1. What or who inspired you to start writing?
I’ve always been a voracious reader and spent many years daydreaming. I started to put my daydreams on paper in the 1980’s but it was my current husband who encouraged me to complete a novel.
2. How did you come up with ideas for your books?
Whew! Loaded question. Used to be I’d have flashes of “what if?” then just toss the idea. Now, I weigh in if the idea will make a good novel, novelette or short story. All it takes is a phrase, story in the news on TV or a friend tossing out silly ideas. The storylines come from everywhere.
3. Have you ever written a book about an event that actually occurred before? If not, can tell us a little about why you wrote this one?
No, I haven’t. This event effected my life so profoundly because I’d been at the tavern fifteen minutes prior to the shooting. Were it not for a spontaneous decision to leave, I could have been the story not written it. I probably feel the same as those people who called in sick at work on 9/11; survivor’s guilt.
4. Do you ever watch true crime on TV?
Hooked. You name it, I watch it: CSI, NCIS, First 48, Forensic Files, Cold Case Files, I could go on but it would get boring.
5. I have a friend who is/was a defense attorney. How do you feel about criminals who commit mass murders receiving the death penalty or life in prison?
My vengeful side says, ‘Eye for an eye’, but the point is most mass murderers have broken morality compasses. They know what they’re doing is wrong—they just don’t care. You can’t “punish” someone who doesn’t think the consequence of death is a punishment.
6. If one of your characters came into your home, what would they think?
This person has a thing for dragons. I have dragon artwork all over the walls of my office. There are dragon statuettes I’ve bought and those that have been given to me by family and friends. On a good day, they might think I’m a compulsive clean freak; then again I’ve gotten to the point that you can’t eat off my floors. Too much of my time is spent in front of my computer frantically trying to get the next story on the page.
7. What expertise did you bring to your writing?
For Shattered Tomorrows, I brought the expertise of first hand experience. I’m a very good listener who knows when to be quiet and hear the conversation around me. I’ve been writing for over twenty years and have eleven other books published.
8. What would you want your readers to know about you that might not be in your bio?
I try to make the stories as authentic as possible. I research, read, and when possible, personally experience as much of the action as I can. Tough to describe what one hasn’t done. Never hurts to go to an enactors weekend and ask the knights if you can swing one of their swords. If you don’t put out your back, you’ll discover a keen admiration for the strength required just to lift one of those things.
9. As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?
I still have ten or more Dragon books to complete in the Dragon Among series. I keep being drawn back to the faeries and night elves so am contemplating creating a series for them. I also have various other stories in the works; a new race of creatures not quite angels but not humans who save souls taken from life too soon; the story of a half Native American anthropological archeologist who “hears” whisperings from Uluru [Ayers Rock in Australia]; an interior designer captured in a ‘dust devil’ in the California Mojave desert who comes to no harm and meets a tall, dark stranger; the wanderings of a Mage who is on a quest to find his own truth through a land of faeries and the dragons they ride. Oh yes, I’m also currently writing a story about a motorcycle poker run where getting the Wild card –Joker- isn’t necessarily a good thing.
10. If you could be one of the characters from any of your books, who would it be and why?
I’d like to be Tiamoon, the gnome warrior, from Lending Library, A Valentine Anthology and Meadows of Gold, St Patrick’s Day Tale. She’s very independent and spunky yet feels the obligation to help her community.
11. Do you belong to a critique group? If so how does this help or hinder your writing?
I do. Having three other souls who know my writing, what I’ve done and what I can do, who bust me anytime I get sloppy helps keep me on task. My critique partners are honest, fair and very concerned that we each write our very best.
12. When did you first decide to submit your work? Please tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step?
My husband and I returned from living in Hawaii to spend the last year of my father in law’s life with him. Feeling so utterly helpless, I began to write more than ever. A writing contest was being featured on a site I was surfing so I made the decision to put my desire to the test; either I was a writer or I was a talker.
As always, my husband encouraged me and gave me the confidence to enter my work. [My work was one of 25 finalists picked from about 500–600 entries.]
13. What is the best and worst advice you ever received? (regarding writing or publishing)
The worst bit of advice was ‘handed down’ by a well-known romance organization that made it in no uncertain terms—don’t get published by epublishers. You’re not really a published author if you go that route.
The best advice was given to me by my very first editor—write the book you love.
14. Do you outline your books or just start writing?
I used to just start writing but lately my books have become so complicated I really have to outline to keep on track. The story may not resemble the outline, but it’s nice to have a “guide” to follow to the end.
15. Do you have any hobbies and does the knowledge you've gained from these carry over into your characters or the plot of your books?
Yes. Okay, okay. My husband and I have a Harley Davidson motorcycle we ride when the weather permits. Since my next book involves a couple murders during a motorcycle poker run, I’d have to say my hobby does carry into my characters and plots of books.
16. Do you have an all time favorite book?
Any mystery by Agatha Christie. Even after reading her work time and again, I’m still enthralled by her writing. I also fancy a new author I bumped into when I was his editor—A.W. Lambert. He writes in the style of the 40’s detective noir books with current backgrounds and situations. Both authors are from across the pond-England. Guess you could say I’m an Anglophile. {Fancier of all things British}.
17. Have you started your next project? If so, can you share a little bit about your book?
Yes, I have started writing the motorcycle murder mystery called Joker’s Wild. I put it aside for a bit to focus on marketing for Shattered Tomorrows but will be picking up the “pen” again.
Poker runs are excuses for motorcycle enthusiasts to ride their bikes from tavern to tavern, drinking and paying to support some charity. Some runs are like five card draw; others are like seven card stud. The idea is to get the best and/or worst hands, which will net the riders a cash reward. It can be great fun and collect large donations to charitable organizations, but when people start dying unexpectedly, the fun of the day is tarnished.
18. Your interview will be posted before August let me know what works for you. Is there a summer tradition or recipe for that season you would like to share? N/A
19.What is your favorite reality show?
I believe the show is called “Sing Off.”
- Who is your favorite sexy actor?
I still get heart flutters for the sexy Scotsman, Sean Connery.
21. Anything else you might want to add? No.
Buy at: www.roguephoenixpress.com
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