Sandra Brown's novels tend to focus on the romantic feelings between men and women, and on the power that women can find within themselves to deal with love, loss, and even more stressful aspects of life.

In her introduction to the 1996 edition of Hawk O'Toole's Hostage, Brown says, "Something in all of us delights in lovers and their uneven pursuit of mutual fulfillment and happiness. Indeed, the pursuit is half the fun!" Since 1968, Brown herself has been happily married to her college sweetheart, who is a video producer. They have two children and divide their time between Arlington, Texas, and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

1. Is there anything inherently wrong with "romances" (novels that feature passion, excitement, and happy endings)?

Could they inhibit readers' abilities to perceive life in a realistic way?

2. In Standoff, the media is sometimes portrayed as profit-driven and overly intrusive, willing to...