by Kenda Robertson

Created on: June 09, 2010

Medieval rogues … Daredevil lovers … Modern women finding love after tragedy and heartbreak … All can be found in the pages of romance novels penned by award-winning romance novelists.

Hot, steamy romance novels are one of the best selling book categories on the market today. Women just can’t seem to get enough of these tasty little treats. Women also dominate the romance writers market.

For many romance authors, writing is their second job or favorite past-time until they hit the big time. But for all of them it is a love and a passion.

Romance writer Terry Odell, a former teacher and technical writer, found that it is never too late to do what you love. She started writing fiction after the age of 50, and has since published four romance novels with another on the way.

As an avid mystery reader who was drawn to character relationships, Odell describes her novels as “romance with a twist of mystery.” “Along with the romance, my books contain puzzles and clues that have to be solved,” she said.

Odell’s first book, “Finding Sarah,” came out in 2006. Her latest novel, “Nowhere to Hide,” was released in 2010

Though she is now retired from her day job, Odell finds writing to be something she can do at any age. “Writing is a great way to keep learning,” she said. “There’s always something new around the corner.”

When her first book, “The Kitten Club,” hit the book market in 2007, romance novelist Dara Edmondson knew she had found her calling. After dabbling in writing for years, the former public relations major, showed her writing journal to a friend. Her friend, also a writer, suggested she try romance writing.

Four books later, Edmondson is now writing full time with hopes of one day being on the New York Times Best Seller list.

So why romance novels? “The relationship between a man and a woman is such a basic human story,” she said. “Most people want a happy-ever-after ending and they find that in romance.”

And romance sells. According to Romance Writers of America, as much as 14 percent of the book market is found in the romance genre. And in spite of the economy, sales are booming. Romance fiction sales are estimated at $1.36 billion for 2009.

Edmondson said she likes to create characters in her stories that are likable and believable. “I want my readers to curl up with one of my books and feel like they are

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