Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m one of those writers that’s been chasing the dream since I was knee-high-to-a-grasshopper. I store a lot of unfinished manuscripts in my attic from those early years. After becoming a cancer survivor in 2013, I decided it was high time I made my dreams into reality and published my first novel. Since then, I’ve put out a short story, four novellas, and a boxed set.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Soul in Ashes: The Complete First Season has just been published. It’s a compilation of four novellas I wrote over the course of about a year. The characters have been kicking around in my head since I was in college, some twenty-five years ago. They’ve gone through a lot of reincarnations since then, but in Soul in Ashes, they’ve found their true home. The setting is inspired by the southwest U.S. where I live and the British Isles that I’ve always dreamed of visiting.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Just the challenge of juggling writing time around the schedule of my four busy children and my CPA husband (tax season is a bear). I snatch time whenever I can find it.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
My first love was located on the genre shelf of mystery. I devoured The Boxcar Children, Nancy Drew, and Sherlock Holmes. Then, I discovered Lloyd Alexander’s Chronicles of Prydain, and my heart was forever stolen by fantasy. The first time I stayed up (literally) all night was reading The Night Mare by Piers Anthony, because I just couldn’t stand to put it down. (Luckily, it was summer and school was out, so I could sleep the next day away.) As an adult, I absolutely adore The Windrose Chronicles by Barbara Hambly. I read Dog Wizard so much it fell apart and I had to hold it together with a rubber band until I got a new copy! I also devour anything by Brandon Sanderson.
What are you working on now?
My current project is a YA dystopian. I’m keeping it under wraps, because I’m considering releasing under a pen name. 😉
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Hand selling at live events has worked the best for me so far, especially with my middle grade book (Fury of the Storm Wizard). For online sales, I’m planning to implement Chris Fox’s methods over the course of the next several months, so I’ll let you know how that goes.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Learn everything you can and then try it out. I think one of my biggest challenges has been the fear of jumping in and doing it for “real.” But once I actually started publishing, I feel like my learning process took off. There’s just no substitute for experience.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Keep writing. Don’t give up!
What are you reading now?
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. (It’s taking me awhile. It’s pretty fat!)
What’s next for you as a writer?
As I mentioned, I’m planning to implement methods I learned from Chris Fox and Susan Kaye Quinn for writing to market and publishing more prolifically. I’m traditionally a slow writer, because a I’m multi-task-challenged perfectionist, but I’m working on improving my speed. I recently bought Dragon dictation software, and I’m trying to learn how to use it, even though it feels like wrestling a real dragon. I hope to have a YA dystopian out this fall, though it will likely be under a pen name.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Dog Wizard by Barbara Hambly, Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson, The Shifter by Janice Hardy, and my scriptures.
Author Websites and Profiles
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