Describe your workspace.

I write on my favorite couch in the family room, nice and cozy in the corner. This room always seems to give me inspiration. It lets just enough natural light in and has all my favorite colors. Note the glaringly red painting on the wall! ;)


Describe a typical workday.


A workday with me is never typical! I have family, which includes two small children, a job, and a neurotic dog, who always seems to need to go outside when I’m at a pinnacle point in my writing! 😉

List three of your most favorite things in your workspace and why they are meaningful.

1. I love my Acer laptop, sounds silly, but it’s my baby! I can’t imagine having to replace it.
2. My statue guy–David. He’s thoughtful, quiet and digs all my ideas!
3. My stone rat, Juniper. My daughter named him after one of Nightshade City‘s main characters. He’s the one on the cover.


Do you have any rituals in your work habits? If so, describe them.


The only ritual I can think of is emailing myself my MS, even if I only add one paragraph! I’m always worried about losing data, even with a zip drive because I had one fail before, but luckily I could retrieve everything from email. Email is the poor man’s (or in my case, the lazy woman’s) zip drive!

What do you listen to while you work?

I usually keep the TV on very, very low–just audible. I like to have a little background noise or my mind will only concentrate on the silence. Many times, I have my 2 and 7 year old playing in the background, who frequently mimic stampeding elephants, so you can imagine how deafening pure silence would be!


What is your drink and/or snack of choice while you’re working?

I’m a coffee snob! I have one of those amazing grind and brew pots. I’ve got to have fresh coffee–sad I know, but I like to blame Starbucks. They’ve totally spoiled me. In the afternoon, Diet Pepsi Max is my main man, I’m slightly addicted! I only have one though or I get way too cold!


What keeps you focused while you’re working?

Gosh, I suppose the pure drive to create! If only I had the same focus when it came to housework, my husband would be so thrilled! ;)


Do you write longhand, on a computer, or another way?

Usually on my laptop, though late at night, I’ve been known to write an entire scene longhand and then add it to the MS in the next day.


How do you develop your story ideas? Do you use an outline, let the muse lead you, or another technique?

I don’t outline, in fact I’m not quite sure what an outline is. Ha, ha! I guess the best way to describe my technique is “scene building”. I let one scene build onto the next and the best way for me to create those scenes is through research. It really opens up my mind, especially when I’m stuck. Research is my solution to writer’s block–always seems to spark an idea. I always picture a story like a house, something you build brick by brick.


If you were forced to share your workspace but could share it with anyone of your choosing, who would it be?

Someone who doesn’t talk a lot! 😉 Seriously though, I’d love to work alongside Rick Riordan. I would think he does a lot of research for his novels and would love to see how he keeps it all organized, though I think he would be far from impressed in regards to my note taking, unless he’s a major fan of random scribbled on paper scraps and old envelopes scattered about the house!


What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve heard or received?

As writers, it’s hard not to let noise from the outside world have an effect on your writing. Whether you are on the hunt for an agent or your first book has just released and you’re worried about sales, you have to take a step back, breathe, and write. My agent and I had a long talk about this at one point and it’s really helped me. At some point you have to realize you’re doing this because you love writing and that love has to be your main focus.