Interview:

Did you always know you were going to be a writer?

No. But I’ve always had a great imagination, and I was an artist in other ways, including drawing. I didn’t start writing until I was forty years old. The drawing of the mask you see to the right (or below) was a mask made to honor Sargon the Great, the king of the Akkadian Empire, but equally famous today as the father of the great poet-priestess Enheduanna, the first female author known by name in world history. Ironically, I drew this long before I knew I would become an author.

What’s your favorite part about being a writer?

There are so many favorites, but being home with my golden retrievers tops the list. Having them by my side, with a cup of coffee, and relaxing music… What’s not to love?

There’s a second and more important answer to that question, though. I want to help children who feel lost, alone, or angry. I hope my book will help them feel seen, safe, and unshakably strong.

What books have you read that were impactful?

Oh, I love this question. There are so many. This is another two-part answer, though. Stories I’ve read and books that have either taught me writing techniques or different ways of thinking.

For books I’ve read, I just loved George Selden’s A Cricket in Times Square. What a delightful and fun story. It was the first book I read after deciding to be an author. Kate DiCamillo’s Flora & Ulysses, as well as her beautiful novels, Because of Winn-Dixie and The Tale of Despereaux, were so much fun to read. Other favorites include: Patrick Ness, A Monster Calls; Gennifer Choldenko’s, The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman, and Al Capone Does My Shirts.‍ ‍

For writing technique books, at the top of the list is Immersion and Emotion: The Two Pillars of Storytelling, by Michelle Barker & David Griffin Brown. If you are a writer, this is a must-read. Others include: Jennie Nash‘s Blueprint for a Book: Build Your Novel from the Inside Out; K.M. Weiland’s Creating Character Arcs; and Writing Vivid Settings, written by Rayne Hall. Finally, Writing for Emotional Impact: Advanced Dramatic Techniques to Attract, Engage, and Fascinate the Reader from Beginning to End, written by Karl Iglesias.

Favorite authors for personal interest include Dr. Wayne Dyer, Louis Hay, and Deepak Chopra.

What do you like to do for fun?

My favorite? Put on a crazy hat, my headphones, and ski down a mountain of snow with my hubby, taking it all in. Shortly after that, take the headphones off and do a 360-degree spin on the slope! Yes! I also love to read, write, draw, and cook! I love going to shows, movies, and concerts at the oldest continuously operating movie theatre in the United States with my precious husband of twenty years. Of course, spending time with our friends and rescue pups is priceless.

What do you think is one of the most important things in life?

Gratitude.