Writer Wednesday: Frequently Asked Questions Part Two

Today I have part two of my Frequently Asked Questions that you all submitted.  If you missed part one, you can read or view it here. And once again, you have the option of reading the questions and my responses or watching the video of me answering the questions.

How did you create such an engaging blog with so many followers, and how long did it take?I love my blog and my followers. When I started it, I was interested in meeting other writers and readers like me. I’ve made a lot of great connections over the years. I also like to be very open on my blog. I embarrass myself sometimes because I’m just me, no censoring. I’m okay with that though because I want my readers to know the real me. I’d never pretend to be anyone I’m not.
I REALLY want to know how you write those 8,000 word days: is the family sequestered for the day? are you on a floating island somewhere?I’m held hostage by a bunch of characters who won’t shut up or stop pestering me to write their story. Seriously. My characters are demanding, and they talk so fast I can barely keep up. That’s really the only way I can explain it.
If you could write anywhere, where you would you pick? The beach? A cabin in the mountains?While I love the beach and mountain views, I wouldn’t want to write there because I’d be distracted. Give me my boring old house any day of the week. I can stay focused there and just write.
You get an incredible amount of writing done. After you fast draft or get your first draft in print, how much editing do you have to do? It really depends on the book. Sometimes I read a draft and think it’s really not far off at all. Other times I cringe and roll my eyes at myself.
Has the editing process gotten easier over time? I love editing. Call me weird, but I do. I think the English teacher in me just gets giddy at the thought of reworking something and making it really shine. That’s not to say that edits are easy. They can be tough, but I remind myself how it will all be worth it when I’m finished.
Does your husband read your books?Only my picture books. He’s not a reader at all, so if it’s more than a few pages, he’s not reading it.
Which five books have moved/inspired you the most?This list changes every once in a while when I read a great new book, but here’s what it looks like right now:Percy Jackson and the Titan’s Curseby Rick RiordanCrescendo by Becca FitzpatrickHex Hall by Rachel HawkinsDelirium by Lauren OliverDivergent by Veronica Roth
What is an embarrassing moment from your life? Did it help you writing? If so how? Oh wow, I have many. Let’s see. On more than one occasion I’ve used the men’s room by accident, and of course I’ve been caught. I actually did use that for a short story that I sold, so I definitely think it helped my writing. Also, I can convey embarrassment on the page with no problem now. ;)

If you still have questions for me, feel free to leave them in the comments.