Q: What is your favorite part of being a writer?
A: I love getting to pour it onto the page. To look back, re-read, and say, “Yes. That’s it!” And I love hearing from readers. I seriously have the best readers in the world.
Q: What is your writing day like?
A: When I’m working on a project, I’ll spend three to six months researching and another three to six writing, depending on the topic. When I’m on deadline, I write up to 20 hours a day, between 2,000 and 10,000 words a day. Between projects, I may go days without writing a thing. Weeks. Let’s just say routine is not one of my virtues.
Q: What is life like when you’re not writing?
A: I sleep. And wash my hair (well, sometimes.) I hang out with my husband and kids and obsessively catch up with all the friends, cleaning, projects, e-mail, TV shows and errands I neglected while I was writing. But even then writing has a way of creeping in-–especially when I travel.
Q: What’s the best advice you’ve received on writing/publication?
A: Do your part, do the work and then surrender the results. Of course, your part goes far beyond the actual writing.
Q: What is the worst piece of writing advice you’ve heard?
A: Write what you know. If I did that, I’d be writing about how to watch Netflix on your phone and catch your dog drinking out of the toilet.
Q: Can you read my writing if I send it to you?
A: Unfortunately, no. Please don’t send it as it will be deleted. I can, however, refer you to several professional mentors and editors.
Q: What was your road to publication like?
A: What? There was a road?
Q: About that pageant thing…
A: You know, that was one of those things where someone saying, “You should do that” opened a possibility to me that I never would have considered. It was a fascinating experience. And by doing it, I had the privilege to represent numerous local charities and women’s causes, including breast cancer.
Q: You seem to travel a lot. Where is your favorite place you’ve been?
A: The place I haven’t been yet. Though I admit a special love for Bora Bora, New Mexico, and my mom’s kitchen.
Q: Do you still model?
A: I do–when I have time.
Q: Did you always want to be a writer?
A: I was a ballet dancer until height and injuries conspired against me. Despite the fact that I won writing contests in school and published my first piece in third grade, it wasn’t until I went to college that I began to seriously consider writing a “thing.”
Q: What do you do for fun?
A: I sleep. Eat. Travel. Watch too much TV. Cook.
