I was never a star English student or a Literature buff, but I've always had a creative soul and an active imagination.  Writing was a natural culmination of those two talents. I write what I like to read: romantic suspense.  I write for entertainment and escape--the same reasons I love to read.  I prefer real-life language, so you'll find profanity in my work when it fits the character.  I prefer open-door sex, so my love scenes are typically hot and steamy.  And because my stories involve suspense, you'll often find violence, mystery and an inside look at the intricate world of forensics.  Occasionally, I like to dabble in the lighter side of paranormal as well. I sold the first two novels in a paranormal romantic suspense series to Kensington Brava in June, the first of which will debut in April of 2012! The next to follow shortly thereafter.  Very exciting! I've been writing seriously for seven years and am a triple RWA Golden Heart finalist as well as a double Daphne Du Maurier finalist.  I currently maintain memberships with Romance Writers of America and the Kiss of Death RWA chapter and in 2007, I founded and presided over the Wine Country Romance Writers RWA chapter (now the Yosemite Romance Writers).  In my day job, I work as a sonographer at UCSF Medical Center, a profession I've held for seventeen years.  I have been married twenty years to my own personal hero, a veteran firefighter, and we have two beautiful daughters.  We are doubly blessed to live in the heart of wine country on the Central Coast of California. Please feel free to email me with questions and comments at:  ultraswan AT joanswan DOT com. Recent family photos: My DH (Darling Husband) Our fall rafting trip down the South Fork of the American River Our pup, Indie >