What is the story of your one hundred year old home that you live in? Do you think it adds to the whole image of being a horror stories writer?
My home is in the Gunderson Historic District of Oak Park, IL. I've always had a love of older homes, so owning one with historical significance is a real treat for me. I think an older house has a distinct personality. I'm not sure what it does for my image, but it definitely inspires me to think about past lives and times.
What are the things you enjoy doing apart from writing in your free time?
When I'm not writing, I'm usually reading, gardening, or quilting. I'm one those people who need to be doing something creative in order to stay happy.
As a child, what did you want to become when you grow up?
I always wanted to be a writer. I spent a lot of time as a child playing "newspaper" and would appoint myself as the editor. In school, my goal was to make it into the school newspaper or literary magazine every year. I also used to make up stories for my younger sisters and cousins...I had a pretty active imagination.
What inspired you to become a full time writer? How has the journey and experience been?
Like many writers, in the back of my mind I always wanted creative writing to be my full time job. But realistically I needed to earn a dependable paycheck for a while and then I wanted to concentrate on creating a beautiful home and raising my daughter. Thanks to my supportive husband, I was able to become a full time writer in my forties. It's been a long journey, but a fantastic experience. I like to tell older writers that it's never too late to go after that dream of being published!
You are a member of Society of Midland Authors. What are some of the lessons you have learnt there? How has it contributed to your writing?
Becoming a member of the Society of Midland Authors really boosted my confidence as an author. It's such an honor to be included in a professional organization of writers. I love to hear other writer's success stories and follow how they're progressing. There's a wide assortment of fiction and non-fiction authors who are members and it's exciting to be a part of it all.
You write short fiction for literary magazines on a regular basis. What is your favorite part of writing short stories?
I always describe myself as a short fiction writer because I love the art of telling a meaningful story in a small number of words. It really is a skill set. I like the challenge of having characters, settings, and circumstances that are constantly shifting and changing. I also love the fact that I can move into various genres whenever the mood strikes me.
How challenging is it to be a self-publisher?
I've gone both routes; being traditionally and self published. There are challenges on both sides of the fence. I think the most challenging thing about being a self-publisher is trying to demonstrate that my work has a certain quality to it no matter how I choose to publish. And, of course, there's always the challenge of finding time and energy to market when I'd much rather be writing.
Do you ever get writer’s block? How do you overcome it?
Thankfully, I've had very little experience with true writer's block. I think that not limiting my subject matter or having to worry about a word count leaves me very open creatively. The times that I do get "stuck", I find myself reading more to try and inspire my imagination. I tend to get anxious if I go too long without putting the pen to paper.
Does your daughter read your books? Which one is her favorite?
My daughter is eighteen now, so she's read my literary collections as well as my young adult series. She's so used to me writing and telling stories that I don't think she has a favorite...there's always new material waiting for her to explore.
‘Mind Fullness’ has an extremely intriguing description that will definitely force the reader to read the whole book. Have you yourself had any experiences with ghosts?
Not that I'm aware of. But my imagination can get the better of me in my old house on stormy nights when the cat stares intently into the hallways as if she sees something.
Which of the stories in ‘Stress Fractures’ is your personal favorite?
I'm actually very fond of both the first story in the book, "Mortal Remains", and the last story, "Missing Michael". Both stories are about coping with a death in the family, but I think each of them also explores the opportunity for personal growth in the face of tragedy.
Where does your love for psychological fiction stem from?
I think both human minds and emotions are very complex things, so I like to explore the depths of both in my fiction. To me, the perfect story always has a little bit of an unexpected twist in it someplace. Life is never 100% predictable, so life stories shouldn't be either. When a reader says a story of mine made them uncomfortable or forced them to really think, I feel like I've done my job.
Which of The Sky Knights series books was the most challenging to write? Why? -
Book 4, "Shifting the Stars", was probably the most challenging. Book 3 left a lot of the main characters in a very painful place, so my goal in Book 4 was to start revealing who was going to be able to rise above the tragedy and who was going to struggle. I loved all of the characters in that series and it was hard, but necessary, to start portraying some of them as less than heroic.
Which is the next book you are writing? What is it about?
I actually just published my seventh short story collection, "Inner Lives and Outer Selves" which features a dozen pieces of women's fiction. I've been writing new short stories in various genres, so I haven't committed to a certain direction for the next book yet. I purposely publish smaller, novella-sized collections in order to keep my subject matter varied and fresh.
