Where did you grow up and what were some of your aspirations as a child?
The first part is difficult. I grew up all over the world and am a product of that. My formative years were spent in Geneva, Switzerland where my father worked for the United Nations. I came to the U.S. to attend college, then found my soulmate and stayed. But even in the U.S. we moved around quite a bit before settling in the San Francisco Bay Area, which is now home.
At what age did you begin writing? Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
I have written all my life and have a Masters in English Literature. I seem to remember writing a childhood romance story in my pre-teens, way before I got into the dark and twisted stuff! But I have always enjoyed exploring character, perhaps a process to find myself.
What do you think about the novel “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Bronte?
That novel has inspired me all my life. I love the passionate, strong woman, Catherine, the moody, rough hero, Heathcliff, the wild and untamed moors. I can relate to all of it. It awakened the parts of me that are responsible for the intense stories that come out of my pen!
Is there such a thing as 'Northern Gothic' - the way there is 'Southern Gothic Literature?
If there is, that's what I have been writing. The Southern Gothic is too embedded in the story of the South. I like to think of my stories as universal, exposing emotions and passions that people anywhere and from any time period can relate to...whether they admit it or not! For we all have secrets, right?
As someone who is passionate about art, what is your favorite art project that you do as a hobby?
I love Photoshop. It enables me to create art while satisfying my impatience because I can delete and fix things, which is hard to do if you're working with actual paints or pastels. I have a degree in Graphic Design and love doing book covers - all my book covers are my own - and anything else that needs designing...greeting cards, posters, etc. But as an enthusiast of all art, I also love going to concerts and shows, museums, and I love to travel to experience the different kinds of art in the world, the architecture, the history.
How did you begin writing the "A Gothic Suspense" trilogy?
It was actually a short story I began in my Creative Writing class in university. It had owls and a manor, and ghosts, and I started to think I could write more of that story and make it into a novel. Then at the end of the first one, I was left with a character, the daughter, whose story I wanted to tell. For the trilogy, I try to avoid identical repeats of the type we have seen in sequels. They all take place around Owl Manor, a haunted and disturbed character itself. But the way the different characters are affected and their stories are different in each book, providing the variety needed.
What is one common lie or misconception about the supernatural suspense genre that you wish people would stop believing?
That ghosts are all meant to scare. I think the idea of ghosts appearing only in the dark, lurking in corners, etc. is only one way of portraying them. Initially, of course, there has to be a certain amount of shock and disbelief, but depending on who is appearing, there can less fear. I believe there can be good spirits and bad ones, those who protect and look out for us as well as those who mean us harm. I have felt my deceased loved ones, whether just in my heart or around me, right after they passed, and felt no fear, just relief at the thought that they might still be around.
Who inspired the character of Victor in "Owl Manor - Abigail"?
My men have always turned out to be some interpretation of either Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights, or Rochester from Jane Eyre. I start there and add to them, but the base is always the dark and moody hero. I like them flawed and not too pretty.
What are some of the references you use while writing your books?
I love researching the past. For books 1 and 2 of the Owl Manor Trilogy, I have referenced historical events and places, and for the third one, which is in the works, I will be focusing on the fine art that came out of that time, the late 1800s and early 1900s.
How does writing make you feel? When you're not writing, what does a normal day for you look like?
It's both daunting and thrilling. The thought of planning a novel paralyzes me. I have to constantly coax myself into it, and am always amazed at how it comes together little by little. Once the planning is done, I look forward to the writing, the building of characters, the development of the story and also my style, the inclusion of details from my research, etc. That's when I feel like I come alive.
As for a normal day of not writing, in the beginning I mope around the house doing mundane chores that can wait, coaxing myself to go up and start planning. I read a lot and also watch movies for inspiration. Once I'm done planning, I return to happily neglecting chores and begin to write. At that point, I look forward to it and feel like something is off when I'm not doing it.
Who is your target audience? What are some things you wish your readers would take away from your books?
I would like to say women ranging from early twenties to late fifties. Those are the ones that respond to my Facebook page the most. Others like myself who are fascinated by the darkness in all of us and like to see it portrayed in creative ways.
What I would like them to take away from it is the message that darkness is a part of us, and the repression and denial of it can affect us in negative ways. Recognizing it liberates us. It puts us deeper in touch with ourselves, and allows us to understand ourselves better, to see the beauty amidst the flaws. That makes us stronger.
What advice would you like to give writers who are struggling with their first novels?
If you have a story you want to tell, just tell it and see where it goes. Don't worry about what people will think, or if the writing is any good. Be true to yourself and write what inspires you, what stirs your emotions. The rest is part of the learning process and will happen in due time. I didn't really start planning chapters until my third book. Before then I just let it flow, then went back and organized it.
In what ways do you try to better understand the craft of writing?
It's a constant learning process, one which requires discipline, which I lack. I just want to sit down and begin writing but I have learned the importance of planning in paving the way for a smooth process even though the story constantly develops and changes. It's good to have a rough skeleton to begin. I'm always trying to find a balance. Other challenges are words; what unexpected words portray what you're trying to portray? What can be understated and what needs to be overstated? What words make the reader pause and think? Show vs. tell is a constant challenge too. I'm waiting for it to all become instinctive...if that ever happens. :D
Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with your readers about?
Yes! Right now I'm working on Owl Manor, Book 3. I try to make the sequels different stories so they don't become predictable and boring. The first one was about the dynamics between a rebellious woman and a misogynist. The second one was about the neglected daughter who struggled with feelings of unworthiness. In the third one, the characters are completely unrelated to the previous ones but each come with their own demons. And of course we still have the owls and the manor. I'm still planning it and impatiently waiting to begin writing it. Just a little more planning then I'll take the dive.
