When did you realize that you wanted to become
a writer?
In elementary school when my teachers would
read my stories out loud and the students loved them.
Is being an Author all you dreamed of, or did
it just happen? The best and worst thing about it?
I do love it a lot. I love how creative I get
to be and then how I have to turn on the left side of my brain to edit. It
really is prefect for me. The worst thing is the pay. The best thing is seeing
the final product. I especially love reading the books I write to my children.
That is a real treat for them and me.
What was the very first thing you ever wrote?
Aside from the things I wrote in school, the
first actual book I wrote is a children's picture book called "The World
is Still Beautiful." I wrote it after my grandma died in her memory. It is
currently unpublished.
What made you create (your book)? How did it come to you?
Sleeping Beauty and the Beast started with a
dream. There is a part in the book where Eglantine is dreaming that the white
roses are dying and they come back to life when she waters them with her tears.
I had this dream in high school, wrote it in a notebook, and held onto it for
all these years. The book went through several versions during brainstorming
and ended up being part Sleeping Beauty and part Beauty and the Beast.
Who is your literary hero?
I'll list a few: George McDonald, C.S. Lewis,
Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Ralph Waldo Emerson.
How much of your characters are based on your
traits or someone you know personally?
I think all of my characters have a little bit
of myself in them. For example, Duncan's free spirit and Henry's dry humor and
sarcasm. Writing has helped me understand how truly complex people are. If I
can put a piece of myself in every character, we must be more complicated than
I ever imagined.
Describe your main character in six words.
Childish,
Savory, Asleep, Frustrated, Smitten, Charming
Describe the world you’ve created in six words.
Oceanic, Barbaric, Warfare, Witchcraft, Dreamy,
Landscapes
What scene was your favorite to write?
I loved writing the war scene and when
Eglantine would torment Henry in front of his aides and counselors since he was
the only one who could see her.
What scene was the hardest for you to write?
Instead of a specific scene, I'll mention how
difficult it was to write from two different perspectives each in a separate
tense. The Beauty chapters are in first person present tense and the Beast
chapters are in third person past tense. I'm sure there are still a few mix-ups
in there. I was finding them even in the final proof. It was a real challenge.
What are you working on now?
A book about Peter Pan. I love it!
Goals? Accomplishments? Improvements?
I really want an agent someday. And I'd love to have my children's
picture book ideas published. That is such a tough market! I want to keep
improving my writing style and craft. I also love writing poetry and practice
that often. I would love to have some of my poems published someday.
Are there any authors or books you recommend?
I always recommend "At the Back of the North Wind" by
George McDonald. It is not his most well known book, but it is my favorite. I
also love the book "Rinkitink in Oz" by L. Frank Baum.
What's your favorite thing to do when you're
not writing?
I love just being with my family and playing
games or watching movies. One of my daughters is so hilarious to watch movies
with because she laughs hysterically in the funny parts. :) It's always more
entertaining than the movie itself.
