COEUR d'ALENE - A 1979 Kellogg High School graduate has pursued her dreams across the country to Tennessee and is now a published author.

Jeanne Launhardt, who goes by the professional name of Jeanne Hardt, released "Marked" at the end of June and is expecting its sequel, "Tainted," to be out before Christmas. The historical romance takes place in the American South during the Civil war era, a notion that came to the author while she was sleeping.

"I dreamt that I was in a college writing class and the professor wanted us to write a romance novel based on a time of civil unrest," Hardt said. "The characters, the plot, everything was revealed in my dream, and after I woke up, I remembered everything."

Hardt lives in Greenbrier, a small town north of Nashville, and loves being surrounded by the history of the area. She grew up in Kellogg and lived in Coeur d'Alene for a time while working on her acting and singing career, which is what actually led her to Tennessee. She was a cast member in the Coeur d'Alene Summer Theater and sang at Templin's in Post Falls as well as on the floating stage of The Coeur d'Alene Resort. She left North Idaho in 1993, something she admitted was a "big leap." Now, the Volunteer State feels like home.

"I love it here," she said. "I do miss Idaho because a lot of my friends and family are there."

Hardt's mom, Janet Launhardt, still lives in Coeur d'Alene and is as proud as ever of her daughter.

"I think it's wonderful," she said. "I've backed everything that she's ever done."

While it was difficult to see her daughter move so far away, Launhardt understood she had to let her pursue her career.

"You know, you have to let your kids follow their dreams, too," she said.

Hardt is currently the president-elect of her 75-member local chapter of romance authors, the Music City Romance Writers, and will be president next year. She plans to keep writing, and revealed that in the near future she will begin working on a novel that takes place in the City by the Lake.

"They say write what you know," she said.

"Marked" is available at Hastings in Coeur d'Alene as well as on www.amazon.com.