Tell us about your journey into writing. How did you first discover your passion for storytelling?
I don’t remember a time when I didn’t make up stories. I used to tell stories to my little sister when I was a child, and I even attempted to write a book when I was ten. Then of course, life intervened and it was decades before I gave writing another try.
Your romances span the galaxy and include beings of all sizes, shapes, and origins. What draws you to the science fiction and fantasy genres in particular?
The imagery and the ability to make things up really drew me to the science fiction and fantasy genres. I love to make things up. I have a very active imagination, and those categories allow me to use it. I’ve always been a fan of Star Trek, The Hobbit, Serenity, Lord of the Rings, Anne McCaffrey’s Pern, Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica so it wasn’t a tremendous leap to write science fiction and fantasy.
Can you share a bit about your writing process? Do you have any specific rituals or routines that help you get into the creative zone?
Over the years, I’ve developed routines that help me stay focused on my writing. I have a dedicated writing computer that does not have all the social media connections on it (they are such time syncs!) In the summer I like to go out to the backyard and sit in the gazebo with my feet up to write. I’m less likely to be distracted out there. In the winter, I’m usually on the sofa in the living room. I’ve also found I write better in the early morning. I’m not much of a night owl.
What inspired you to incorporate elements of the Okanagan Valley into your stories?
The Okanagan Valley is a place I know well, so I can write about it without doing a lot of research. If I set a story in the Maritimes, I’d have to make sure it was realistic and that pulls me out of the creative mindset.
Do you find that your hobbies, such as kayaking, hiking, and playing guitar, influence your writing? How so?
Hiking and kayaking are relaxing and solitary hobbies which give me some quiet time to think about plots, characters and storylines. I’m not sure if they influence it, but I can incorporate elements of them into my stories when I need to.
Your bio mentions a bouncy rescue mutt and a cantankerous Himalayan cat. Do your pets ever make cameo appearances in your stories?
Sometimes they do, but more often they inspire me to make up a unique type of animal in the story. I’ve found I like to give my characters a pet. In fantasy or sci-fi the pet is often something other than a cat or dog. It’s fun to make up furry characters with quirky personalities!
How do you approach character development, especially when dealing with beings of various sizes, shapes, and origins?
Character development is challenging when the character is not human. I have to consider how a being from another planet would react as opposed to how a human would, but at the same time their reactions have to make sense to a human reader. I make up character bios for each before I begin writing the story.
What challenges and joys come with writing romances that transcend traditional boundaries, be it intergalactic or inter-species?
In my stories, love still conquers all, and romance is more important than anything else to my characters. I always make sure there is a happy ending, even if it’s on Mars or some other undiscovered part of the galaxy. In that aspect, it’s not very different from writing contemporary romance.
Are there particular themes or messages that you aim to convey through your book, "Kitty Kat"?
Not really. I was just in the mood to write something humorous, and Kitty Kat was the result.
How do you stay inspired and overcome writer's block, if you ever experience it?
I think everyone who writes has experienced writers' block at some point. Usually, I pivot and write a short story that differs totally from the one I’m stuck on. Sometimes it helps, and sometimes it gives me the space to see what the problem is with the story I’m stuck on
With two sons and six grandchildren, do your family members inspire or influence your writing in any way?
My family members don’t directly influence my writing, but I hope they will all get their own happily ever after.
Of all the hobbies you mentioned, is there one that you find most creatively inspiring or rejuvenating for your writing?
I think hiking is the most rejuvenating of my hobbies. I joke I don’t jog, or power walk. My hiking is more of a casual meandering around fields and forests where I don’t run into anyone else. I always have the dogs with me, and they snuffle around and warn me if there’s wildlife to watch out for. I just wander behind them with no real destination. I call it hiking but true hikers would dispute that description!
Are there specific authors or books that have had a significant impact on your writing style or storytelling approach?
I read such a wide variety of authors and genres that I don’t think any one or two of them have a real impact on my storytelling approach. I do sometimes note things such as how an author tends to end chapters on cliffhangers, or how another might avoid gritty details in a murder mystery. I find it fascinating how Kelley Armstrong can write in first person with more than one point of view, but I’ve never actually tried that myself. I have a feeling I’d just confuse the heck out of the reader.
How long have you been associated with AllAuthor? How has your experience been?
I joined AllAuthor in the summer of 2023 so it’s been less than a year but I it has been a pleasant experience. I featured one of my books, and I love the weekly graphics and tweets that are done for it. Holding down a full time job, writing and having other hobbies and family obligations leaves me with limited time to promote my work and I appreciate anything that makes that part of the author's life easier for me.
