ANNAPOLIS, Maryland – Picture this. Annapolis, 1931.

This is the setting of one of journalist and novelist Mary K. Tilghman’s books.

She is the author of several romance novels and historical novels.

All play in well-known locations such as Ocean City, Chincoteague and Annapolis.

“They’re stories about strong women who are on a path, let’s say, on a journey, and they have to overcome something and fall in love along the way,” Tilghman said.

Tilghman has her own love story in Maryland.

She was born in Baltimore, grew up in Severna Park, attended UMBC and married “a boy from Catonsville.”

There she started a family with her husband, whom she had been married to for 42 years.

“Ahh, I met my husband on a blind date. And when he dropped me home, he asked for my phone number and I thought he was just kidding me, so I gave it to him in Spanish. That should be in a book,” Tilghman said, laughing.

Tilghman’s novels are also the places she wrote about.

She worked as a reporter for a local newspaper for 45 years.

She then worked as a travel writer in the region for over a decade until her daughter convinced her to try writing novels.

“In 2015, my daughter said, ‘You know, Mom, I think you should come with me this November to celebrate National Novel Writing Month.’ And I said, OK. And two years later, a novel of mine was published,” Tilghman said.

Tilghman recalled a story she had written during her time as a journalist with the Maryland Romance Writers Society.

As I was interviewing them, they said, “Oh, you should join us.” And I thought, “You can only dream. I never thought I would write a book,” Tilghman said.

She did it and she liked it.

It can be historical or modern. It can be sweet. It can be hot.

Tilghman still uses her skills as a reporter today and researches background information for her historical novels.

For one thing, she found inspiration here at the Annapolis Inn.

“I just remembered it when I was writing the guidebook. And so that room idea was my inspiration, that room and the secretary in the corner,” Tilghman said.

Tilghman will be one of 25 local romance authors featured this Saturday here at Park Books at their “Spark in the Park” event.