Your novels often feature strong women as main characters. What inspired you to create such empowering female protagonists?
I’m a survivor and warrior with PTSD. I stand is very clear. Woman can save themselves.
As a prolific writer of both novels and short stories, do you have a particular preference for one over the other? If so, why?
My mind seems to like short stories the best. Get it all out and tell the story. No wandering and incidentals to fluff a story.
Can you share your journey to becoming one of the founders of the Florida Writers Association? What impact did that experience have on your career?
A friend of mine, long passed , asked me if I’d help put together a writers organization. At first there were only. 6 of us. And I believe that was in 1999. The organization is going strong now with yearly conferences, yearly literary awards, and a board of directors.
Being named a 2011-2012 VIP Women of the Year for the National Association of Professional Women is an impressive achievement. How did that recognition influence your writing or professional life?
It's a great help to add it to my resume.
Your bio mentions that you enjoy walking on the beach and flying as co-pilot with your husband. How do these activities inspire or influence your writing?
My stories take place in Florida. Walking on the beach is research. Shhh that’s what I tell my husband to get him to go.
I’m a student pilot. It never occurred to me to learn to fly for a book. None of my current books need it. Hmm future book? I loved learning how to fly and it wasn’t for a character, but a true love of flying.
With your love for travel, how do you incorporate your experiences and the places you’ve visited into your stories?
Yes, I’ve done that. But not recently. Most of my stories are Florida based.
How has being surrounded by pets, like your American Hairless Terriers and Sun Conure Parrot, influenced your creative process or personal life?
They are my babies. Their my buddies. Most of the time they relax and give me time to write. Sometimes, all heck breakthroughs and everyone wants attention.
In “Not Without Anna”, the death of a teenager sparks a ripple effect throughout the entire community. What inspired you to write about the impact of such a tragic event on a small town?
That original story came from an assignment my daughter had in English class. I enjoyed it so much and felt a strong urge to tell this story. My daughter and I talked and was happy to have come use her story. I kept the 2 names, a short scene in the pool, but I changed everything else . It’s extremely important that families unite, communities are involved and schools do what they can to protect our teenagers from themselves.
What do you find most rewarding about creating dramatic and emotionally charged narratives?
The attempt to solve some plot holes with solid narratives
What role does your background in the Florida Writers Association play in shaping your approach to writing and storytelling?
It’s given me contacts that I’ll never forget.
Karen Sykes is a determined and complex protagonist. What inspired you to create her character, and how did you want readers to relate to her journey of personal and professional growth?
I dreamed this book. I woke one morning and grabbed the pad and pen beside my bed. I wrote and wrote the prologue, each chapter, out it poured. I dreamed every scene with crime tech, detectives, I dreamed the ends the rest and the chase through the hospital.
When you write about strong, dynamic women, are you drawing inspiration from real-life women you admire?
Every woman who has made a success without the help of a man. Every woman who works 2 jobs and cooks meals and kisses boo boos, without the help of a man. Every woman warrior out there.
Your characters often reflect the real world. Can you describe how you balance realism with drama in your stories to keep readers engaged?
Real world situations occur in my story because you can’t make really life up.
You’ve received praise for your character development, particularly in “Catch of the Season.” How do you approach crafting characters that readers can truly care about, and how did that influence the characters in Rookie Detective?
My characters talk to me. They get in my head and after we’ve known each other awhile, they show me more. Attitude, dress style, type of person.
What has your AllAuthor experience been like so far? What are some highlights?
The tweets, by far the tweets. Second, the mock ups. Amazing. It takes over where I can’t.
