HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK? Clearly I love beer (wink). This book is second in the Grog Wars series and I chose the setting because I am familiar with Mexico and love her twisted history.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK AND WHY? I love this line from Senta to my story’s hero, August, because it’s such a brave decision for the young woman:
“Instead of a man I think I could live with, I am going to marry the man I know I cannot live without.“
WHICH OF YOUR CHARACTERS FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING TITLE DO YOU BELIEVE IS MOST LIKE YOU AND WHY? I relate to Charlotte the most. She is capable and determined, but finds running a country a bit sad and lonely.
WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK? 1. Vengeance is a luxury few can afford. 2. It’s crucial to learn both sides of a story before acting. 3. A hopeful future is worth dwelling on; a sad and discouraging past is not.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER? My dad. He was a history teacher for 40+ years, and had an engaging delivery that always held his students rapt.
WHO HAS HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR WRITING STYLE?
Oddly, I think its my parents. During my high school years, both took to drinking and fighting quite a lot and quite often. It was a situation I wanted out of. I arranged to take just one class to keep me in high school (so I could graduate with my class) and before age seventeen, I moved out of my parents house and went to college—it was weeks before they noticed. I knew I wanted to write, and I penned a few articles and stories for magazines (nothing big). But I have managed to hang on to that YA writing voice, and I think it’s the voice that wins awards.
TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A WRITER:
People would be surprised to know, I think, that the gist of most of my stories are given to me by ghosts.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST CHALLENGE AS A WRITER? Being the poor, starving variety.
IF YOU COULD BE COMPARED TO A WELL-KNOWN AUTHOR WHO WOULD YOU MOST WANT THIS TO BE AND WHY? Mark Twain, hands down. No writer I know can surpass his provincial, armchair-easy manner of storytelling.
HOW DID YOU GET PUBLISHED?
I submitted my first novel directly to a mid-sized publisher and they sent me an overnighted contract. They published my next two novels as well, but went out of business two years ago. I self-published both “Grog Wars, Dos” and “Bayless”, a fun little pocket western-style novella. *I would love an agent’s representation, but apparently I write a sucky query letter.
CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK?
There is no substitute for you—people want to meet you, so get out there at every opportunity: farmers markets, blog tours, book clubs, bazaars, brick and mortar book stores, etc.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT?
A fan letter from a sixth grade boy in Portland. It was the greatest fan letter of all time!
WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ASPIRATIONS? To win CLC gold! I also aspire to become more well-known so more book lovers will read my stories.
TELL US SOMETHING PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT THEY MIGHT FIND INTERESTING:
I am a Chi Delphia Little Sister to the Delta Chi Fraternity at CSUF, and actor Kevin Costner is my Big Brother’s Big Brother.
WHAT OTHER BOOKS HAVE YOU PUBLISHED?
DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS? I am co-writing a screenplay with my daughter. We are converting a creative short story that was a quarterfinalist in an international competition.
LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval http://www.clcawards.org
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