Where do you get your ideas for your novels?

This is such a loaded question for me because I’m a very observant person, so I may read something, or see something, and not really give it any mind at the time, until bam, it’s fodder for a plotline, or a character, or even a prompt on which to create a new story. I often base characters on people I’ve met, borrowing aspects of their personalities, gestures, and even expressions. My first book was inspired by a situation that I found to be far more common than I had imagined. A road trip inspired my psychological horror book. I just never know what might pop up from my experiences until I start developing the next book.          

How many hours a day do you write?

This one’s tough to answer because some days, I might write a total of 3-4 hours, usually not all in one sitting. Other days it might be 30 minutes. And then there are the days when I don’t write at all. I would say I average writing 4 days/week, querying and researching agents and publishers 2 days/week, and marketing and working on newsletter and blog items 1 day/week.

What types of books do you read?

My first love for reading fiction novels has always been suspense/thriller/horror. I want something that makes me keep turning the pages. Something that keeps me up reading when I should be sleeping. Reading Agatha Christie and Mary Higgins Clark inspired me to try writing suspense. Stephen King’s Carrie and The Shining teased me into writing horror. Murder She Wrote and Hart to Hart fueled my love of cozy mysteries. But I’m also happy with family saga dramas and romcom stories as well. I’ve also read some brilliantly entertaining biographies. My tastes are varied. I don’t like cowboy romances, super techy sci-fi, vampires and some historical fiction.

Are you self- published?

I’m not sure why this question seems to come up a lot more than it used to? Is that because there are now some wonderfully successful and talented indie authors? Or is it because there are so many more options for buying and selling self-pubbed books? For now, I’m going to stick with the traditional publishing route. I had a good experience doing so with my first published novel, and I like the idea of having an entire team (agent/editors/cover designers/) rather than having to navigate all of that myself. I also want my books to be in stores and libraries and that’s not an easy task for self-pubbed authors.

How long does it take you to write a book?

I would think this varies depending on who you ask. For me, it usually takes about 3 months for the first draft, then another 3 months to revise, then 4-6 weeks to get beta reader feedback, then another pass through to incorporate the feedback I find useful, then a couple more passes for line edits and copy edits and finally proofreading. I would say 9 months is typical for me.

How long have you been writing?

In grade school my favorite assignments were always around creative writing. I loved writing stories and even went so far as to create simple plays that my friends and I could perform in our yards for our parents. I wrote my first musical stage play in 1987 and directed the production. Over the years, I wrote many more plays for kids and teens for my performing arts studio’s drama department. I’ve written articles, essays, and rhyming kidlit for anthologies and magazines. I completed my first novel in 2014. Since then, I’ve written 2 more full novels that I’m querying plus I have at least 3 more partial WIPs. I really can’t remember a time when my vivid imagination wasn’t writing.

Do you write anything other than books?

I actually answered this in the question above, but here’s the list:
A. stage plays/musicals
B. original songs
C. essays
D. articles
E. blog posts

Could you ever retire from writing?

I can’t imagine a time when I will feel like stepping away from writing. I don’t think I ever could. I don’t plan on stopping ever.

Do you ever get writer’s block?

That’s the thing about a vivid imagination – you never really run out of ideas. If I do get tripped up writing a scene, or brainstorming the next book, I just deflect to a different writing task until I figure my way over the hump.

What’s the hardest thing about being a writer?

The amount of time it takes. I think this is common among writers. Writing can’t be rushed, well that is, if you want it to be good. A writing mentor told me this simple phrase: It takes the time it takes.