Hope Tarr and I met through a mutual friend. I know, that sounds like we’re dating, but we’re not.We’re scheming and planning the launch of Lady Jane’s Salon: A Romance Reading Series–the first of its kind, at least in NYC. Oh yeah, we’re also writing books.   Hope has one out now called Every Breath You Take… I’m reading it and think y’all should, too! But first, here are her answers to The Same Six Questions I Always Ask…

1. If you could have any super power, what would it be?

X-ray vision–but not in the creepy, kinky way. Eastern philosophers talk about us each having a Third Eye. We’re born with it, and you see it depicted in Eastern art all the time. It’s on our brow, positioned above and between our two physical eyes. By learning to exercise the power of our Third Eye, we can see the innate truth of things. So many times in our culture, we get caught up in the packaging of things–the way a situation or a person appears on the surface versus who and what they really are at core.See, you really can sleep with one eye open.

2. Who is your favorite hero of fiction?

Mr. Rochester from Jane Eyre, and yes, I realize he’s a controversial choice. But I really gravitate toward his realism. Perfect characters annoy me, always have. No doubt about it, he’s brooding and egocentric and yes, downright rude. When we first meet him, he’s really, if you’ll pardon me, a bit of a butt.And yet Rochester–and pardon if I “call him familiar” i.e., Edward–is heroic to me on so many fronts. He goes back into the burning house to save the mad wife he was duped into marrying who’s made his life a misery. He takes responsibility for his other youthful mistakes as well, e.g., he cares for Adelele, the little girl by his French mistress who may or may not be his. Granted he makes Jane an Indecent Proposal, especially by Victorian standards, he pays for that, oh how he pays. Above all, he falls in love not with the shallow and beautiful Blanche but with our heroine, Jane, because no matter his other faults, he isn’t shallow. He sees Jane for the bright, brilliant soul she is and doesn’t get deterred by the plain packaging.

3. What is one of your most romantic moments?

I was in the Connemara region of Western Ireland. I made love in an historic manor house turned B&B. My bedroom window overlooked Clifden harbor and it was raining, not torrentially as it had earlier but softly, gently, the beads of water beating against the window glass. It was…well, perfect.

4. Of the places you’ve traveled to, which is your favorite?

Ireland but then reference above reply to Most Romantic Moment. We had record rainfall for the whole trip, and I couldn’t have cared less. Enuf said…

5. What’s your most used curse word?

I’m not terribly original when it comes to cursing. It’s the F-bomb, I’m afraid, but in my defense I only drop it in private and among friends.

6.Please take a moment of shameless self-promotion:

EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE… is my latest release for Harlequin’s steamy Blaze line. My previous Blaze, BOUND TO PLEASE, was the launch for the new Blaze Historical Miniseries, and the book recently sold out on EHarlequin. How’s that for shameless?

Last but not least, I’m a founding member of Lady Jane’s Salon, Manhattan’s first reading series devoted to romance fiction, along with you, Maya, Dorchester author, Leanna Renee Hieber, and Ron Hogan of Beatrice.com. Our first monthly meet-up is Monday, February 2nd at Madame X in Tribeca where I’ll be reading and signing my latest release following Andrea Pickens. Proceeds will benefit Maya’s nonprofit organization, Share the Love.For more information, visit Lady Jane’s on Facebook or Myspace.