Where were you born? Since how long have you been living on the gulf coast of Florida?
I was born in a small town in west-central Pennsylvania, in the middle of the Laurel Highlands. Tiny Bolivar is located about seven miles north of Ligonier. This area is steeped in history, playing a prevalent role in the Whiskey Rebellion, prior to the American Revolutionary War. In fact, several small local forts were decommissioned before 1776.
I purchased a villa in Florida in 2008. My husband is older than I, he retired, spending the winters in Florida, while I remained up north, visiting when I found time. We sold our family home in Pittsburgh, PA, purchased a larger home, and moved permanently to Florida in 2019.
Tell us about your favorite place to write.
I converted the smallest of three bedrooms into a creative studio used for writing, sewing, and painting watercolors. I spend almost every day secluded in this space. My routine is to wake up, brew a cup of coffee, retreat to my studio, and not come out until its time to cook our evening meal.
What was your biggest dream as a child? Did it ever come true?
This question caused a chuckle. You must realize that most creative folks have active minds. As a child, I was glued to the TV for every space mission and launch. It was only natural that I wanted to become the first female astronaut. I was not successful.
Do you remember the first book you read? Which was it?
My mother read to me every night. So, I began memorizing books at a very young age. Mom tells the story of my Uncle reading one of my favorite books to me. I was about 18 months old. He missed a word and I corrected him. He wasn't happy being corrected by a baby. I don't know when I actually started reading as opposed to repeating memorization, but one of my favorite childhood books was Clifford the Big Red Dog.
How exactly were you introduced to writing? Are you writing full-time now or do you have plans to do something else on the side?
I am a clinical pharmacist by profession. During part of my career, I wrote training manuals for my department. That developed into writing operational procedures and standards of operations and being placed on a committee that oversaw the integrity of all clinical training material. The jump from instructional writing to fictional storytelling is still a work in progress. My writing is often analytical and sparse. I find that I write in layers, adding detail with each pass-through.
I retired from pharmacy practice several years ago, so yes, I am a full-time writer. I spend my days alone with my imagination having conversations with my characters, while my husband golfs.
When were you first struck with the idea for "A Mystery of Grace"? Did you share the idea with anyone in the beginning and if so, what was their reaction?
I began writing A Mystery of Grace when my father's health declined. I was 'Daddy's little girl' and despite enjoying a lifetime with him, I needed a means of channeling my pain and eventual grief, when he passed. I used writing A Mystery of Grace as a coping method.
I shared the idea with my husband, Ralph. He is such a supportive partner. His initial comment was 'do whatever you need to do, I'm here for you.'
How many books do you plan to write in The Women of Campbell County: Family Saga?
The Women of Campbell County Series will consist of four (4) primary books. Becoming Olive W. book 1; Under the Grapevine book 2; Hill House Divided book 3; and concluding with Between Two Dreams book 4. I also intend to publish several low-cost or free Novellas as 'fill-in' material, needed because the time span for this saga is almost 100 years. If I addressed every family event in detail the series would be too long and readers would lose interest.
What challenges did you face setting the book, Under the Grapevine in Western Pennsylvania, 1925?
I love history so it is easier for me to write accurate historical fiction rather than contemporary fiction. I used personal knowledge and research of my hometown and surrounding area, embellished, then developed the towns of Campbellsville and Madison. When writing, I picture the beautiful rolling, tree-covered hills and ridges of Bolivar and Ligonier.
Do you think it is important for an author to have a diverse mix of characters or identities in their stories?
Fiction is a form of creative entertainment. Characters must be interesting, have challenges, conflict, flaws, but be relatable to the reader. A diverse mix of characters is necessary to provide friction and to achieve reader interest, however, the mix must be true to the setting and time frame.
How do you structure your research and writing process when writing a topic that has a danger of being very subjective?
I think most storytelling and fiction writing is subjective. I pride myself on writing accurate historical fiction. Therefore, while my scenes and characters may be subjective, the setting and events are not. Some of my writer friends insist that all research be completed prior to beginning the writing process. I disagree. I research based on chapter/ scene demands. If a scene dictates the use of a particular item or product, I'll research as I write. For example, my character Olive is an avid reader. I often stop in the middle of a scene to research popular books of that period or year to ensure accurate detail within the scene.
What is your favourite time of the day to write? Have you ever pulled an all-nighter when writing?
I usually write in the afternoon. I begin my day with the 'business' of writing; tracking sales, monitoring ads, rankings, emails, and such. Around noon I open my manuscripts and begin, ending around 5 pm, to cook supper and visit with Ralph. I am comfortable with corporate structure and setting, so it is easier if I approach my daily writing life similarly. That is the analytical side of me. The creative half often has 'brilliant' ideas that 'pop' into my head at any hour of the night. It is not unusual to find me at my laptop at 2 am or 3 am trying to implement my latest ' brainstorm'. Yes, I have pulled 'all-nighters' in college and beyond.
What are some ways in which you try and be an inspiration to others?
Great question. There are so many levels to the answer. Most basically, I want to inspire others to investigate history; of their hometowns, families, ancestors, and friends. On a slightly deeper level, I also want to encourage women to be strong and independent; set their goals high, and achieve them. From the time I was conceived, my mother instilled the idea that women were capable of total independence and need not depend on a man, only on themself. That's why my protagonists are strong, feisty, independent, free-thinking women.
That said, I like to imagine that I address issues of the society of that time. I want my readers to understand that their current problems are not new. Mankind constantly recycles the issues of being human; prejudices, hatred, jealousy, and deceit, etc. And the answers remain the same; love, empathy, kindness, and tolerance. I try to show this historically through my characters, their relationships, within the setting.
What is one important lesson about being an author that you learnt the hard way?
I realized after publishing A Mystery of Grace that I knew nothing about the craft of writing fiction. Just because I wrote analytical training material and had a successful corporate business career, did not equip me to write fiction. Consequently, I attended different types of seminars/lectures, enrolled in several writing schools, and eventually developed relationships with other authors. I am currently five books into the process and still learn every day.
What goals do you hope to accomplish with your books? Are you working on anything at the moment?
My personal goal is to make a living by writing fiction. To share my ideas, build a fanbase, and inspire others to fulfill their dreams, whether that be writing or otherwise. I am currently working on the final book of The Women of Campbell County series titled Between Two Dreams and also a Novella, Westchester Farm, about Olive's wedding. Both shall be published by the year's end of 2022. I also have the idea for my next series turning in my head, keeping me up at night,
How did you first learn about AllAuthor? What other websites do you use and how does AllAuthor compare to them?
An author friend posted an eye-catching ad of their book displayed beside a coffee cup. It was a very attractive picture so I asked him what platform was used. He responded AllAuthor. I joined immediately and have used you ever since. I intend to continue using AllAuthor to promote all of my books. I am enrolled in several additional sites used for creating ad copy. I limited most of my SM to Facebook. When I use the other platforms, it is for a specific reason. The advantage of AllAuthor is the continuous tweets and promotional material automatically provided. AllAuthor provides me with ad copy to use on the spot, saves my precious time for other creative activities, like writing.
