Many authors say they have always been writers. Do you feel that way?

I haven't always been a writer.  Writing is something I had to learn by putting words on a page.  I have always been a daydreamer.  I would go home from school and make up stories about what happened during the day, then embellish them with happy endings.  My mother called it "fibbing."

Who are some of the writer's that have most influenced you and how?

Stephen King had the most profound influence on me.  Not because I like horror stories that much, but because he can craft words to create fantastic worlds and make them plausible enough to suspend reality.

What is the best writing advice you've ever received?

One of the first writing seminars I ever attended was titled, The Most Important Person in a Writer's Life: The Reader.  A successful published writer told the class to never, never lose sight of the impact of words on the reader.  Then she said, "Hit them in the gut and drag them through the story." 

What is your favorite type of character to write about and why?

I like strong, uncompromising women matched with strong, uncompromising men. Two alphas can make an exciting love story. One of my readers said it was never clear whether my protagonists were going to make love or kill each other.

I know you live in Florida now. Have you always lived there? Do you think
places you've lived have any influence on your writing?

Not really.  When you daydream a lot, you take your places with you.  Like carrying a suitcase in your mind.

How do you come up with the paranormal or fantasy elements of the setting
or world of your books?

I take my time and create my character, then take that character and run her/him through various paranormal and fantasy scenarios to see which one will best suit that character.  For me, it's all about the character.

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