Cheery and inspiring, Kathleen Long celebrates the wonder of life "just as it is." Read on ...

MB: What or who inspired your novel?

KL: For each of my other books, this question is an easy one. For "Cherry on Top," it's a bit more complicated. The honest answer is that a beer commercial inspired me.

Honest. This was a while ago, but there was a commercial in which the boyfriend and girlfriend each had something to say to each other. He spoke first -- and broke up with her. She spoke second -- and told him she'd won the lottery. That gave me the idea for Cherry's first scene. She's been left at the altar hours earlier, but now holds the winning multimillion dollar lottery ticket. I just loved that setup.

The rest of the story comes from a variety of places. Mystic Beach was inspired by Naples, Fla., during a vacation there. Cherry's affinity for positive affirmations and goal posters was inspired by my own attempt at using those tools last year. The list goes on and on. Yogi was inspired by a real artist, but I'll never tell who.

"Cherry on Top" was written for everyone who needs to take a moment to realize just how wonderful life is right now, at this moment, just as it is.

MB: What do you like most about your novel?

KL: I love the mix of humor and poignant moments. At least I hope they come across as humor and poignant moments! I found some of the scenes taking a more serious turn than I intended, but I believe that worked for this story and these characters. It was a wonderful, creative surprise. I also love that the theme of "identity" or "finding/trusting yourself" worked for every character in this book. I'm always amazed when the puzzle pieces fall into place. I have to add that my favorite thing about this book is the dog, Lucky. How can you not have a soft spot for a dog who is so identity-challenged he's got a crush on the neighborhood skunk?

MB: Who is the most heroic person you know?

KL: Without a doubt, my husband. We've been through so much together, and still he makes me laugh and smile just as much as he did the day I met him. With him by my side, I feel safe and secure. I feel loved. I feel protected. He's my biggest believer, supporter and cheerleader. Whenever I doubt myself, he believes enough for the both of us. Yet, on top of all this, he's a wonderful son, a loving brother, a generous, caring uncle, and a fiercely loyal friend. Besides, he's pretty darned easy on the eyes. (Sigh) It just doesn't get better than that.

MB: Who's your romance hero: dark brooding bad boy or white knight in shining armor?

KL: Well, my ideal hero is a little of both. I definitely like the bad boy -- or at least a touch of bad boy -- but my hero has to have a heart of gold, even if he does his best to hide it. He has to be strong, yet tender. Tough, yet lovable. Flawed, yet redeemable. Bad, but good. I don't think that's too much to ask, do you?

MB: Answer the question you wish an interviewer would ask.

KL: I wish an interviewer would ask exactly when it was I knew I had to write. Not wanted to write, but had to write. My transforming moment came several months after our daughter died. I'd wanted to write for a very long time, and I'd dabbled a bit and had taken some courses before our daughter's birth. But, on this particular day, I picked up a book -- a romance -- by Barbara Delinsky.

For the first time in a very long time, I was transported away from my broken heart. My grief fell away. I lost myself in the pages of that book and found a wonderful, safe escape. I vowed then and there that if my writing might someday provide a similar escape for a reader, I had to try. I'd love nothing more than to hear that somewhere out there, one of my stories has done just that. I can't think of any higher praise.