Which is your favorite childhood memory?
Christmas celebrations in our home were super special. I have eight siblings and that means you always have a playmate. The anticipation of opening gifts was stimulated and invigorated by my six sisters and two brothers. But now, as adults and parents, what we anticipate the most at Christmas and other gatherings, is just being together.
Do you remember the first book you ever wrote?
Yes. The first book I wrote was based on my life combined with fictional events. I'm always adding to or tweeking it and debating whether to send it on to my publisher.
What was the first book that sparked your love for reading?
The Nancy Drew series definitely did it for me.
Who is the most supportive person in your life when it comes to your writing?
That's a tie with my parents and my siblings. My dad and several of my sisters are avid readers and my mom is always eager to read my work.
What are some challenges you faced while writing your first novel?
My editor. Jeanne questioned almost every sentence and paragraph. Because of her, my story has bridges that lead one event to another and chapters that introduce new thoughts. Another challenge was finding a unique way to tell each of the stories of the four Cartwright men.
Who would you like to meet in real life - Ben, Adam, Hoss and Joe?
I love all four of these characters. I fell in love when I wrote about them meeting the women who became their wives. As a younger woman, Little Joe made my heart flutter. And then when an episode aired that had Ben fall in love, I wanted to be that woman. Hoss reminds me very much of my late husband Kurt with his gentleness and even in his physical appearance. But if I had to choose only one character, as a more mature woman now, I would choose to meet Adam. What I always desired from a husband can be found in all four Cartwrights, but something about Adam's seriousness and magnetism would make me pick him.
What inspired the plot of your novel, The Cartwright Men Marry?
I binge-watched all fourteen seasons of Bonanza so I couldn't help but dream about them. My dreams invaded my daily activities and I just had to put my thoughts down on paper.
Are you friends with other authors? If so, how have they helped you in your journey as a writer?
Yes, even though I don't know many. Certainly my editor/publisher, who is also an author, was my greatest influence and she helped me write a better story.
What are some of the most profound "shower thoughts" you've had?
The key one was realizing that instead of having one character reflecting back in time and telling the story of the missing satchel and its mysterious contents, the plot could go back and forth between 2019 and 1860s with the characters living out the plot in real time. This brought the reader along with the emotions and drama.
What kind of cultural value do you think reading and writing have/brings?
I think it's difficult to be able to measure that value. How can my being enriched by reading stories about people who live on other continents, or about the fear for one's life who was a prisoner of war, or of a family in a refugee camp, for instance, be measured? When the author succeeds in making me feel what the character is experiencing, I come away enhanced with an understanding that I would never have otherwise. I do know that over the years of reading a variety of books, I have become a more tolerant, more patient, less ignorant and less judgmental person.
In what ways do you think an author can and should keep the story moving at a fast pace?
An author should trust friends and fellow readers/authors who will tell them when a storyline has put them to sleep. Not every chapter ends with a cliff-hanger, but every chapter should have a reason for being in the book.
What are the most common clichés in fiction writing?
For the genre of western romance, which is where my book falls, the cliché of the woman needing to be rescued or wanting to be taken care of still exists. However, in my book, although the female characters eventually fall in love, they are strong women who have either lived tough histories or experienced challenging events that expose their stamina and self determination. It is this difference that leads my readers to enjoy the book as romance, western, mystery and family saga.
What is the best piece of advice you have received related to writing?
That I need to ask myself 'What am I trying to communicate to the reader? How will it enrich the telling of this story?'
Which is the next book you are working on? Is it a series or a stand-alone book?
It is a stand-alone book about two women. One is a madam in a brothel and the other is a wealthy recluse. The reader follows their separate lives in two different cities, meet the people the two women have in common, and eventually understand the mysterious connection.
Lastly, what are your thoughts and opinions on AllAuthor and its services?
I'm always finding something new about AllAuthor. I discover new ways to promote my book, I find new books by new authors, and love the ability to read a preview.
