Tell us a little about your hometown and your life growing up.
My hometown used to be a medium-sized Midwestern suburb, with just the right blend of farms and malls. I used to hang out in the backseat of my mom’s car, gazing out the orange hatchback and writing stories about children and stuffed animals in my green spiral notebook.
Which of your childhood dreams was the first to die?
Life was filled with amazement but also sorrow, as one of my childhood friends died of a brain tumor at the tender age of eight. I figured out the same year that nobody hops down your chimney once a year bearing gifts. From then on, I didn’t quite believe in the notion of forever, or “everything’s going to turn out fine.” I was always painfully aware that life could change at any moment, and sometimes it was painful. Everything you thought was true could suddenly be gone. Luckily, I’m not the same person anymore, and now, I’m so very grateful for every experience that comes my way, good or bad. They’re overwhelmingly good most of the time ❤
Describe to us the moment when you decided to pursue writing as a real career? What are some inhibitions you had at the time and how did it turn out?
I’m still deciding to make it my career! It’s taking longer than anticipated 😊
Why do you write romance? What does the term "romance" mean to you?
I write romance because the world needs more love, not less.
What is an important misconception so many people have about the romance genre that you would like straightened out?
Misconceptions abound about the romance genre. It’s not all fluff and unrealistic expectations. A good author teaches you just as much as they entertain you, and I firmly believe expanding our hearts through love and humor is vastly underrated.
Are there any concepts or ideas you have played around with in your book, Sidetracked that may not be familiar to everyone?
Sadly, the concept of miscommunication is fairly commonplace. Sidetracked plays on crossed wires between believing what we see, texting and actually speaking with someone. We all do it, on phones, on social media. People witness snippets of life, and can have whole conversations but still never really connect. In the book, the people are already connected, and even they have a rough time communicating. Humans are tricky. I like to make them funny, too.
What are some ways in which characters in a book can reflect the author's own thoughts and characteristics?
There’s always a part of the author in the book, directly or indirectly. Sometimes my characters experience/do/say things and I have no idea where they come from. They make their way onto the page through sheer will. Mannerisms, mottos, judgments. Ways of dealing with things. I’m merely the messenger.
Where did you get your inspiration for the story "Sideswiped"?
Inspiration for Sideswiped… Hm. During quarantine times, there was a substantial rise in people watching social media reels and videos. Doom-scrolling and binge-streaming. Being self-employed, I wondered how people who normally don’t make money online could capitalize on the trend. I have a few musician friends who stream live, and one of them wondered aloud how hard it would be to make a living streaming sex. And thus, the idea for the book was born.
How would you describe Tara, a.k.a. The Goth Girl Next Door if you were about to introduce her to someone?
Tara, aka Goth Girl Next Door. Unafraid, sexually liberated, willing to try just about anything but until recently, a bit scared by real love. Don’t threaten her, though, because you’ll lose.
How many books do you plan to write in the "Q For Quarantine" series?
Number Four is in the works. Not sure how much more masking I can humorously weave into the narrative, but I love my characters so much!
How do you choose which stories to tell? How would you describe your writing process?
They choose me, and chaotic. Basically, I throw a bunch of notes into way too many Word documents and then spend two months trying to cohese them. ADD is a daily challenge, but eventually, a goal, motivation, and conflict emerge enough for me to fill in the blanks.
If you could be best friends with any one of your characters, who would it be?
Can’t choose, won’t choose. If I do, I’ll never get another good night’s sleep.
On a normal day, how many hours do you typically spend writing? What are you doing during all your other hours?
I run a petsitting business to keep a roof over my head. Some days I can write for hours, some, not at all. Most of the time I’m picking fur out of places it shouldn’t be in and washing my hands constantly. And feeding my ingrate cat.
Which is the next book you are working on? Is it a series or a stand-alone book?
Q for Quarantine 4 will likely consist of Kimber, Dev, Serafina and Nate, with appearances from some of my previous Q for Qu pals.
Who or what introduced you to AllAuthor? Has the website met your expectations or are there some kinks you wish would be worked on?
Author Ann M. Miller told me about AllAuthor. She is an amazing YA author I met years ago during Query Kombat. As far as AA kinks… I haven’t found any yet!
