I read almost anything, from meditative books to new strange fiction like China Mieville or Lovecraft. I am also character driven. Give me a character to root for and you've hooked me. I enjoy Margaret Atwood and Octavia Butler. But I also enjoy noir and mystery.

I have a white IKEA desk. Atop the desk is my laptop and a set of horizontal filing storage cubes where I store each of the stories I'm working on along with notes or feedback from readers. My 'Revision Cubes' I call them. Also on the desk is a can of Zingo, a box of story dice, an old apple box painted with an American flag where I keep loose coins and scrapbooking supplies. On the wall behind my desk are two corkboards where I post random ideas or notes. At the moment a card with the word Persistence is posted there to remind me the name of the road is Persistence.

The first 'story' I remember writing was around the time I was in the fourth grade. I was given an assignment to write a letter from one inanimate object to another. I wrote a letter from my socks to my feet begging them to please wear shoes because 'I' (as the socks) was tired of being damaged and torn apart. My teacher submitted the letter to a National Contest. I won. I went to D.C., even got to meet the President who put this little medal that I no longer have around my neck. The thing I remember most about that trip was the gift shop and the size of the flags.

Surviving. I have two children, one of which has OCD and Autism. Most of my 'free time' is spent with my children, either trying to work through challenges or encouraging them. When I'm not doing that, I'm sleeping. I fit in writing, and reading, whenever and wherever I can.

I normally go by word of mouth. The problem is when it comes to speculative fiction, not many of my friends read it. So I go by reviews, or check out what other authors are reading.

I begin by thinking of something strange and unexpected. Then I either start writing and see what comes out, or I spend a few minutes brainstorming. I love brainstorming because it exposes some fantastic characters or plot elements, things I wouldn't normally have considered.

Too many to list. Margaret Atwood, Lovecraft, Dickens, Ursula Le Guin, Robin Hobb, Jim Butcher, Robert Jordan, Stephen King, and many more.

My husband. He's a big speculative fiction fan and he's very blunt, which makes him a perfect beta reader.

I'm a proud member of the Stockholm Writer's Group. I can't imagine being where I am today without their help. They provide encouragement, feedback, workshops, networking and socialization that I couldn't get anywhere else.

I'm always working on something. My goals for the year are to publish two more short stories and finalize a novel. The novel is a fairy tale I've smashed into a sci-fi setting and it has been such a joy to write. My main character is a female ex-bodyguard who has an anger management problem. She's been fantastic to write. I'm really looking forward to seeing it published.