How often do you write? And when do you write?
I try to write every day. I'll admit it doesn't always happen, but I do try! I write in the afternoons, after dropping my husband off at work and before picking my kids up from school. I sometimes try to write when I'm at home, but it usually doesn't work. Either the kids are vying for my attention, or they're in bed and all I want to do is veg out and watch Netflix.
Do you have an organized process or tips for writing well? Do you have a writing schedule?
I find that breaking things down into bite-sized chunks helps me a lot. I aim to write a thousand words every day, and I do it in 200 word sprints, with brief breaks in between for checking email and browsing Twitter!
Sometimes it’s so hard to keep at it - What keeps you going?
As hard as it is, I love doing it. There's that moment when you're reading over something you've written and you're surprised that it's actually pretty good. I live (and work!) for those moments.
Have you met any people in the industry who have really helped you?
Paul McComas really inspired me to get serious about my writing and encouraged me to put my stuff out there. And the great people at Booktrope have really helped me as a newbie in publishing.
What do you hope people will take away from your writing? How will your words make them feel?
Writing is always a collaboration between the writer and the reader. What my readers take away, how they feel, is entirely dependent on the individual reader, and I love hearing back from people on how my writing has affected them!
What’s your favorite meal?
There's a tiny tapas restaurant in Cambridge, MA called Dalí. True to its Spanish surrealist namesake, it is imaginative, passionate, and bizarre. The walls are gold melting like wax, the tables are strewn with rose petals, and the waiters sport dramatic mustaches. Almost as notable as the decor and atmosphere is the food. Tapas are small dishes of various sorts that are meant to be shared. A dinner of tapas consists of five or six of these dishes. It's an intimate experience for two, and when we lived in Boston, my husband and I would go on our anniversary. The last time we were there, they sat us in an intimate alcove separated from the rest of the dining room by a curtain of beads. We drank sangría and shared tapas of olives, marinated white asparagus, quail wrapped in bacon. It remains my favorite meal ever, by far.
What color represents your personality the most?
Green. Green can have so many shades: bright emerald when I'm happy and excited, deep forest when I'm engaged and concentrating on a project, drab hunter when I'm feeling sad and need quiet, alone time.
What movie do you love to watch?
I love movies, so this is a tough one! I think the movie I enjoy watching every time I see it would be The Princess Bride. It's fun and clever, and even though I know it by heart I discover new things and am reminded of old things I love every time. It's like rereading a beloved book. (Incidentally, The Princess Bride by William Goldman is a book everyone should read!)
How do you feel about social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter? Are they a good thing?
Like most things, they are good in moderation. I have to be careful not to let Facebook and Twitter (and Pinterest, and Tumblr, and...) take up all my time, but they are very important parts of my life! They keep me connected to my friends and family, help me discover new and interesting things, and allow me to engage my readers!
If you could do any job in the world what would you do?
I love what I do right now! But if I were to be a certain kind of writer, I would be a travel writer. I have always had a very strong sense of wanderlust, and I would love to share my experiences of new places and cultures.
Tara Martin – exceptionally accomplished neurobiology major with a troubled past. Steven Trent – confident political science major with an irresistible attraction to Tara. Paul Stratton – history major who is able to hear spirits. Together, they make up the Society for Paranormal Researchers at their prestigious New England University. When they’re not in class or writing papers, the three friends are chasing their passion….ghosts.
When the group learns of a local retired couple trying to sell a house they claim is haunted, they decide to investigate. As the clues unfold, a familiar spirit interrupts their investigation and Tara finds her life in danger. Can her friends save her before it’s too late?
Buy Now @ Amazon
Genre – YA paranormal, NA paranormal
Rating – PG-13
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Great interview! Thanks for sharing
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