Q & A

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​What’s in your bag?
I’m a fashion girl who loves a cute handbag. So I alternate them quite a bit, but I always pack my mainstays which is lip gloss, a hair clip, money, phone, mini writing notebook, pencil, photo of my family and gum/mints.

What is your current lock screen pic?
My nine year old took a selfie of me, him and his brother at my sister’s wedding. He is my official phone updater. He once scolded me for not doing the updates on my iphone. So from that point forward he said he would handle all the updates for me. It’s a happy moment in a mama’s life when her young son says “I’ve got this mom”.  

What’s your favorite meal of the day?
Breakfast for sure. During the week there is no time for me to eat a sit down breakfast, so it’s usually just coffee and a breakfast shake. However when I do have a sit down breakfast, I’m all about a hearty oatmeal with brown sugar and raisins, but I've been known to sneak a couple bites of my son’s pancakes. Yummy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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What is your favorite color?
Pink. It’s a happy color and it’s hard for me not to smile and be in a good mood when I’m around it. Perhaps that’s why I have pink walls in both my office and my craft room. Plus with two young boys I have to emphasize my girliness so I’m not steamrolled by cars, dinosaurs and superhero toys.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What were some of your favorite childhood books?
Bread and Jam for Frances was one of all time favorites. I also loved Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina and The Magic Pizza by Beverly Major. Infact, I found The Magic Pizza book at my parents house and it was such a blast from the past seeing my name written in the book in crayon.

Did you have a favorite chapter book series growing up?
I have always loved reading. I remember being a young girl camping out under the covers with a flashlight after bedtime and reading the Sweet Valley High chapter books by Francine Pascal. That was my favorite series growing up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did you go to the library a lot has a child?

Oh yes! I would spend many summer days there. I remember walking with my little sister down to the local library. We would spend hours there just looking at books. We were there so often the librarians knew us by name. Infact, I remember once a news reporter came in to do a news story and they needed a young kid in it. So the librarian asked my sister to take a photo with the librarian. We were so excited we ran home to tell our parents. It ended up on the front page of the local newspaper.

What does your writing routine usually look like?
I write daily. Just like owning your own business, it takes lots of discipline and good organization. I plan out my work week and I set aside time for my writing. If I can't get to it one day then I roll that time forward to the next day. Then I just put myself in the chair and get to work. The location may change depending on my day. Sometimes I’ll tuck myself in my craft room at home and write when the kids are at school. That’s my happy time and when I feel most balanced and centered. Sometimes, I’ll head into the office to write where I’m surrounded by memories of a company that I built and seeing all the good work I produced is inspirational and uplifting. Since writing is so private to me and I don’t like to share what I’m writing until it’s done, I usually don’t like to write in public places. However sometimes to make the best use of my time, I frequent my local Starbucks and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. I don’t discriminate I go to both of them. Regardless as long as I have a coffee cup, my laptop and my phone at my side I have all the tools I need to write.  

Where do you get your ideas for your books?
Anywhere and everywhere. It could be the kid behind me at the grocery store or something I see or hear while I’m out and about. My mind is always brewing with ideas and dreaming up new characters. Sometimes I wake up and have a story that I dreamt up while sleeping. So I tell my family if mama is sleeping in to not bother me because I’m working. Wink.  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How do you find time to read being a busy mom?
You always find time to do something when you enjoy it. I usually fit it in before bedtime. There is always a book on my nightstand. I'm always reading a few books at one time. I also LOVE audio books and I like to listen when I’m in the car. I remember back in the day I would have Danielle Steele cassette tapes that I would play in my car. Now it's super easy because my audio books can just stream through my Bluetooth in my car. 
 

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I have always loved crafting and working with my hands. I spent close to twenty years designing children’s accessories and running that company. I have since moved on from running the day to day operations, but I still lend a hand in some design projects. Outside of that I have always enjoyed painting, crafting projects to decorate the house and sewing for my kids.

What specific craft do you have on your wish list?
Paper crafts specifically card making. I have so many supplies too! I went nuts once at a tradeshow and walked out with bags. I have a drawer in my craft room filled with stencils, embellishments and embossing tools. It’s on my crafts to do list.