Recently I had the pleasure of interviewing one of Writer's Digest top 101 website owner/author. Mrs. Dillon was very honest and open with her ideas, life, and concepts of "Resources for Romance Writers," I found her a very amazing woman with a love for her craft.

Although C. Dillon has a dot com address the one listed in Writer's Digest top 101 sites, is not the dot com. This leads me to believe if you run a site properly with pertinent factual information you will have a successful site. Dillon proves that with her Resources for Romance Writers site, combined with a sincere drive and determination. She reaches out to touch the lives of other writers helping them to achieve a common goal, publication.

When asked about her life and career she answered without hesitation.

Babs: What inspired you to create the website, what brought about the concept?

C. Dillon: It really began as a kind of "pay it forward" idea. When I first started writing romance, there were so many other writers out there willing to help. Still, it took a while to learn how to do things professionally, like formatting, writing query letters, how to submit, and so many other things.

When I made my first website, I thought it would be nice to offer some things to help new romance writers -- and all romance writers. My site grew a page and an idea at a time. I even asked around, to see what kinds of things others would find the most helpful. I'm still adding things to my site, and probably always will be.

Babs: How are you able to "give" so much to the struggling writer when most sites request money only to give the writer a portion of what you offer?

C. Dillon: Maybe because I'm still a struggling writer. I might earn a living with my freelance writing, but I've yet to sell a romance novel.

This is a tough market, and most of us will write and deal with rejections for years before we ever make that first sale. I hope between the articles I offer on rejection, and the RWC e-mail lists I run for romance writers, we can push each other on.

I do have a requested complete with an editor at Harlequin right now....so my day might be near -- or I could just end up with a new rejection letter to add to my files

Babs: Could you tell us a little about yourself, ideals, writing, and family and its importance in your life?

C. Dillon: I'm small town southern, nothing fancy about me or my life. I'm a mother of two teenagers, one starting high school, one heading off to college. I've been married to my hero for twenty years -- in fact, for twenty years to the day as I answer these questions. My family is the most important thing in my life.

I have too many pets, I love most kinds of music, I'm always happy when I have a book in hand, I enjoy cooking, and I probably spend way too much time on the computer.

My writing is a part of me. I spend lots of hours doing freelance, writing short biographies of music artists, or doing reviews of their music. I hope to be able to put the freelance writing aside one day, and write romance novels full time.

Babs: What is the most rewarding thing that has happened since you started the site?

C. Dillon: I think it is without a doubt the wonderful messages I get from people. It means so much to me when someone writes and says that my site really helped them. One person called me an ink angel. I smiled for days over that one. The truth is, every thank you message I get makes all of the work I've done seem well worth it.

Babs: How long have you been doing this? How long a writer?

C. Dillon: I started writing when I was a teenager. I began my first romance novel about ten years ago. Boy, that sounds like a long time. I haven't worked on romance the whole ten years -- giving up once after one too many rejections. I think most of us have been there.

I put my romance writing aside for over a year while my Mom battled cancer and lost. Almost turning my back on it forever when my freelance writing started taking up most of my time -- and energy. But writing romance is my favorite kind of writing. I love the fact that in a romance novel, the good guys always win,and the only kind of ending that is accepted, is the happy ever after kind.

Babs: What is RWA, how do you become a member, are you a member, and how do you start your own chapter if there is not one in your area?

C. Dillon: RWA, Romance Writers of America, is a professional association for both published and aspiring romance writers. I'm proud to be one of its more than 8,000 members. There are hundreds of chapters, both in and outside of the United States. I have links to many on my website.

For those who don't live near a chapter, there is one called Outreach. There are a few on-line chapters, and the number of those will probably grow over the next couple of years. To start a chapter of RWA, you have to have been a member in good standing for at least a year. The RWA office offers info to those wishing to start new chapters.

Babs: What is your philosophy? RWA's philosophy?

C. Dillon: I don't know if I can answer about philosophy, but my goal is to help other writers, especially new writers who are trying to find their way.

I don't know if I have a right to speak for RWA, but I feel their goal is to promote romance writing, to support its members by providing info and backing. When you put thousands of voices together, they get a lot more notice and respect than a couple going it alone.

Babs: How did you feel when you were picked at one of the top writing sites?

C. Dillon: I didn't even know my site had been picked, until I got a copy of Writer's Digest and was looking through the 101 best sites they listed, to see if there were some links I might want to add to my site. I saw my site listed, then read it again, to make sure my eyes weren't playing tricks on me.