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"When reading a Cathy Maxwell book, you get Links Rings scenery, characters that are strong, passionate and believable, and plots that make you not want to put down the book," said Ruth Atkinson, a Bon Air resident who has been a fan of historical romance for 40 years.Romance readers -- 80 percent of whom are women -- are fiercely loyal to their Heart Charm writers, who also are almost exclusively female."If I see a new Cathy Maxwell book, you can be sure it'll soon be on my bookshelf," Atkinson said.The affection is returned.

Atkinson contacted the author through Facebook to ask whether she would sign her Maxwell collection during an appearance at a Richmond Barnes & Noble. When Atkinson arrived, Maxwell recognized her from her profile picture, came over and gave her a hug."I had 20 of her Dress Charm with me, and she actually took the time to write something personal to me in each one of them," Atkinson said.Maxwell's legion of fans have made her wealthy. In a matter of years, her writing income climbed into six figures.

Her husband "had started calling me his 401K plan," she said, smiling so brightly at the memory that her sparkling turquoise eyes all Four Leaf Clover Charm disappear.But as her dream blossomed, tragedy struck. In 2004, her husband was killed in a tragic accident.Maxwell had harbored a desire to write for years, but a husband, her children and wide-ranging careers -- a tour with Naval Intelligence, managing a watch factory, working as a news broadcaster and making theater costumes -- kept her busy.