Where did you grow up and what was your early life like?
I grew up in Michigan, an only child with a single mother. I enjoyed sports until late junior high and high school when I got involved in band and choir. My love for music got me focused on writing song lyrics as a hobby. I then enjoyed writing essays in my first year of college.
What is it like to live in Phoenix, AZ?
Phoenix is ideal year round, and in a perfect location to visit snow to the north, the ocean to the west, Mexico to the south, and mountains and beautiful landscapes to the east, all within comfortable driving distance. It’s also a growing city with plenty of cultural opportunities.
How were you first introduced to writing?
Initially I was introduced to writing in college. I didn’t pursue anything for years, focusing more on my education and work, but different opportunities allowed me to brush up the writing skills on occasion, so I tried to stay sharp with my grammar review.
How did your career take a complete U-turn from doing bachelor's in Technical Management to writing your own books?.
After receiving my degree, there was a freeze on tech jobs, and many companies were downsizing, including the customer I was working for. I had to make a change in jobs to other types of customer service, which became call center work, first for a major hotel brand for seven years, then a financial services company for more than twelve years, and back to the hotel brand for the past couple of years. The inclination to take up writing again as a hobby didn’t start until 2016.
What inspired the plot of your novel, Suite Secrets?
I’m not sure. The characters just took up residence in my head, beginning with Maeve, and then Valeska, two very different people, but with common friends through the years. The story just grew from those two characters and the people in their orbits.
What are some under-represented themes or people you feature in your books and why do you think it is important?
Specifically in Finding Colette, which is actually my first two-book (Miranda and the sequel, Colette) series that I revised, re-edited, and combined into one novel, the characters are ages forty-seven and up, with only two characters being under fifty-nine. This is a book about middle-aged, vital characters finding their way in their lives and starting over late in life. They’re charming.
What according to you are the key ingredients of a successful book?
Relatability. The characters should possess qualities that most readers can relate to in some way, whether it’s angst, humor, heartache, indecisiveness, etc.
Who is your target audience? What are some things you wish your readers would take away from your books?
My current books are lesbian fiction, so the majority of the characters are lesbians, but they are relatable in every other way in that they are all dealing with every day issues that most people could relate to. But I think the nuances between the characters would be most appreciated by women and lesbians in general.
What are some hard lessons you learned as a new author that nobody could've prepared you for?
Marketing. Finding readers. Getting those first few reviews posted that might ignite interest from more readers.
What is the most ideal ambiance for you to write in?
Alone on my recliner with my laptop.
What advice do you have for any budding writers out there?
Just do it. Make a good outline, get the story written, then really focus on editing and making it readable with as few issues as possible, i.e.: punctuation, grammar, etc.
What other things, apart from writing do you enjoy doing?
I love movies and music. I just indulge in whatever my brain needs to wallow in at any given moment.
What kind of cultural value do you think reading and writing have/bring?
Literacy is so vital in so many ways. Even if writing is not someone’s thing, reading and learning can be so crucial to someone’s understanding of the world around them.
How has being an author changed your life up till now and what are some new goals you've set for yourself for the coming year?
Being an author hasn’t really changed my life at all. I would love for more people to meet my characters and learn to love them as much as I do. I just tend to think more about characters and stories that might have futures on book pages. I don’t chase after them. They come to me.
When did you first join AllAuthor and did you join as a free or pro-member first? What are your thoughts on this website?
I joined several years ago, the free site, around the time of my first novel being released. I bought into the pro membership recently, after releasing my books in 2022 as independent releases. I really love the options I have for marketing my books and finding other resources that are helpful, including book cover contests, etc. Anything that will get them more exposure. Reviews would be awesome!
