Tell us a little bit about your childhood and where you grew up.
I had a pretty average childhood. Raised mostly by my mother in the early years, then moving to live with my father and stepmother in the later years. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and that’s still where I call home. As a child I was a huge nerd and rather odd sort. I take great pride in my odd nerdiness now!
Were you an avid reader as a child? Do you still read books?
I was! It wasn’t unusual for me to hit the library and bring home 15-20 books! Yes, I read them all before I went back which ended up being at least twice a month! The most exciting days was when the library was selling their older books!
I still adore reading though my work and writing have taken most of my time now. But I love audiobooks! This allows me to multitask.
Where did you go to college? What was your major?
I did not go to college. It is a really big regret, but it is still in the plans.
What developed your passion for writing?
I remember a few times in school when creative writing assignments were handed out. The biggest one I recall was in 6th grade and I was asked to write a story about hatching from an egg. It was the only time I impressed my teacher.
In highschool, I began pumping out poetry and two very AWFUL books. Which I have hidden away to be found upon my demise and hopefully… burned. But it solidified what I wanted to do with my life and I’ve never really looked back.
What inspires you the most in everyday life?
My husband. He is my rock, my cheerleader, and my sounding board. Though he has an extremely different view on the story lines; talking things through with him helps me hash out where I want to go and how I want to get there.
Having published written upwards of 10 novels in various genres, how has your writing journey been?
It has been amazing! Exciting! Heartbreaking! Brutal and wonderful. There is nothing more fantastic than knowing SOMEONE has read your stories. I adore knowing that I’ve been able to help someone escape even for a moment.
How many books do you plan to write in the Soul Eaters series?
The next book, which is still in the planning phase, will hopefully be coming in the next year. Soul Eaters was an experiment in writing, and I want to make sure the finally book is the grand finale that it deserves. Let the zombie genre, at least in my case, go out with a huge BANG!
Who inspired the character of Tohr in "The Book of Mara"?
I don’t know if one specific person or thing was an inspiration for building the character of Tohr. I wanted him to be the picture of control and compassion. He had to be strong, but I wanted to show that he had a soft spot.
What would you do if you were stuck on a planet filled with dragons?
Learn as much about them and their culture as I could! Imagine learning that dragons were real. That would be a dream come true.
As an author of a book, what type of questions would you like to be asked?
Any! Ask any question, I tend to answer! I’m an open book! I love talking to people and being able to speak to my readers is an extra special bonus!
Is writing your full-time career? Or would you like it to be?
Writing is my career. It’s my passion and my dream to be able to keep this up!
What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing?
Action and Humor! Keep the readers dying with laughter and wondering what will happen next!
How much time should an author spend deciding which genre is right for their next book?
That’s a difficult one since many of my books cross the genre lines. I think most authors know the base genre of the book their going to be writing when they start. The rest is just window dressings.
Is there anything you are currently working on that may intrigue the interest of your readers?
Right now, I’m working through a serial novel website. They have become extremely popular. Also, a Christmas story that I’m hoping to have finished in time for the holidays!
How has your experience of being associated with AllAuthor been?
It’s been great! Been on the website for years and was lucky to be able to dive deeper into the site and am looking forward to staying a long while!
