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She recommends that aspiring nurse authors join a writing group such as the Romance Writers of America, which sponsors chapters across the country. "It's so crucial for new writers to connect with others who can offer them both support and constructive criticism."

Like daughter, like mother

Jeanne Ray, RN, always loved to write and, like Dreyer, used her writing to combat the stresses of her nursing career.

"There were many nights over the years where I woke up, couldn't get back to sleep and turned on my computer to write stories," Ray said.

A nurse for more than 40 years, Ray always thought of her writing as a much-loved hobby, never dreaming her passion one day would transform her into a best-selling author.

Shortly after her 60th birthday, Ray was browsing in a bookstore in her hometown of Nashville, Tenn., when she noticed that few magazines and books were targeted at people in their 60s.

"The media was failing to recognize that people in their 60s still fall in love and have intimate relations," Ray said. "Most young people don't want to think about their parents having sex."

After her bookstore visit, Ray started writing a novel about two 60ish adults who meet and fall in love. After she had written more than 150 pages, she showed the story to her daughter, novelist Ann Patchett. "People always ask me if my daughter became a writer because of me," Ray said. "But the truth is that Ann is the one who pushed me to become a published author."

Patchett read the first 150 pages of her mother's book, thought it was good and submitted the outline to her agent. The result was Ray's first novel, Julie and Romeo (2000; Harmony Books), a lighthearted reworking of Shakespeare's classic featuring two rival florists in their 60s who fall in love.

Today, Julie and Romeo has sold more than 500,000 copies, and Barbra Streisand's production company has purchased the film rights to the novel.

After her initial success, Ray briefly considered leaving her nursing job at a medical clinic in Nashville and devoting herself to a full-time writing career. "I actually quit my job and within two weeks was utterly depressed," Ray said. "I really love my job, my colleagues and our patients. I've been working with the same people for 15 years and they're like family to me."

Ray decided to return to work one day a week and devote her time to writing. Her second book, Step-Ball-Change (2002; Shaye Areheart Books), also received good reviews, and actress Sissy Spacek purchased the rights to the film.

Despite her newfound fame, Ray remains modest and unassuming.

"I think my books are successful because I write about the day-in and day-out problems that we all face," Ray said. "My characters are composites of various people I've met during my lifetime."

Her latest novel, Eat Cake (2003; Shaye Areheart Books), is a heartwarming account of one woman, Ruth, who loves to bake cakes and uses her culinary skills as a way of coping with her eccentric family.

Ray's editor, Shaye Areheart, describes Ray's novels as "witty, warm and very human." This also describes the manner in which Ray approaches her nursing career.

"I've always tried to bring humor into the workplace," Ray said. "It's not uncommon for a patient or co-worker to ask if I've heard any new jokes lately."

Ray continues to juggle nursing and writing and encourages other nurses who love the craft of writing to pursue their dreams.

"Write for the love of writing, not because you expect to sell your work," she said. "In nursing, you learn so much about the human spirit that it can be rewarding to record these experiences on paper."

Contact Linda Childers at eastbaypr@aol.com