Where were you born and brought up?
I was born and raised in Fairmont, a small town in north-central West Virginia in the U.S.
Do you think you have collected a lot of stories in your childhood that you want to tell now?
I have collected more characters than stories from my childhood and my life, in general.
Who is your favorite writer and which of his/her book inspires you the most?
I didn't read much as a kid. I was more into old movies. When I saw Wuthering Heights with Lawrence Olivier and Merle Oberon, and realized it was a film adaptation of the book, I read it! I'm a sucker for a star-crossed love story.
Where did you go to college? What was your major?
I got married and had my sons (3) right out of high school so college was off my radar for 10 years. Then, out of necessity, I put myself through technical school to become a Licensed Practical Nurse.
What fictional character do you wish never existed?
I wish no one had ever written about anything with lots of eyes! Images of too damned many eyes on a creature have haunted me all my life!
Why is science fiction so popular?
I think Science Fiction is so popular because we can think and fantasize at the same time while reading it. Good sci-fi has all the believability of real science with the fantastic built in to weird worlds and characters.
What challenges did you face while writing your book, Cold Daughters?
Cold Daughters was a challenge because it was my debut. The story unfolded relatively effortlessly, but the formatting for self-publication and the marketing still have me pulling my hair out!
Who inspired the character of MaryAnne in Just DIY?
MaryAnne is an amalgam of some girls I grew up across the river from who were nice enough to have as friends but secretly thought they were too rich or too pretty to learn how to change their own flat tire!
Your thoughts on conventional vs. self-publishing? What route did you choose and why?
I wish I would have pursued writing as a career 40 years ago, then I could have time to woo a traditional publisher. But I'm in my late 50's and I don't want to wait for some brick and mortar publishing house to 'discover' me after countless submittals. I like the control that self-publishing offers. I just don't like selling my own stuff. I wish I had a publisher to manage ads, book signings, and all the promotion that comes with a writer's life.
What are your favorite science fiction novels, and what is it that makes them so good?
I haven't read too much in this genre. Cold Daughters was really about the relationships between the women in the story; it just happened to take place in a future version of the world where this group of mutants was trying to save it from destruction...BOOM! Science-Fiction!
Which option do you prefer, reading some books or watching movies adapted from them?
Now, I love to read the book first and then compare the movie to the original author's ideas.
What is the most ideal ambiance for you to write in?
I need quiet and light. Totally opposite from the other members of my family who listen to music while they do math, for goodness sake!
Which is the next book you are working on? When is it due for release?
My current W.I.P. is a fictional account of a young woman who befriends the matriarch of a family run business school in Cleveland in the late 1990's when the Rust Belt was crumbling large and small businesses in the area. My working title is The Value of Miss M and I hope to have it available by Mother's Day 2023.
When did you join AllAuthor? How has your experience been?
I joined All Author right after I pulled the trigger on Cold Daughters in the fall of 2019 and I have loved the opportunities this platform has provided. I have been introduced to peers, enjoyed the addition of new followers, and generated new views to my website and other social media pages with your Cover of the Month Contests.
