked in advertising, edited an association newsletter and transcribed for an ophthalmologist. It's funny what stays in a writer's head. In every book I write, someone has eye trouble. Jake in OF MEN AND ANGELS has two black eyes. The bad guy in FIRST IN HIS HEART has a terrible case of conjunctivitis, and a have an idea for a gunfighter with glaucoma (tunnel vision).

What led you to write romance?

I actually shied away from reading romance until we moved to Virginia where I discovered the Fairfax County Public Library. It's fantastic! I buy tons of books, but the library is a great way to try new authors. Before writing started to take up my time, I used to read 100-150 books a year. Looking back even further, I can see that I have my roots in the books I read as a child. I devoured Walter Farley's Black Stallion books and the "Little House" books by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Tell us about your road to publication.

I'll never forget a particular birthday. I came home from work and spotted a US Priority Mail package on my doorstep, I thought, "This is nice. My mom sent me a present." But that's not what was in the envelope. Harlequin had requested the full story for my first-ever manuscript three months earlier, and there it was, rejected on my birthday. Now that's a present no one wants!

Fortunately, I was already well into OF MEN AND ANGELS, and the rejection letter encouraged me to keep writing. A year later, I queried Harlequin again, received a request for the full book in October 2001 and got the call in February 2002. I feel very fortunate. ANGELS was just my second manuscript. It was great to sell quickly, but it would have been nice to have a drawer full of projects to whip out when my editor asked, "What else do you have?" Uh, nothing? At least not yet . . . Of course that's changed. And there's a happy ending for the first rejected manuscript. It's now FIRST IN HIS HEART, the story that led to a three-book contract.

What kind of research was involved for your first book?

I visited the western Colorado area many years ago, but most of my research is done via the Internet and the library. I check out tons of geography and history books. Children's books are great, because they usually have lots of pictures.

Tell us about your debut book.

OF MEN AND ANGELS is a redemption story set in 1885 western Colorado. The cover blurb says it best: "Did a no-account drifter deserve to dream of simple joys like hearth, home and love?" No spoilers here, but the answer is a resounding yes!

Who are your influences as a writer?

I love Harlequin Historicals. These books were among the first I read when I started to write seriously. Also at the top of my list is Penelope Williamson. THE OUTSIDER and HEART OF THE WEST are #1 and #2 on my keeper shelf. I also enjoy Catherine Anderson, Emilie Richards, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Susan Wiggs, Roseanne Bittner, Barbara Freethy, Elizabeth Grayson, Kristin Hannah, Judith McNaught, Kathryn Shay, Alexis Harrington, Leslie LaFoy and so, so many others. If a book is about healing, I'm hooked.

What does your family think of having a romance author in their midst?

I have to arm wrestle for the computer now and then, but my husband and sons are very supportive.

Tell us about plans for future books.

I'm pleased to say that I've signed a three-book contract with Harlequin Historicals for a trilogy set in 1892 New Mexico. Readers who enjoyed meeting Jake in OF MEN AND ANGELS can look forward to meeting Ethan Trent in FIRST IN HIS HEART (working title), the Reverend John Leaf, and a young outlaw who can't decide if he wants to be Cole or Rafe.

How can readers get in touch with you?

My website is www.victoriabylin.com. Or if email is easier, I can be reached at victoriabylin@aol.com.

Victoria, thanks for joining us, and best of luck with your trilogy!

August 2, 2003