Let’s go back to 2010. Before the billionaire sagas and the sprawling family sagas of Firebrook Valley, there was a girl, a horse trailer, and a very misplaced shower scene.

A lot of people think Maid for the Billionaire was my first book. While it was the first one I ever published, the very first story I ever finished was a little cowboy romance called Gentling the Cowboy.

It was a total fantasy: me trailering my horse down to Texas, pulling into the wrong ranch, and accidentally showering in the wrong house... only to be discovered by the (very handsome) owner. It was a fun story to write, and when I finally wrote "The End," my pride knew no bounds.

But as I quickly learned, there’s a big difference between having a story in your heart and having the skills to put it on the page.

The "Internet Rain Cloud"

I did what any aspiring author does—I shared it. First with friends, and then I gathered up some courage and went online to share it with critique groups.

Oh, the internet in 2010.

It was soul-wrenching. I was slammed. One woman actually told me my writing was so bad it made her "bash her head on the wall until she bled." I suggested she stop reading! That critique was a massive rain cloud on my tiny personal parade. I retreated, tucked my cowboy story away, and figured maybe my stories weren't meant for the world after all.

A Seat at the "Big Girl’s" Table

Thankfully, I have older brothers who love me and didn't want me to quit. One of them told me about a local writing group, promising that people are nicer in person than they are online. I was terrified, but my brother actually offered to come and sit beside me so I wouldn't be alone.

I sat down at a random table, only to realize I had accidentally sat with at least two New York Times Bestselling authors. One of them was the wonderfully warm Annette Blair. I might have thrown up in my mouth a little while waiting for their response.

But Annette showed me something I’ve never forgotten: Successful people don't mock people who are trying. She looked me in the eye and said, "I was prepared to just say something nice about your book because I know this is your first one.but you have such a strong voice. If you're willing to hear it, I'll tell you what you're doing wrong." She spent twenty minutes showing me the biggest things I was doing wrong, and I will always be grateful for the grace she showed me.

The Sci-Fi Detour and a Dare

I wasn't ready to fix the cowboy book yet, so I took a detour. I joined a group of brilliant Sci-Fi authors and started writing about electromagnetism falling in love with humans. I learned so much from them about pacing, dialogue, and point of view.

Then, at a party, a friend asked me: "Is that what you actually like to read?"

I laughed. "No! I love Harlequin romances and billionaires!"

She smiled and asked, "Then why don't you write that?"

The Magic in the Middle

Maid for the Billionaire was born from that dare. It wasn't until after I'd hit the New York Times list with one of my billionaire romances that I found the courage to rewrite my cowboy romance. With the help of a professional editor who suggested I focus a little less on the horse and a little more on the sexy cowboy, Gentling the Cowboy was rewritten. Shortly after its release, it was snapped up by a publisher and rebranded as Taken Not Spurred.

I need to stop here and thank every Texan who read it for not coming for me for my depiction of them. I hadn’t been to that amazing state yet, so my characters were purely how a woman born and bred in New England imagined Texans would be. Thank you for allowing my mistakes to be overshadowed by the fun of the shower scene. The grace you showed me as well as the opportunities that story brought to me . . . well, that was the magic.

Write the book

People often tell me they want to be an author but don't know how. My answer is always the same: Write the book. Your first book might not be your best book. It might be the one that stays in the drawer for a while. But if you never write the first one, you’ll never get to the second, the third, or the fiftieth.

My path to publication was a winding one, but that just makes the journey more beautiful. And someday, maybe, I’ll be brave enough to share the sci-fi I wrote . . .

Back in 2011, the world of publishing felt like the Wild, Wild West. We were self-publishing, bypassing the traditional gatekeepers, and being highly judged for it. It was a time of grit, big dreams, and a lot of "author loneliness."

I didn't want a "fan club", I wanted a community. I wanted a safe corner of the internet where I could share photos of my kids growing up, ask vulnerable questions about a book cover, or vent when the "internet rain clouds" got too heavy.

That’s how Ruthie’s Roadies was born. It was a gathering place for the amazing people I was meeting online.

Rising Waters Raise All Boats

From the beginning, it was about more than my books. As I learned new things, I brought them back to them. Like blogging. I figured if I was learning about the power of blogging, we should all learn together.

It’s been incredible to watch that mission take flight. Some Roadies started blogging and realized it wasn't for them; others are still at it today. I’ve even had Roadies find their own voices and become published authors themselves. We celebrate the best days together, and we sit quietly with each other through the worst ones. I’d like to think we’ve mutually made each other’s lives just a little bit better over the past 15 years.

The Puppy at the Pound

People think that once you’ve written 50+ books, the nerves go away. They don't.

There is a specific kind of "imposter syndrome" that hits at book signings. You sit at your table, watching a hugely successful author next to you, and you feel a bit like a puppy at the pound—just waiting to be noticed. Even when the line is ticketed and out the door, that worry remains: Will they like this one? Do they remember me?

And then, out of the crowd, I see a familiar face. A Roadie.

There is no gift like a warm smile and a hug from someone who has known you for a decade. Whether the room is packed or it’s just the two of us, seeing a Roadie feels like a family reunion. They are the "safety net" that gives me the courage to be brave even during years when my books don’t sit high on the charts.

Birthdays on the London Eye

Some of my favorite memories aren't the fancy parties, but the moments where my "work" life and "real" life blended perfectly. When money was tight, we’d all pile into my hotel room just to chat. When things were better, we’d go on steamboat tours or walking adventures.

But the one that stays with me is my daughter’s fifth birthday. We were in London for a signing, and I felt that "mom guilt" of traveling on her big day. So, I invited the Roadies to join us on the London Eye. They showed up with little gifts for her, turning a business trip into a genuine birthday celebration.

That’s the soul of this story: it’s not about "marketing" or "metrics." It’s about the people who have walked this winding path with me. This is my first time living this life and I’m sure I’ve made a ton of mistakes, but gathering these women together and sharing this journey with them was something I did right.

Join the Family

If you're looking for a positive, safe place to discuss my books, how to help others discover them, and the lighter side of life, I’d love to have you. We’re a small group of about 1,000 people. Ruthie’s Roadies on FB

The shelves are dusted. The filing cabinets are organized. And tomorrow, a brand-new door opens in the Billionaire World.

For weeks, we’ve looked back at where it all started—from Dominic Corisi’s "too alpha" beginnings in 2010 to the secret experiments that brought the "Separated at Birth" twins back together. We’ve talked about the cameos, the crossovers, and the healing power of a true happy ending.

But tomorrow isn't about the past. Tomorrow is about Firebrook Valley.

Why Firebrook Valley?

When I sat down to write this new series, I knew it had to be part of the world you’ve grown to love. I wanted to introduce you to new families with their own secrets, their own struggles, and their own path to love—but I also wanted it to feel like coming home.

If you’ve been following the Corisis, the Barringtons, and the Westerlys, you know that no one truly disappears. Firebrook Valley is full of the same heart, humor, and "potato chip" addictiveness that keeps us all coming back for more.

A Note to My Readers

Writing these stories has always been my way of finding comfort in a crazy world. Knowing that you find that same comfort in these pages is the greatest reward I could ask for.

Whether you are meeting a billionaire hero for the first time or waiting for Judy Corisi to finally drop her "dating bombshell" on her father, I am so grateful you’re on this journey with me.

Set your alarms. Charge your Kindles. Tomorrow, we go to Firebrook.