The Author Interviews website interview

Tell us a little about yourself?
I am a mom. That is the most important part of me! I am a writer, photographer, voice talent, editor, and a sucker for puppies! I have a Maltipoo, named Remi, that lays at my feet while I write. My "happy" place is the ocean, but I hate crowds so I do not go to the beach as often as I like.

​When did you start writing?
I am an introvert and have always struggled with the thoughts in my head... so many things swirling around in there that have to get out! I was very young when I started writing in journals and creating short stories. I was probably around eight.

What's your favorite under-appreciated novel?
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Does writing energize or exhaust you?
I definitely feel energized when I write! I smile while I'm writing

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to write while I'm in the shower! I get so many ideas when I am listening to the water run that it only makes sense to bring a notepad in with me. Oh, and I get really thirsty when I write and drink lots of water. Hmm, water again...

Have you gone on any literary pilgrimages?
Taking a trip to Key West in Florida to visit Ernest Hemingway's house!

Do you read reviews?: I read a lot of reviews. My own, of course, to consider what message a reader receives from my books and to hopefully improve my craft. But I read reviews for other authors. I love to read so I research what I am choosing to read next. Although, I often pick the books that have poor or no reviews. I try to support other authors.

How many unpublished or half-finished books do you have?
Just a few! Two that I am writing simultaneously, and about 5 that I started and have left in notebooks. Feels like a waste of time but I will return to them.

Do you have any advice for young authors?
My advice for young authors is to not lose confidence in your talent and to write every single day. Writing should be treated like a job in the sense that you must commit time to produce the books. But above all, READ a lot! Reading is a massage to the creative parts of our brains. I think that all writers should be readers. And don't forget to leave reviews!

How long on average does it take you to write a book?
I can write a book in two to six months. If I have a lot of research to do, then I will take longer. But my writing tends to flow and my ideas turn into stories even without outlines (most of the time).

Tell us about your latest release?
My latest release is called "More Than Just Finn." It is book two in my "Just Finn Series" and it will be followed by book three in 2022! The story is fiction but it was inspired by my brother that has Aspergers syndrome. Finn is like one of my kids! I love him! He is an incredibly kind, intelligent young man that is in the autism spectrum and has had a difficult life, but he begins to find his place in the world after he runs away from an abusive, neglectful home. Finn is inspiring!

What was the hardest scene to write?
It was not a specific scene that was difficult; it was those moments that Finn is afraid, or misreads people's expressions. His vulnerability made me cry even as I wrote the book because Finn exists for many people in this world.

Where can we find it?
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and most online booksellers.

What are you working on now?
Book three of the "Just Finn" series! And I am returning to my first published book which was a memoir, and writing about individuals in my family that have a bigger story to tell. It may be novellas or installments I publish in a short time period. I am still sorting that out.

​Thanks for doing this! Any parting words for readers?
I hope readers "get" Finn... that they understand what his struggles are and that they can maybe tell someone that loves a "non-typical" about Finn. And, thank you!! I have so many amazing fans. I love readers!