Q: What is your writing day like?
A: I am usually woken up by my personal alarm clock, AKA my five year old son. Neither of us are morning people so that is usually around 10am, thank goodness. Being a stay-at-home mom, my day revolves around cleaning, laundry, and driving him to soccer or karate. Once my son goes to bed around 11:00pm I am able to get a little writing or editing done. If it is a really good day then I am also able to read until I fall asleep which is usually around 4am.
Q: Why do you write?
A: I write because it is fun, simple as that. It is not my livelihood so I don’t have to depend on it. I am blessed to be able to just write and enjoy it without stressing over whether or not it is good enough to make money. Being published is just an awesome bonus.
Q: How do your ideas for stories come to you?
A: I have a very vivid imagination so stories come to me all the time. I could be brushing my teeth and something will pop in my head and I think "that would make a good story." I keep an open file on my computer with just ideas and I also keep paper and a pen handy because you never know when inspiration may strike.
Q: Which comes first, the story, the characters, or the setting?
A: I write my stories in no particular order. In Nowhere To Hide, the character Cane Parker came first then the ending of the story. I have never been able to just sit and write a story from beginning to end, usually I write what comes to me and go back and fill in the blanks later.
Q: What's your favorite thing about writing?
A: My favorite thing about writing would definitely have to be the ability to be creative. The ability to say "what if..." and just go with it. I can write about anything I want even if no one else ever reads it. I can write about any place or any time. My characters can be as simple or as crazy as I want them to be. Nothing is impossible.
Q: What do you consider necessary to the writing process?
A: Someone supportive to bounce ideas off of. When I am writing I am constantly second-guessing myself and worrying whether or not something makes sense or sounds right, so I harass my family to read something I wrote and tell me what they think. They are great about giving me negative and positive feedback which helps a lot.
Q: When your book comes out, are you nervous about how readers will react to it?
A: Of course. I get nervous just letting my family read my writing, let alone perfect strangers. But if you are willing to put your work out there for the public, then you have to be willing to accept negative and positive feedback. You have to accept the fact that not everyone will like your work.
Q: What's in the future?
A: As of right now I’m not sure what’s next. I have so many finished stories, unfinished stories, and new ideas that I don’t know where to start.
Q: What are some of your hobbies?
A: My number one hobby is reading. I love to read anything that catches my eye no matter the author or genre. If it looks interesting, I will read it. I am also into photography. I love to take pictures mainly of my son and family.
