Originally appeared at Andi’s Realm Blog.
When did you start writing?
I’ve been writing on and off since I was a kid. I can remember filling up notebooks with stories about whatever celebrity crush I had at the time–I think the first was Kirk Cameron or maybe New Kids on the Block. In high school, I took some creative writing but by the time I got to college, I was afraid of trying to be a fiction writer and decided to major in journalism. I very clearly remember my advisor – the head of the magazine department – telling me the magazine major was for people like me who wanted to be published fiction writers but likely never would be. I listened to her and stopped writing creatively for many years. It wasn’t until I became a stay-at-home-mom in 2006 that I started writing again.
What is your favorite writing style?
I’m a sucker for great descriptive writing. I love to travel and don’t get to do nearly enough of it, so I’m always thrilled when a writer like Anne Rice or J.K. Rowling (opposites, I know) can make us feel as though we are truly in their world.
That said, I’m a suspense girl at heart, and I love the fast-paced style of suspense and thriller writing.
Where do you get your ideas?
Ha! From my demented imagination! No, I’m very interested in criminal psychology. I read a lot of nonfiction books on the subject, and I’ve watched quite a few of the true crime shows on Discovery and other channels. The idea of how dark a person can be–and what drives them to that point–is really interesting to me.
I also like writing about the family dynamic, because it’s such a vital part of a person’s life. It’s amazing how the smallest things can affect an individual in later years, and I like to explore that.
What’s the best thing about writing?
Being able to create characters I love and telling stories people will (hopefully) enjoy.
What’s the worst thing about writing?
For me, it’s the rollercoaster of insecurity. No matter what accolades we receive, most writers have that voice in the back of their head asking if they’re really just wasting their time/kidding themselves, etc. Most of the time, I’m confident in my ability and excited about continually improving, but there is always that little nagging naysayer to deal with.
What do you do when you’re not writing?
I’ve got a first grader who keeps me on my toes. She’s very social and involved with friends, swimming, cheerleading, etc., so we’re busy. And I try to put away the work when she gets home from school until after she goes to bed and spend as much time with her as possible. My husband is a big fan of the local USHL hockey team, and we like going to their games on the weekend. He works long hours sometimes, so we try to do as much fun stuff on the weekends as possible.
Do you like reading?
Yes, always have. Even as a kid, I remember being amazed by the things writers could do. I love shutting out the world and curling up in bed with a good book, and there is no better way to improve your writing then to study the masters.
What are you reading right now?
Just finished S.J. Bolton’s Now You See Me. Great suspense writer. The plot kept me on my toes. Next on my list is Stacey Joy Netzel’s Lost in Italy.
Big thanks to Andi for having me, and I hope her readers take a moment to comment so we can get to know each other. I’m excited to share the INTO THE DARK Charity Raffle with you guys as well.