Lily and the Duke (23 page)

I
wrote
Lily and the Duke
in 2007. When I completed it, I went to the internet for resources and was blessed to find the Colorado Romance Writers. I attended their conference in May 2007, and I haven’t looked back since.

Lily and Daniel were my guinea pigs—the hero and heroine in my very first romance novel. I entered the story in a few contests and received valuable feedback. My critique partners at the time, whom I met through CRW, also offered great advice. I revised the story once, and then again. And then again. In the meantime, I worked on my craft and published twenty-plus other stories. But Lily and Daniel always lurked in the back of my mind, waiting for their day in the sun.

After the last of many revisions, that day has finally come, thanks to my good friend Meredith Wild, who introduced me and my work to the men and women at Waterhouse Press. Thank you to David Grishman, Jonathan McInerney, Shayla Fereshetian, Kurt Vachon, and of course, the one and only Meredith Wild. I appreciate your confidence in me!

Thank you to my amazing editor, Michele Hamner Moore, for your diligent work and research.

Thank you to the many contest judges who pointed out places to make the story stronger.

Thank you to my former critique partners—Monica Kaye, Tricia Leigh Wood, Viola Estrella, and Cari Quinn—for all your help with this story and others.

Thank you to the wonderful members of Colorado Romance Writers and Heart of Denver Romance Writers who have inspired me over the years.

Thank you to my family and friends who have believed in me.

And thank you to my readers for helping me get this far. I hope you love Lily and Daniel as much as I do.

H
elen Hardt's
passion for the written word began with the books her mother read to her at bedtime. She wrote her first story at age six and hasn’t stopped since. In addition to being an award winning author of contemporary and historical romance and erotica, she’s a mother, a black belt in Taekwondo, a grammar geek, an appreciator of fine red wine, and a lover of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. She writes from her home in Colorado, where she lives with her family.