First I’d like to say “thank you!” to Samantha for hosting my blog tour and having me here as a guest on Chick Lit Plus. The questions are great, really got me thinking, so let’s get to it!
Q. Tell us a little about your latest book, Dollars to Donuts.
A. Dollars to Donuts is about a woman (April Patterson) who is faced with the challenge many of us have, or will, address at one point in our lives: asking herself who she really is and what she wants from her life. Unfortunately for April, finding her answers isn’t as straight forward a proposition as it seems. She has an eclectic group of neighbors who seem hell bend on sharing their chaos with anyone who will listen, a devoted boyfriend whose feelings she has to consider and, if that’s not enough, an unsettling attraction to a new man in town. There are some laughs, some irritations and some moments to ponder, and it’s my hope that my readers will walk away feeling it was time well spent.
Q. Where do you find the ideas for your stories?
A. It’s a funny thing, I don’t think I necessarily look for story ideas so much as get struck by them. I never know from where the idea will come; however, when it does, it seems that it just hangs on and won’t fade away. It starts to gain momentum in my imagination and soon enough, characters start to take form, their lives start to take shape and then I just have to get to the keyboard and let the story out.
Q. What is your writing schedule like?
A. Schedule? What on Earth is that? Haha! Okay, but seriously, I have to admit I don’t necessarily have a set schedule that I follow when writing. I have times of day when writing is much more doable, when the house is quiet and I’m not needed for any immediate tasks etc. In the end, my attitude is simply that it must get done, so it does.
Q. When can we expect Favorable Conditions- your third book- to be available?
A. I am working on the final edits etc. for Favorable Conditions and have set the target date for release as December. I’ll have a firm date as we head into mid-November, so stay tuned!
Q. Thinking of the whole process- writing, editing, publishing, marketing, and all the in-betweens, what do you find to be the hardest part about getting a book published?
A. A great question. For me, I’d say the most challenging part of the process is making my butt stay in my chair as I’m in edits. As I’m sure you well know, editing is a grueling process, having to evaluate and reevaluate every sentence, paragraph, etc. It’s amazing how enticing the laundry pile can suddenly become when you’ve been staring at your screen and have reread your manuscript for the umpteenth time!
Q. How are you able to overcome the challenges?
A. I think it comes down to what I said before: It must get done, so it does. I give myself a firm talking-to and get down to it. I’m thankful that I am of the personality to finish things I’ve begun. I wasn’t always that way, but very soon into my adult life I came to the conclusion that if I was going to start it, then good, bad or ugly, I was darn well going to finish it.
Q. What are you reading right now?
A. I just finished “Caroline’s Sister” by Sheila O’Flanagan, and have begun “The Cinderella Deal” by Jennifer Crusie.
Q. What is the last thing you borrowed from someone?
A. Oh dear, that’s a good question and I have to say, I don’t remember! Seriously, I’m not a borrower by nature, so it might be something as mundane as a pencil, or pen, or the like.
Q. If you had to pick a reality show (or type of reality show) to be on, which would be and why?
A. Hmmm, I’d have to say “Dancing with the Stars”. I have over ten years of dance training in my background, so I think it would be so much fun to get in there and learn etc. from one of the pros.
Q. Where would be your dream vacation?
A. There are a few places on the planet that I would love/plan to visit in the not so distant future. The Hawaiian Islands, the British Isles, Italy… You get my drift.
Q. What is your advice to aspiring writers?
A. My best advice would be: Be kind to yourself, compare yourself to none, revel in the process and have fun with it. There’s room for everyone’s story, so just relax and breath.
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