What do you miss the most about being raised in Walla Walla, WA?
The mountains--and the wineries. They have some of the best wines in the U.S. these days. I also miss the activities. It is a three-college town so there is always something going on between the colleges, the wineries, and if you like the outdoors, there are plenty of opportunities for those adventures as well.
At what age did you begin writing? Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
The first real story I wrote was in the fifth grade. It was a total knock-off of the movie The Goonies (circa the late 1980s) but was full of adventure, pirates, and just a touch of the supernatural. I believe my mom still has the story somewhere.
What is your ideal setting to write in?
When my daughter was born, my office turned into her bedroom, so now, I share my office with the laundry room. All I need is a desk, a computer (preferably Mac), a cup of coffee, and a little white noise.
Who is your target audience?
Anybody who loves contemporary or urban fantasy will like my novellas. The next one comes out this fall and it is definitely more urban fantasy.
How did you come up with the plot of your novel, The Big Sink?
At first, I built it around the setting. I do have friends who have experienced PTSD, so some of the inspiration came from that but the rest of the story came from an actual place in the Blue Mountains of Oregon called The Sinks. It is reported that analog watches won't work and compasses are confused when you get near the area. The scientific explanation is that a magnetite deposit was unearthed when the entire area sunk but I like to think something else is going on. That might just be my very vivid imagination, though. Along with the Sasquatch sightings in the area, I thought it would be a good story with those two elements to build around.
Do you think someone could be a writer if they don’t feel emotions strongly?
I think somebody who doesn't feel emotions strongly might have issues getting into the head of their characters. You're creating people and how they would react emotionally to other characters and events. Their emotions also inform their decisions in the story; at least for those decisions to be believable. Is it impossible for them to become good writers? Well, nothing is impossible. I do think the better-received stories are ones where whatever emotion you're trying to convey is shining through--whether that be love, hate, anger, happiness, or sorrow. In my experience, people who feel those emotions deeply can show them better in a story.
Who inspired the character of Nolan in The Big Sink?
Both he and Ettie are almost broken by tragedy and trying to hold it together after the impossible happens. They go about dealing with this in different ways though, and we'll see that more in The Riverfront. As far as who inspired Nolan, I would say he's the mixture of a couple of people I've known in my life. I used their good traits, like caring and loving deeply, and blended that with some of the less good traits, like focusing on a goal to the point you're not considering the impact of your actions on other people. But that's being human. We all have a mixture of traits that make us unique.
What is your writing dream? How close do you think you are to achieving it?
My dream is to write full-time and make a decent living at it. I think I can do this with time and a lot of work so I'm not going to put a time limit on when that goal will be achieved. Opportunities and stories come in their own way and time. I'm just going to take it story by story.
What roles did your husband and children play in helping you to pursue your dreams of writing?
My husband is amazing. I work full-time as a teacher and he's so supportive of my goals to transition to writing full-time. He cares for the kids when I have a deadline I'm trying to meet and never complains. I know I wouldn't be able to do both things without his love and support. My kids are still young, so they only know mommy is writing. I schedule my writing time around their schedules, so I usually write at night after they've gone to bed. I hope they see me striving for my dreams and will follow suit to work towards their own someday.
How has been your experience of working for the US Forest Service for years?
Working for the US Forest Service started as a summer job while I was in college and turned full-time after I graduated. They offer many opportunities to students and were very supportive while I was there. It was rewarding, hard work and helped me to grow into the person I am now.
Which is your favorite place to visit in Southeast Washington state?
I would have to say Palouse Falls is one of my favorites. It is the state waterfall. You drive down this narrow, twisty highway to get there and turn off onto this desolate gravel road. The landscape is rocky and looks fairly flat until suddenly, this enormous canyon opens up below you. The waterfall itself plunges 200-foot to the canyon floor and in the spring, has so much water they have to caution people not to go near. In the winter it freezes over and looks like a scene from Frozen.
As a teacher, what is the harshest truth a student has ever taught you?
There's an old saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover." I teach in a school district where many students' native languages are not English and they fall well below the poverty line. These students are often learning academics while also learning another language and helping their families care for younger siblings. They have a lot happening in their worlds, and this requires patience and understanding from me and the school to help them learn and grow. The harshest truth I've learned is that their basic needs of shelter, food, and care need to be met first before they can learn other things. Even if I start writing full-time, I would like to volunteer in our schools, helping where I'm most needed.
Do you have any plans to start writing full-time?
I do. That is one of my ultimate goals for the future. It takes time to build a readership and to get stories out that people want to read. I'm still working on figuring out the business side of writing. I think when that happens, I will reach my goal, and in turn, can produce more stories.
What is the next book you are looking forward to writing? What is it about?
My next story The Riverfront is at the publishers as we speak. I'm still in the editing process for it, but it should be out this fall. It's another Ettie and Nolan story and is most definitely Urban Fantasy versus the more contemporary fantasy feel of The Big Sink. It is set in Spokane, Washington. I have a novel in the works that I'm actually workshopping next month. It is a dystopian setting, so different from my novella as far as genre. I love all forms of science-fiction and fantasy, though, and it's difficult for me to stick to just one sub-genre. My novel is a murder mystery set in a post-apocalyptic world and is about how if somebody doesn't resolve their past, it will always affect their future.
When did you join AllAuthor? What do you think of the experience so far?
I joined AllAuthor four months ago. I've liked the tools on the author page and have liked the communication so far. I also like how we're introduced to other authors and books we may not see otherwise. I'm still learning to use all the features and hope to improve that before the release of my next novella. Thank you for your help, AllAuthor!
