Where did you grow up?
Montgomery County, MD
Why do you think so many authors begin writing later in their life and don't actively pursue it as children?
It didn’t really occur to me until the happenstance that brought us to “The Finn Chronicles”.
When and how did you decide that you wanted to write?
I love making people happy and sprinkling joy whenever I can. And I’ve always enjoyed the communication and writing aspects of my career in the legal field. So, when Finn’s posts got so popular and the notes started coming in about how they bring such joy – I couldn’t resist.
Who is the most supportive person in your life when it comes to your writing?
My husband. He now puts up with all the social media work, pausing real life for pictures, and helping me think of ways to express Finn’s unique crazy.
How did you come up with the idea of writing a story told by an extraordinary dog?
My husband, Evan (aka The Hairy One), and I agreed to foster Finn when his rescue organization encountered an emergency and needed to place some dogs quickly. His time on the streets of Swansboro, NC left him with some serious behavior issues that were getting him ousted from homes. We took him in planning only to foster - to rehab the behavior and send him to a great family somewhere. I began posting Finn's weekly updates (in his voice) on Facebook dog groups as a way to help prospective adopters fall in love with him. While also sharing his behavior issues candidly. It became clear pretty quickly that Finn was already home. The posts became so popular in the Vizsla & Beagle communities that I kept going. This weekend, I posted his 208th report. If I don’t get it posted by noon, I get private messages from fans around the world asking if they missed the post – which never ceases to amaze me. Fast forward to April 2020 and Covid. I lost my corporate job. After years of people encouraging me to publish these as a book, I decided to use this down time to make it happen! It’s been a welcome distraction to the global pandemic and it’s kept my neurons firing. There’s a lot more to the science and art of self-publishing than I ever imagined! But it’s been fun to learn and see where this goes.
What gave you the idea for "The Finn Chronicles"?
After years of folks contacting me to suggest I should turn the posts into books, I finally went for it! I’m also passionate about dog rescue and love being able to increase awareness and donate to hard-working rescues.
Do you prefer writing standalone's or books in a series?
Series
How many books do you plan to write in the The Finn Chronicles series?
We’re about to launch “Year 4”. The books will keep coming as long as he’s still a riot!
How important is research to you when writing a book? How long does it usually take you and what book took the longest to finish the research for?
I’m lucky – I have little to no research required other than observing the many moods, facial expressions and tantrums of my little K9 commander.
Writing is your hobby, but also your job. So do you ever get tired of doing it? And if so, how do you relax or take a break?
I do! I get stuck some weeks and don’t feel the creative juices. That usually means it’s time to go on an adventure with Finn – a hike, a long ride to a new place, something fun.
Describe your journey as an author so far in five words.
Terrifying Rewarding Enriching Fun Expensive
What are some of the most valuable lessons you've learnt along the way?
My hubby calls this whole adventure “the most expensive hobby” I’ve taken on so far. Because the books have full color interiors (the photos of Finn are half the fun), the margin for sales is small. But the fun is big! We’ve met such neat people and had so many new experiences through this – totally worth it.
What are the most productive ways to spend time on the Internet?
Learning! I am so grateful there was a webinar, article, or post for almost any skill or step in this journey. I couldn’t have accomplished this without access to online resources and generous mentors!
How many plot ideas are just waiting to be written? Can you tell us about one?
Not really – we take each week as it comes. It’s a little different than usual story development, for sure.
Finally. what intrigued you most about the AllAuthor website? As a premium member now, have your thoughts about it changed?
I’m not sure. The price was reasonable and I liked the mock ups.
