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When did you write your first book and how old were you?
Ans. = I was 4 and my little brother and I played in the back of my dad’s pickup while he worked out on the ranch. I used a crayon and brown grocery bags. No one remembers how or when I learned to read and write. I next wrote a novel during science in 7th grade and passed it up and down the row. Never got caught.
What does your family think of your writing?
Ans. = They are complimentary and celebrate with me. I think it is “normal” to them for me to write. They are the first to read my books.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
Ans. = One of the most surprising things I learned during the creation of my books is how long some chapters take and others just flow. I also am surprised when the characters wake me in the night with a question like, “Hey! We’re tired of this mess! Wake up and get us out of it!”
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How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
Ans. = I have written 3 books. Like children, I don’t have a favorite. Instead, I see something special in each.
Do you have any suggestions to help me become a better writer? If so, what are they
Ans. = Keep a journal or notes. Write down things you hear people say, places that you find interesting, ideas that just pop in your mind. They are great material to help your novel. Don’t share the story as you’re writing the rough draft.
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Purchase via Amazon
Purchase via Amazon
Purchase via Amazon
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Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
Ans. = Yes, I get comments on facebook and my fan page…or at church…the grocery store…the ladies’ room. “When’s the next one?” is the most common comment. One lady said, “I knew she shouldn’t have…etc, etc) I love this part most.
Do you like to create books for adults or children…Why?
Ans. = I create for adults. When my children were small, I told them stories that they think I should write down so they won’t be lost. I tell them I did…in them.
What do you think makes a good story?
Ans. = I think the most important part of a good story is characters with whom the readers can connect. Sometimes they love them or hate them, but they need to be able to visualize them until they are “real”.
As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
Ans. = I thought a secretary would be interesting. Then I thought a waitress was fun. By the time I was in high school, I wanted to be a reporter. But after working at that in the summers during college, I realized that I wasn’t tough enough to people in interviews. Besides, as a novelist, I can decide how things turn out. But to please my family, I taught school…and other writers’ works…to help pay the bills. Now, I write.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
Ans. = In my 20s,
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How long does it take you to write this book?
Ans. = I spent almost two years on each.
What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?
Ans. = I get up very early…around 2 am…and write until breakfast. Then I walk the dog, do mundane things that are necessary to ‘life’, etc. I usually return to the computer after lunch and spend the afternoon or longer.
What brought you to write this book series?
Ans. = I love New Mexico and the Southwest. I also love mysteries. I wasn’t sure I was writing a series at first, but at the end of each book, people are asking, “What’s happening next?” I tell them I’ll ask.
How you become a published author? Any inspiration?
Ans. = I went to conferences and talked to published authors. I found a freelance editor and hired her with the request that she give me her opinion. Then I looked for a publisher.
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Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
Ans. = My imagination plays a huge role, but I do a lot of research by talking to people who “know”. My husband and I trek all around researching areas, trekking through woods, desert, etc. I keep notes about distances, temperatures, critters we see, how long it takes, how tired I am, etc, etc, etc. The ideas just “arrive”. Sometimes it is a comment I overheard in a restaurant.
When did you write your first book and how old were you?
Ans. = Answered earlier.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Ans. = I love concerts, the symphony, outdoors, reading, “cozying my nest”, camping in our RV, time with children and grandchildren…and the critters, of course.
How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
Ans. = >Three mysteries.
What’s next for you? What are you working on now?
Ans. = I had two I wanted to write, so I sort of “flipped a coin”. The current on is “Untold Agony”, the 4th in the Sorrel Janes series. I’ll save the new book…”tails”…for next.
About your book/s
Ans. = My books are “page turners” I’ve been told. They were classified as “cozy” by the first reviewer—a term I hadn’t heard before but now agree that they are. They have a twisty story, humor, the personality of the New Mexico Southwest, and I’ve been told several times that they “take you to the story and hold you there.” I hope they do, as that is something wanted to do.
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