Kristin Jacques's Blog, page 5

31 Days of Author Madness: Lavinia Leigh

The Fiver:
1. What is your writing process?

I like to live with a story before I actually start writing it, slowly getting to know the characters. From there, I try to write out the rough draft without worrying too much about anything other than getting the words down. It’s the editing after when I feel the story really comes together.

2. What inspires you to write?



So much! It could be other stories, movies, going for walks, something someone says can all cause a story idea to come.




3. Writing is considered a dream job by many, but what if you were granted the opportunity for a true, magical ‘dream job’. What would it be and why?



It would totally be writing my own stories full-time.




4. You are standing on a stage, addressing a high school auditorium of teenage creative writers. What advice would you impart to them about the craft and the career path of being a writer?



The best thing I can say is just, do it. I see so many people have dreams and ambitions, but they don’t do it because they are waiting for the right time, the perfect opportunity, or just letting their own insecurities get in the way. If you keep putting it off, it’ll never happen.




5. You’re stranded in a snowed in cabin, well stocked up on food, but no internet. What is on your emergency book shelf?



I think it would be wonderful to have a whole book shelf full of books I’ve never read. If everyone had sent me their favorite picks to the cabin, I might forget about the missing internet.



Where to find her:

Snippet/ Teaser:

A little flirt can go a long way.

 

31 Days of Author Madness: Robyn Marie

The Fiver:
1. What is your writing process?

Unruly, haha. Mostly it’s about inception. I like to think of an idea and then sit on it for awhile, waiting. Yes, procrastination is my middle name, but in this case, it’s helpful. As I stew, I like to watch movies/TV, read non-fiction books, peruse the internet, listen to songs – anything that has the vibe or the information that I need for whatever story is cooking in my head. Most of the time I’ll read or see something that gives me another idea to add to the first and so on. At some point, I do start writing. I always use pen and paper first to plot my points. I like to draw and scribble, it helps. Of course, I can rarely re-read it when I’m done.

2. What inspires you to write?

1. Colors. I love color. When I see neon signs in pink or orange or an awesome blue car, it gets me thinking. 2. Music. Song lyrics are the best kind of poetry. Beats and melody are an emotional pulse. 3. Pictures. Pinterest is my best friend. 4. Film. A dang good movie, or tv show, (even short films), act as a defibrillator. They jump start my brain.

The only inspiration I get from reading fiction, is the inspiration to keep on writing myself so I can be published, or when I’m stuck, technical writing support. It’s weird.

3. Writing is considered a dream job by many, but what if you were granted the opportunity for a true, magical ‘dream job’. What would it be and why?

Writing…and making a decent living doing nothing else. (That last bit is the magical part.)

4. You are standing on a stage, addressing a high school auditorium of teenage creative writers. What advice would you impart to them about the craft and the career path of being a writer?

Don’t think too hard about it in the beginning. Just write whatever is inside your head, even if it stinks. The moment you start chasing originality, theme, dangling-modifiers, edits, re-edits, word count, sentence structure, the point to life, plot holes, and character motivations it sucks your youth and you lose your joy.

I’m not kidding.

I guess my real advice would be: “Make sure you love it because it is so so so incredibly hard. Anyone can write, sure. But not everyone can write well. You’ll never be “good enough.” But you can always get better. And chasing that dream will test your mental and physical metal to the max…for the rest of your life and probably in the hereafter, too.”

5. You’re stranded in a snowed in cabin, well stocked up on food, but no internet. What is on your emergency book shelf?

Anything by Charles Dickens. I’d be thawed out before I finished one book, so I won’t be afraid of reading through my bookshelf too quick.

In all honesty, I’d probably just be sleeping till Spring.

And snacking…

Where to find her:

Snippet/ Teaser:

A girl sat at a table, trapped behind the front window, rippled and drawn by the limpid rain. Her colors blended, black and fern-green, and at her throat, a slash of scarlet that I guessed to be a scarf caught my eye. I realized, just then, that this was the young woman with whom my appointment had been set, and once I went in, unbuttoned my coat, dripped wet from my hem on the broad floorboards, and made her acquaintance, I would be one step closer to her murder.

– Silence of Grindal House

Any other news or updates you would like to share?

Kristin Jacques is awesome. You can quote me on that.

31 Days of Author Madness: M. Dalto

The Fiver:
1. What is your writing process?

I don’t know if I actually have a process when it comes to writing. I don’t outline my stories, and plan very little once an idea comes to me. Only once I start writing a story do I then consider where I want it go- it’s backwards but it works. Just so long as I have enough coffee and/or wine, a good playlist on Spotify, and the occasional quiet time to think, I could spend hours working on a new project. And when it does come time to planning out the rest of my ideas for it, I always write the ending first – I need to know where I want to story to go, even if I don’t end up there immediately or directly. Otherwise, I’m a pantser to the finest degree and I let my characters lead the way!

2. What inspires you to write?

There are a select few things that can inspire me to write. First- a song, or more importantly, a particular lyric from said song. But for example, TWO THOUSAND YEARS was inspired by the Bill Joel song of the same name. When I first heard it, I knew that there was the makings of something fantastical within those words, and though it took me a long time to actually start to write it, when I did it flowed from me like the notes on sheet music. Second- a picture. If I can find a work of art that tells a story great enough, it could be enough to spark something new. Recently, I had a friend once make me a book cover with a random title, give it to me sight unseen, and it’s since become a new dark fantasy story I’m loving. You never know where or when inspiration can hit, so best to run with it and see where it goes!

3. Writing is considered a dream job by many, but what if you were granted the opportunity for a true, magical ‘dream job’. What would it be and why?

Believe it or not, writing is not a dream job of mine. It’s an enjoyable, part-time pastime, yes, but I don’t think I could ever do it for a living. Unless, of course, we’re taking 7-figure book deals, then I’ll do anything you want me to! But no- seriously, always wanted to be an attorney, and I was almost there too! But time, and money, got in the way and I never made it to law school. But I think that’s the one thing I would want to do the most – be a lawyer. A criminal justice attorney. I would love to go all Law & Order in a court room… but again, this is just a dream, and the chance of this ever happening in my lifetime is zero to none. But it is nice to dream!

4. You are standing on a stage, addressing a high school auditorium of teenage creative writers. What advice would you impart to them about the craft and the career path of being a writer?

The best bit of advice I would give anyone at any point in their lives is Write For Yourself. Write for yourself. There are so many writers out there who thing they need to limit themselves as to what they can, or should, write, whether it’s because they want to ensure they can sell it off to the highest bidder, or that they’re more concerned about people reading it than actually writing it. They just need to remember once you start writing for anyone other than yourself, you begin to lose a bit of the heart and soul that your writing deserves. You’ll lose what makes it yours- what will make it stand out above all the others. And that is what’s most important – remembering that it is yours, and you did it for you. And only you.

5. You’re stranded in a snowed in cabin, well stocked up on food, but no internet. What is on your emergency book shelf?

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas will always have a home on any bookshelf of mine. Other than that, I would have it stocked with some of the many books I have but haven’t even read yet- A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab, Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat, Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones, Nevernight by Jay Kristoff, and Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare, just to name a few.

Where to find her:

Any other news or updates you would like to share?

My debut novel, TWO THOUSAND YEARS, is being published through The Parliament House and will be available at the end of the year! Be sure to follow me on the social media outlet of your choosing for all the updates!

 

31 Days of Author Madness: Michael Estrin

The Fiver:
1. What is your writing process?

It starts with a lot of yelling. This is due to my difficult relationship with computers. Why does anyone think computers will replace / annihilate humans when they can’t even print a simple document without three bajillion hiccups?

OK, that’s not the real process, but it is a real problem, so if you find yourself in Los Angeles and you like to fix printers, come on over and say hello.

The real process starts with brainstorming. This can take weeks or months. The idea here is to give myself permission to go off the rails. I write character bios. I jot down scene ideas. I make notes for research. Sometimes I even do that research. I bounce ideas off my friends, my wife, and even our dog, Mortimer. FYI, Mortimer is the only one who understands me during this part of the process because where others ask judgmental questions like “how is that even logically possible?” Mortimer says nothing at all. Also, Mortimer doesn’t pitch me his “brilliant” ideas. I’m only sort of kidding here. While I do talk things out with a few trusted writer friends, my wife, and our dog, I try not to talk too much about brainstorming. Here’s why: the ideas you have hear aren’t fully formed, which means they can be crushed rather easily. My goal is to get as many ideas out on the table as possible. Hearing from other people during this phase is usually counterproductive for me because I’m already fighting self-doubt; adding another skeptical voice to the mix doesn’t help.

The next step is to outline. I know a lot of people freak out about outlines, but I’m not sure why. Changing an outline is a lot easier than changing the story. What I try to do is write a paragraph or two that summarizes each chapter. It’s a lot messier than that, especially in the first draft of the outline, but the goal is to tell yourself the events of each chapter with some kind of logical flow. Kind of like a mini story. But the most important thing, for me at least, is to come up with an ending. If you have an ending, you have a story. If you don’t have an ending, you just have a really cool premise and bunch of material. Use the outline to find the ending. And by use, I mean rewrite. Seriously, I do dozens of drafts on my outlines. And if I get stuck, which happens constantly, I change something. Also, this is the part where I really want my writer friends, my wife, and Mortimer to weigh in. Chances are they’ll see holes in the story I don’t see. So I make a point of showing them the outline and saying, “don’t judge these nonsensical scribbles, but please, for the love of my sanity, the fate of the world, and Mortimer’s college fund, PLEASE tell me what you do and don’t get about this story!”

OK, next come the pages. The key thing that I’ve learned over the years is that it’s all about forward progress. Day after day, you need to move the story forward. Set a word goal or put in a set amount of hours, but whatever you do, keep pushing through your outline until you finish the first draft. Seriously, perfect is the enemy of the good here. Don’t try to be perfect. Don’t worry about the typos, or the logic hole from chapter three, or the fact that a mysterious pizza delivery guy has somehow entered your story and he doesn’t have a name, but all your other characters think it’s a good idea to help him fulfill his dream of winning a drone race in Dubai. None of that matters! Why? Because you’ll fix it on the next draft.

Which brings us to REWRITING. Sorry for shouting, but that’s when I start yelling, because I like to rewrite from a hard copy and you know how I feel about printers.

For rewrites I start by reading the story in as few sittings as possible. If it’s a novel, that usually takes a few days. On the first read I don’t make any notes until the end. I just want to see the story from beginning to end. Then I read it again and make whatever notes come to me. Then I read the story a third time and mark my changes by hand in the manuscript. After that, I’m ready to actually make the changes.

How many rewrites do I do? As many as it takes. Sorry, that probably wasn’t what you wanted to hear. You probably wanted to hear that three was the magic number. But that’s the thing about rewrites, there’s no magic to them. You’re just fixing what doesn’t work and discarding what you don’t need. That said, I try to work on big picture stuff first, then get smaller and smaller with each rewrite. So rewrite number one might be a question of gutting a sub-plot, whereas the final rewrite might be about tracking a minor character all the way through the story to make sure there’s a solid arc there.

That’s my writing process. But one thing I want to stress to you is that it wasn’t my process on day one. I started writing fiction when I was about 27. At that time I already had several years of writing experience as a journalist and copywriter. But for my first book, the process was basically just start writing. So the process that I have today is the result of trial and error over more than a decade. You try thinks. You keep what works and you toss out the rest. That’s the best process advice anyone can give you.

2. What inspires you to write?

I used to say that writing was something I’d do no matter what. But the fact is I’ve been writing a long time and I’m not sure that’s true, or inspirational. I think the reason I write is because I love that feeling of knowing that my stories resonate with readers. At the end of the day, more than riches or fame or the respect of our peers, I think we write because we want someone to read our stories. That’s really all I want. Well, that and for a reader to drop a comment to tell me that the story resonated with them. If I have that, I’ll keep writing for the rest of my life.

3. Writing is considered a dream job by many, but what if you were granted the opportunity for a true, magical ‘dream job’. What would it be and why?

I’d like to be a major league pitcher. And since it’s my dream, I’ll play for my favorite team, the Los Angeles Dodgers. I’ve always been a baseball fan. But my playing days, such as they were, ended when I was about 15, because, to use a technical term, I stunk. But hey, a guy can dream, right? And so my dream is to come out of the bullpen in a close game and strikeout the side. I even have my theme music picked out: “Lawyers, Guns & Money” by Warren Zevon. Although… come to think of it, that song is neither intimidating nor inspiring. Actually, it’s a tad melancholy and silly. Strike that. I’m walking out to the Imperial March from Star Wars. That ought make the Giants hitters real nervous. Although… I’m more of a rebel / resistance fan, and I hate the idea of casting the Dodgers as the empire. So… maybe I just run out onto the field to a Weird Al song. Yeah, that’s the kind of pitcher I’d be, even in my dreams.

4. You are standing on a stage, addressing a high school auditorium of teenage creative writers. What advice would you impart to them about the craft and the career path of being a writer?

You’re going to fail. I’m serious. Your stories will be rejected. Other stories you won’t finish. And still other stories you won’t even start. Even if you write a bestseller or win a Pulitzer, those stories won’t live up to the high expectations you set for them when you began. Failure just comes with the territory. But that’s actually good news. Because failure is liberating. It also builds character. So don’t be afraid to fail. Actually, fail fast and often. Fail daily. Fail like your career depends on it. Because if you stop failing, you’ve stopped writing. And if you stop writing, none of the other advice I can give you matters.

5. You’re stranded in a snowed in cabin, well stocked up on food, but no internet. What is on your emergency book shelf?

Catch-22. The collected works of Kurt Vonnegut. All the Harry Bosch novels, as well as the Lincoln Lawyer novels. Chris Moore too. And David Wong. And Joan Didion. Chuck Klosterman. Ubik and The Man in the High Castle. The Sellout by Paul Beatty. And the Stephanie Plum novels. The complete Easy Rawlins series by Walter Mosley. As many books by Jon Ronson as I can get my hands on. Oh, and one of my favorite novels, Cosmic Banditos by AC Weisbecker.

Where to find him:

Snippet/ Teaser:

They say truth is stranger than fiction; what they don’t tell you is that a lie sells better than any fact ever could. You can build on a lie. It’s called marketing. You can tell yourself it’s going to be OK, even though you bounced the last three rent checks, because this time your big break really is going to pay off. You can sell half the people Coke and the other half Pepsi, despite the fact that everyone knows it’s the same thing. You can even send a nation to war with the wrong country, as long as you have the right lie. But tell the truth, and the shit is going to hit the fan. Ask Eve-that apple blew her mind, and then it blew up the Garden of Eden.

-Michael Estrin

Any other news or updates you would like to share?

I’m currently posting The Last Sex Tape, which is the sequel to Not Safe for Work (Watty 2016). Like the first book in the series, this one is a crime comedy set in the world of adult entertainment. But unlike Not Safe for Work, The Last Sex Tape might get me sued by Donald Trump.

31 Days of Author Madness: R.S. Kovach

The Fiver:
1. What is your writing process?

I need my laptop, WIP-specific playlist and Pinterest board, and no interruptions to write. I’m usually a planner, so I’ll have at least a general outline, but I’ve been known to “pants” scenes or twists along the way.

2. What inspires you to write?

Anything and everything. A song, a picture, an overhead conversation. It’s quite maddening because my plot bunnies are really fertile!

3. Writing is considered a dream job by many, but what if you were granted the opportunity for a true, magical ‘dream job’. What would it be and why?

I’d love to be a curator in an art museum or an appraiser for an auction house. I have a master’s degree in visual culture and I wrote my thesis on 19th century, Venetian enamel mosaics so it wouldn’t be such a wild concept, but in the end, I wound up on the administrative side of academia, instead.

4. You are standing on a stage, addressing a high school auditorium of teenage creative writers. What advice would you impart to them about the craft and the career path of being a writer?

I’d tell them to write A LOT, research the publishing industry, and not be bound by any writing “rules.” They should also experience as much of life as they can and look for inspiration in everything to become better storytellers.

5. You’re stranded in a snowed in cabin, well stocked up on food, but no internet. What is on your emergency book shelf?

I grew up on Agatha Christie and Harlequin paperbacks, so the shelf would definitely have some mysteries and steamy romances.

Where to find her:

Snippets/ Teaser:

After pirates kidnap seventeen-year-old Ana in a case of mistaken identity, the orphaned housemaid prepares for the worst. Instead, playing the wholesome daughter of a Spanish admiral among rag-tag buccaneers becomes the least of her concerns. Battles, a shipwreck, mutiny, and most unexpectedly, love are what really turn her world upside down. When the truth threatens to end Ana’s adventures, it’s the secrets of the dashing Alestair Kincade, Pirate King of the Caribbean, that prove to be the most dangerous. Ana will need to use her wits and charm to not only stay off the gallows, but also to avoid a fate she now considers to be worse than death: being sent home to Panama to a hopeless future.

Any other news or updates you would like to share?

The Last Resort is officially a year old this month! 

31 Days of Author Madness: Juliet Lyons

The Fiver:
1. What is your writing process?

I usually start with an idea and jot it down. Then I attempt a brief outline. Often, ideas will fall apart at this stage. After the outline, I’ll write a few chapters to get a feel for the character’s voice. If it feels right I’ll write a plot synopsis (I got into the habit of writing these when I landed my book deal and my publisher wanted them for three books) and then comes a chapter by chapter break down. I don’t always stick to the plan, but I find it helps to have something to fall back on during those bleak moments when you wonder what the hell you’re doing. Which, as every writer will tell you, is often.

2. What inspires you to write?

Literature, Poetry, scenery, places, people. Mostly I’m inspired when I’m out there in the world living my life. Going to new places, seeing new things and meeting new people is the best cure for the dreaded writer’s block.

3. Writing is considered a dream job by many, but what if you were granted the opportunity for a true, magical ‘dream job’. What would it be and why?

I think writing would be my dream job. Right now, I work a regular job too, so it would be great to give that up and just stay home and write all day long. I’ve always wanted to be a writer so there’s nothing else I’d rather do really.

4. You are standing on a stage, addressing a high school auditorium of teenage creative writers. What advice would you impart to them about the craft and the career path of being a writer?

About the craft, I would say, be sure to write. It’s sounds obvious but it’s common for us writers to avoid writing. Also reading is very important. As for the career path part, I would say, don’t read reviews, never give up and never let anyone tell you that you’re not going to make it. That’s for the writer to decide and nobody else.

5. You’re stranded in a snowed in cabin, well stocked up on food, but no internet. What is on your emergency book shelf?

I would have Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte and all of the books that are sitting at home on my shelf waiting to read! What better time to start?

Where to find her:

Any other news or updates you would like to share?

I’m continuing to work on my Bite Nights spin off novel featuring angels. The first three chapters are now available to read on Wattpad!

31 Days of Author Madness: Elicia Hyder

The Fiver
1. What is your writing process?

I wish I had a normal “writing process.” I would probably be much more productive! Ha! But we have a large family and life often gets in the way, so I grab my writing time in snippets whenever I can. My most productive writing days are when I can pour a cup of coffee, settle into my writing chair (or bed), and let the words flow.

2. What inspires you to write?

Everything inspires me to write. Music, movies, bad dreams, conversations with my kids… Inspiration is everywhere if you choose to look for it. Journaling is a great way to harvest stories from everyday life. I have a notebook that travels with me everywhere I go because you never know when you’ll have the perfect character pop up during your day.

For example, at the airport this past weekend, a man was sitting beside me. His phone went off with the unmistakable sound of a casino jackpot. When he answered, I could tell from the conversation it was his wife. That’s a novel-worthy character detail right there!

3. Writing is considered a dream job by many, but what if you were granted the opportunity for a true, magical ‘dream job’. What would it be and why?

My dream job would still be writing but without the business hassle of it. I’d love to be able to JUST WRITE and interact with fans, but that’s impossible for any writer, I think. I thought it was just us indies, but my traditionally published friends work equally hard on the business side of this job.

4. You are standing on a stage, addressing a high school auditorium of teenage creative writers. What advice would you impart to them about the craft and the career path of being a writer?

Just write. Whether it’s bad or good, always keep writing because the craft improves with practice. Also…BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. Refuse to take “no” for an answer and never give up! We all have a story about “before we were published” and none of us have been given any mystical opportunity that is unavailable to you!

5. You’re stranded in a snowed in cabin, well stocked up on food, but no internet. What is on your emergency book shelf?

Harry Potter because it’s comfort food for the soul. Stephen King’s On Writing because it’s my favorite book on the craft. Philippa Gregory’s latest book that I haven’t read yet. And, hopefully, book two of Shannon Mayer’s Desert Cursed series. (It’s not out yet.) I really enjoyed Witch’s Reign!

Where to find her:

Any other news or updates you would like to share?

THE SACRIFICE, Book 5 in the The Soul Summoner series, is coming March 27th! Get all the info and download The Soul Summoner (book 1) for free HERE

31 Days of Author Madness: Liz Charnes

The Fiver:
1. What is your writing process?

I’m still figuring that out. I would like to be an organized writer, but I pretty much write whenever I feel like it and hope that it works with the plot. Sadly, this means I re-write a lot.

2. What inspires you to write?

Other books. Stories that get stuck in my head.

3. Writing is considered a dream job by many, but what if you were granted the opportunity for a true, magical ‘dream job’. What would it be and why?

Fairy Godmother. Flit in, do a little bibbiti-bobiti-boo, poof some hapless girl into a glamazon, and flit out. I’m all over that.

4. You are standing on a stage, addressing a high school auditorium of teenage creative writers. What advice would you impart to them about the craft and the career path of being a writer?

Don’t listen to your English teacher.

5. You’re stranded in a snowed in cabin, well stocked up on food, but no internet. What is on your emergency book shelf?

Winter Woodland Survival, How to Start a Fire and other skills, The Stand, The Relic, the Bible.

Where to find her:

 

Any other news or updates you would like to share?

Violet Blue has a new cover! Check it out!

 

31 Days of Author Madness: Claire Kann

The Fiver
1. What is your writing process?

The Six C’s:

Coffee.

Cat (draped across on my feet).

Consult my outline.

(write a) Chapter.

Cry a little.

Check Twitter.

2. What inspires you to write?

Not to sound cheesy or like I’m all about that Pixar-life, but the spirit of adventure. I love writing characters into what feels like impossible situations (for them) and seeing how they wriggle out of my dastardly machinations. On a more serious note, I’d say queer Black kids and fat girls who just want to be happy and live their best life.

3. Writing is considered a dream job by many, but what if you were granted the opportunity for a true, magical ‘dream job’. What would it be and why?

I’d be a singer, definitely. I was not blessed with the gift of song and it is my one true regret in life that I never put my foot down about going to singing lessons as a young whippersnapper.

4. You are standing on a stage, addressing a high school auditorium of teenage creative writers. What advice would you impart to them about the craft and the career path of being a writer?

I know I should say things like, “Read widely. Read everything” or “Stay in school. Go to college. Get a degree” or “Study the industry and study craft.” Those are all valid pieces of advice that I have myself have said and still live by, but also… I’ve seen seventeen year old YouTubers land book deals. Crowd-sourcing website like Wattpad and Swoon Reads are knocking down doors left and right. The publishing game has changed and platform will get you far in this industry. Talent is talent, yes, that is undeniable, but dedication and opportunity aren’t going to sit around and wait for you to find them. If you want to do it, do the damn thing. Honor, commit, and invest in yourself and your future, however that looks.

5. You’re stranded in a snowed in cabin, well stocked up on food, but no internet. What is on your emergency book shelf?

I’m going to reveal one of my biggest secrets: it is very rare for me to re-read books. So, since this is an emergency, I’m going to apply a bit of future foresight and ask for: all books written by Courtney Summers from now until the end of time, the sequel(s) to The Cruel Prince by Holly Black, any and all books Justina Ireland has forthcoming, the entire Saga graphic novel series, and the debut novels by my best writing partners, Anna and Macy.

Where to find her:

 

 

 

 

31 Days of Author Madness: Tammy Oja

The Fiver:
1. What is your writing process?

Literally throwing thoughts directly on the screen and then sorting it out later. Sometimes the magic is in the slush and trying to filter ahead of time just stops the whole deal for me. I love excavating through it like panning for flecks of gold.

2. What inspires you to write?

I have two answers for this! One – The characters. I have the ability to get so deep I lose myself in their stories and their secrets and they make me feel like I get to take a vacation from real life – like a virtual safe vacation. Two- The writing community. Its unreal how supportive they are and how much they mean to me. You know how the Olympics have those moments where everyone is rooting for the hometown hero? That’s the warmth I get from this community every single day. I could never imagine not having them in my life.

3. Writing is considered a dream job by many, but what if you were granted the opportunity for a true, magical ‘dream job’. What would it be and why?

Geesh. That’s a tough question. Maybe professional reader. Or professional idea woman! I’d love to sell book ideas or characters. Ohhhh! That’s what I’d do! I have stacks of ideas that I’d love to see birthed. That’s the one!

4. You are standing on a stage, addressing a high school auditorium of teenage creative writers. What advice would you impart to them about the craft and the career path of being a writer?

Surround yourself in the community. You think it’s a desk a pen and you- but no one can make it like that in the business. It’s hard. And it’s painful. And the road is long and bumpy and filled with traps but every time you have that moment – the one where everything fits and the character tells you their deep painful secret or shares a joy- it’s so worth it. A community lifts and supports and totally gets it like no one else can. They’re the secret ingredient to success.

5. You’re stranded in a snowed in cabin, well stocked up on food, but no internet. What is on your emergency book shelf?

Anything I haven’t read. Preferably something dark and scary with a complex twist I didn’t see coming and complex characters that make me see them in the corners. And, of course, an empty notebook and a sharp pencil – eraser optional!

Where to find her:

Any other news or updates you would like to share?

Thanks so much for the opportunity to share a little about myself!