About Me

NEWSFLASH! I can finally tell the world what I've been doing these last years! I met Monica Sarli at my doctor's office. The doctor and his wife were insisting that I write her story with her. So, we did, and, let me tell you, it's a doozy! Check out MonicaSarli.com to get an idea. Be sure to join as a member so you can read a few chapters. Talk about writing out of my genre!

Hailed by critics as a first class writer on her way to the top and a superstar in the making, Denise Domning is an author who enthralls readers of Medieval romance. Prior to publishing her first book, Denise owned two property management firms, invented an electrical lock and became CEO of her own corporation.

Okay, enough of that promo stuff. Here's the real deal. I like to say I got my MBA from the U of H.K. That's hard knocks not Hong Kong. Once I achieved that prestigious degree and had been working in the world for a while (translation: my electrical lock company took a nose dive and I couldn't get a job) I decided to go back to the same institute for a doctorate in Medieval History and fiction writing. By the way if you can't see the connection between being an entrepreneur and becoming an author look more closely. There is no greater fiction than the business plan written for a new venture! I say it was creating all those business plans that taught me to write novels.

I've had better success with my novels than I did in the electrical lock business. My first Medieval novel, Winter's Heat, received the Romantic Times award for Best First Historical Novel of 1994. That led me into a series of books that take place in the Twelfth century, the time of Robin Hood and Richard the Lionheart. In them I follow the lives of the five FitzHenry brothers. After Winter's Heat came Summer's Storm, then Spring's Fury. That book was nominated for Best Medieval of 1995 and its sequel Autumn's Flame was nominated for the same award for 1996. Kristin Ramsdall of the Library Journal lists the final book of the series, A Love For All Seasons on her recommended reading list, including it in the Library Journal's 1997 annual publication "What Do I Read Next".

From there I thought I'd dabble a little with the Elizabethans. Publisher's Weekly liked Lady in Waiting, the first of these two books, calling it "well written, well researched, with an accurate portrayal of Elizabeth I". Lady in White, an Elizabethan ghost story, followed in October, 1999. Before you get too excited about any of the above-mentioned books, only Summer's Storm is still available through iUniverse. I'm committed to re-releasing the others very soon.

Once finished with the Elizabethans, I went back to the 13th Century for Avon Books and a pen name—it was the first time I didn't have to get married to change my name. I chose Hampton because I like Hampton Court Palace in England. The first book, The Warrior's Damsel came out in May, 2001, the second, My Lady's Temptation, in February, 2002, while the final book of the trilogy, The Warrior's Game, with its marvelous purple cover, appeared in January of 2003. The last Denise Hampton book appeared on Thanksgiving, 2003. Almost Perfect was my very first Regency Era romance and my last. It's just too modern a time period for me.

So, now that I'm almost finished with Monica's book, I'm stewing over a number of new ideas. I'll keep you posted!