Can you, for those who don't know you already, tell something
about yourself and how you became an author?
After trying
just about everything: banking, sales, starting my own clothing business,
cooking, science, marketing, counseling, finally at age 27, I was inspired to
start writing fiction. That was 7 years ago, and I have never looked back. It’s
been a TON of work, dedication, and self-discipline, and I’m grateful for all
of it. After taking classes, going to conferences, and writing over a million
words, I finally have my first novel published. I’m 34 and DRAGON BLOOD just
came out. 34 isn’t old, but it isn’t 21 either. I’m grateful that I can start
this career that I love at my age.
Tell
us something really interesting that's happened to you!
I had a profound difficulty learning to read and
write. At a young age, teachers pushed me into math and science where I showed
an early aptitude. I believed that I could never learn to be a good writer and
so I didn’t try until I was nearly 30 years old. That’s a lot of years I could
have been practicing writing and reading more, but I’m making up for lost time!
What
are some of your pet peeves?
When people put their forks in the
dishwasher tongs down—they do not get as clean!
When the toilet paper rolls under
instead of over.
What
do you do to unwind and relax?
I started doodling and dripping pain
in April 2020. We were deep in the dark trench of quarantine and I was
struggling. I wouldn’t write (or laugh much). I was depressed. I’m grateful for
the night I went to my mother’s and she pulled out her new calligraphy pens and
for a little art therapy. From there I feel head over heels for painting, esp
watercolor. This new hobby has been such a gift of peace and brightness.
How
to find time to write as a parent?
My writing
schedule usually mirrors my children’s school schedule. Assuming it’s a typical
school day, I will write for 4 hours (Taking a break in the middle for a
30-minute yoga sanity break). I can’t focus or produce good sentences for much
longer than about 4 hours in a day. Summer time and holidays aren’t very
productive writing times. I try to make sure to get important drafts done
before school lets out in June because editing is easier for me to do in the short
spurts of writing time I get when the kids are home.
Describe yourself in 5 words or less!
Organized, hard-working,
strong-willed, sarcastic, and tired.
When
did you first consider yourself a writer?
I still struggle with imposter
syndrome. It helps a lot to have books published, but in my heart, I knew I was
a writer when I started my first novel 7 years ago. I had an idea come to me
and a little voice inside that told me to write it down. I probably needed
therapy, but instead I opened a word doc. Completing that first manuscript was
one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but what kept me going was the
feeling I got while writing. I felt as if I’d found myself. Writing stories is it
for me. It’s been a brutal road and I’ve collected hundreds of
rejections, but I still want to do it. I still need to write.
Which
of your novels can you imagine made into a movie?
All of them. Whether other people
can imagine them as movies, that’s a different question.
As a
writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
A falcon. I want to soar. Flying seems like such a cool way
to see and experience the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment
I try to get comments published as quickly as possible. I don't always reply to comments on my blog, but I do try to visit as many people as possible when I participate in blog hops and I share links where possible to Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and such so others can discover your work. I do read and appreciate your comments.