Stephanie Bond Hauck didn't want to work in a bank the rest of her life, so she did something about it. She started writing romance novels.

"About three years ago I had some extra time on my hands after finishing night school," said Hauck. "Tired of reading books and thinking if I had written it I would have done it another way or not liking a certain character, I decided to see if I could do it myself and it turned out to be fun."

The former Olive Hill resident has been writing ever since and her first book a Harlequin Love and Laughter romance entitled "Irresistible?" was released in February and her second book
entitled "Almost a Family" was released by Bantam Loveswept in March. For Harlequin, Hauck writes under the name of Stephanie Bond, her maiden name. When she sold to Bantam she had to have another name so she chose Stephanie Bancroft for her Bantam Book.

Hauck did three book signings in Kentucky in February and spoke at the February meeting of the Fiction and Non©fiction Writer's group at Grayson on February 16.

When asked how she got started, Hauck said she contacted someone who had written several romance novels and they told her being with people who write gives you a great start, so Hauck joined the Georiga Chapter of The Romance Writers of America. Hauck now lives in Deluth, GA.

"I luckily got a good start," said Hauck, "Because I immediately was directed to a really good writers organization. It's worth it to go to a monthly meeting with people who are interested in
writing the same kinds of things you write. Get into a good Critique group of three or four people and exchange work, take it home, mark it up, flag things an editor would flag. Go into it
with the idea to get as much out of it as possible. Find people who are as serious about it as possible. As soon as I joined, my productivity increased and I really got serious. I saw all the
opportunities that were there."

Hauck attended National and Regional conferences of the RWA. "That's where they bring in editors and agents for you to meet with," said Hauck. "You get 15 to 20 minute interviews with the editor or agent you are interested in. You tell what your story is about, just like a job interview. You sell yourself and your ideas. You should go into your interview armed with at least

three ideas in case she doesn't like your first or second one. On the interview that sold my book, she was not interested in the first idea I gave, then she asked if I had any kind of idea for a romantic comedy. I shot her a story line straight from the hip and told her I could get her a proposal story line in a few days. She told me to send it as soon as possible so I went straight
home and started working on a story and it sort of fell into place as I went along. It was fast thinking that opened the door but I had to come through with the story. It takes luck and
timing and lots of guts to face some of the editor

Hauck said her agent is able to sell the romances as fast as she can write them. Since her goal is to be a full©time writer she spends her mornings from 8:00am to 11:00am writing. She writes
about 2000 words a day. She can write a 200 page book in as little as a month, but would prefer two months.

"Getting an agent is a very personal decision," said Hauck. " I started selling my books right after getting my agent. I have nine books currently under contract."

Eventually, Hauck would like to write a mainstream novel or suspense novel that features a private investigator series. But for now she's very content writing romances. Having been an
avid reader of romances, she smiles at the people who frown on them.

"Reading a romance novel is no different from watching a soap opera," said Hauck. "My stories are about monogamous couples who are always headed for marriage and that's pretty honorable."

Hauck is the daughter of proud parents Willis and Bonnie Bond of Olive Hill and while attending college Hauck ran her own business, the former Boots and Breeches which was located on Main Street in Olive Hill.

"I'm just so proud of Stephanie I could bust," said Stephanie's mother, Bonnie Bond. "I read all her manuscripts and as I read her stories in the Love and Laughter line I jot down every time I
laugh out loud and how many times I smile and mail them to her."

When asked what might spark a story Hauck said she gets ideas from people she meets. She likes to watch people to pick up mannerisms, and sometimes she will pick up an occupation from

someone she meets. Sometimes a story in a newspaper will start a plot going.

Hauck is always willing to give advice to help potential writers to be able to break into being a published writer and also how to acquire self©discipline when it comes to writing.

"Find that writers group and join," said Hauck, "Attend conferences, educate yourself about the business aspect of writing, write about things you know about."

Hauck, who lives in Deluth, Ga with her husband Chris works partªtime for Ashland Incorporated as a computer programmer. Her next romance novel, a suspense entitled "License To Thrill" will be out in October through Bantam Loveswept line under the name of Stephanie Bancroft. In January 98 and February 98 a series of two books will be released by Harlequin Love and Laughter entitled "Kids is a Four Letter Word" and "Wife is a Four Letter Word."
These will be published under the name Stephanie Bond.

Kentucky Romance Writers has two chapters, one in Louisville and one in Lexington, Kentucky.