When I was in high school an English teacher wrote "Never stop writing" on one of my essays. I have to admit, I haven't written steadily since then, but off an on. About five years ago I joined a small writers' group through a friend, and those women have been my inspiration to start writing (somewhat) consistently and invaluable support.

They say write what you know. After traveling with my mom over the past 12 years, I definitely know about traveling with someone who has ever-changing health and abilities. Mom and I have taken so many trips and had so many rich experiences, I knew I had a lot to share. When I started thinking about writing Travels with Mom it flowed so quickly and easily I was shocked. Of course, that's the first draft. Revisions are another story!

I have a passion for getting information out and a passion for marketing, but not a passion for asking permission. Sending queries and waiting for approval is not my style. I guess I'm a bit spoiled in that I like to just do things myself rather than wait for help. Spoiled or foolish, I suppose!

I love the Internet and new technologies that allow us to take control of more of our careers. It's a great populist revolution, and I'm all in!

Smashwords is extremely user-friendly, making formatting my ebook really easy. Their marketing tips are providing direction for me as I try to navigate the maze of independent book sales.

"I love it when a plan comes together!" I love it when I have an idea for organizing my thoughts and it actually helps. I tend to get tripped up with too many thoughts and ideas at once, so any technique that helps me focus and make progress is great. I guess it's called being in the zone. Once in a great while that happens in the writing process, and it's delicious!

I've been blogging about my experience with depression over the past 35 years, and I think there's a book there. So I'm trying to organize that next.

Depression is just beginning to be understood better by the general public and I find when I tell people I suffer from depression they are both shocked and interested. Maybe I can make a tiny difference in people's understanding of the illness. That's my hope, anyway.

Ken Kesey, who broke all the rules but still wrote a couple of masterpieces in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Sometimes a Great Notion.

Harper Lee. To Kill a Mockingbird is almost a perfect novel, in my opinion. So amazing!

Tolkien, of course. I read The Lord of the Rings every couple of years.

I don't read nearly as much as I used to for some reason. I do love nonfiction, especially nature-oriented stories. I also love to read articles, because I think my attention span has regressed!

I have a Kindle and I love it. It's not too fancy, but it gets the job done. It was a gift on my 50th birthday, and it definitely gets a workout!

Right now I'm writing on the patio at a tall table with a bright lime green umbrella! I often write on the sofa. I have tried to set up nice organized work areas several times, but I always gravitate back to the less formal.