ETHERINGTON, Wendy 1967-

PERSONAL:

Born July 17, 1967, in Opelika, AL; daughter of Preston (an insurance claims adjustor) and Diane (Dunn) Phoebus; married Keith Etherington (a furniture manufacturer's representative), March 16, 1991; children: Caitlyn, Grace. Ethnicity: "White." Education: Auburn University, B.S., 1989. Religion: Methodist.

ADDRESSES:

Office—P.O. Box 3016, Irmo, SC 29063. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Writer.

MEMBER:

Romance Writers of America (workshop chair, 2004), Georgia Romance Writers (vice president and conference chair, 1998).

WRITINGS:

ROMANCE NOVELS

Wedding Bell Blues, Kensington Books (New York, NY), 2000.

Heat, Kensington Books (New York, NY), 2001.

My Place or Yours?, Harlequin Duets (Buffalo, NY), 2002.

Can't Help Falling in Love, Harlequin Duets (Buffalo, NY), 2003.

Hunka Hunka Burnin' Love, Harlequin Duets (Buffalo, NY), 2003.

Private Lies, Harlequin Temptation (Buffalo, NY), 2003.

Are You Lonesome Tonight?, Harlequin Temptation (Buffalo, NY), 2004.

WORK IN PROGRESS:

All Shook Up and Love Me Tender, romance novels for Harlequin Temptation (Buffalo, NY), completion expected in 2005; research on arson, fashion, and cooking.

SIDELIGHTS:

Wendy Etherington told CA: "I grew up wanting to rule the world—or at least to be the chief executive officer of Coca-Cola. Then I discovered two literary giants: Harlequin romances and Lewis Grizzard. (For those of you above the Mason-Dixon Line, Grizzard was a famous—or was it infamous?—writer and southern humorist.) Who knew these passions would someday blend together in a career? These days I get to create a world I rule with my keyboard and write about enduring love with a comedic twist.

"The inspiration for My Place or Yours? came from a real-life experience. My poor house in Atlanta endured a lot before passing into new ownership, including plumbing problems and the somewhat disconcerting day I came home from church (on Easter Sunday) to find termites munching on the floorboards in my dining room. Needless to say, my stress inspired much trouble and fun for [characters] Alex, Rebecca, and Moose.

"The real Moose, by the way, is probably looking down from Cat Heaven. At least I'm assuming he's looking down rather than up. With Moose, anything's possible. He's thinking, 'The least you could have done was make me a posthumous size six.'"