What is the one thing you hated the most when growing up?
I never liked weeding. I grew up in a rural area and my parents farmed eight acres. The worst was weeding onions followed closely by hoeing corn.
Where did your love for acting come from?
I loved telling a story and still do.
Why did you decide to graduate with a bachelor of fine arts in theatre?
I attended college on a theatre scholarship, where I discovered something important about myself: I didn’t like being on a stage. I much preferred being behind the scenes. Although I graduated with a bachelors of theatre, after graduation, I decided to look for a job in writing. I eventually got a job as a communications writer for a large corporation, but it would be many years before I’d try my hand at writing fiction.
When you write a romantic suspense novel what are your emotions?
I am excited by the story line. I love keeping a fast pace and to surprise readers (and myself) with the plot. Many readers tell me they do not guess the endings in my books.
What is it like to work as a graphic designer?
I like design, but it’s similar to acting for me—not my true passion. The great part of being an author, however, is design skills are needed to create flyers, ads and other graphics for social media. So this experience has been really helpful.
What sparked the idea for your book, Charmed by Charlie?
This book was inspired by watching Gilmore Girls with my teenage daughter. I liked the oddball characters and the lively banter and thought I’d try to replicate that in an office romance. I also based Charmed by Charlie on my first job at a small privately held roof coating company, where I knew everyone in the office.
Who inspired the character of government operative David Jenkins in "Mind Waves"?
This character was not inspired by anyone in particular, however, the story idea was sparked by many hours gathering beach glass alone on the Lake Erie shoreline. I wondered: What if someone watched a girl on the beach while she gathered glass. And what if they could read the girl’s mind. And they fell in love with her and she had no idea. What would happen next? As I like to say, you’ll have to read the book to find out.
What fears did you have while publishing your first novel, Mind Waves in October 2016?
Would anyone like the book? Would it get good reviews? Am I good enough as a writer?
Did you expect your second novel, Charmed By Charlie to become an award-winning contemporary romance novel?
No, I really didn’t. My entrance into publishing happened quickly—in retrospective, perhaps too quickly, as I was not prepared for all the work it takes to market a book when you are published with a small press. Because I work full time managing a team in a demanding day job, I do not have the amount of time other authors may have to write new material.
What is your go-to daily tea, as a tea connoisseur?
Love this question. My favorite tea is hot cinnamon spice (I buy the herbal decaffeinated version) from Harney.
How has a master's degree in marketing helped you in promoting your books?
I don’t know that the marketing degree has helped necessarily because publishing is a different animal from corporate work. However, I do have a knack for the presentation of materials, which helps at book signings and conferences or when putting together special promotions on social media.
Which writers would surprise you when you discovered they had written romance novels under a pen name?
One of the well-known authors I was surprised to learn wrote under a pen name is Nora Roberts, who also writes as JD Robb. When I first joined a romance writer’s group, I was amazed at the number of romance authors who write under a pen name. I’d say more than fifty percent.
How long does it take for an award winning author to write a best selling novel?
That I don’t know because although my books have won awards, I just landed a literary agent in January and am still working towards a “best-selling” novel. Hopefully one day soon in my writing journey, I will be able to tout that as a success.
What advice do you have for any budding writers out there?
Creativity takes courage. Don’t give up! Also, the world tries to put people into a box and label them. Don’t let anyone tell you no. Believe in yourself and go after your dreams. No matter what happens, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you tried and you are doing what you love.
How has been your experience to work with AllAuthor? What are some of the things you like about the site?
I love working with AllAuthor. The site is simple to navigate, and the graphic tools are so helpful and easy to use. I highly recommend it.
