I come up with an idea for a story and who I want my characters to be (strong, independent, introverted, troubled, carefree etc.). I usually have a good idea about how I want them to meet and what my endpoint will be, then I work from each direction to weave it all together. I develop a relatively detailed outline that includes characters, certain situations that I want to happen and plot it in. But I don't restrict myself. If I'm in the flow of writing and decide that a scene I had in mind for chapter 20 would really be great at chapter 14, I'll put it in.

The first big "chapter" book I read was Camp Sunnyside or something like it. I hated it. My Mom made me read it over the summer before I started school the next Fall. But I struggled through it. Then I discovered Sweet Valley High and The Baby-Sitters Club, and my love for reading took off. In sum, it made me realize--even to this day--how important pacing, character development and connecting to one's characters can be.

I think about what I want my cover to represent in very small ways. But I don't want to give away the entire book with it. So I plant seeds with my covers, small things that mean a lot. With A Fire So Deep, it's a wheat field in the background, with a heart for the love story and of course fire. As those who read will find out, many of these things have multiple meanings throughout the course of the story.

The Great Gatsby--I've always been fascinated by the roaring 20s; A Time to Kill-- I think it's one of John Grisham's best stories and his first book (though I've read all of his books) because I could picture the characters in my head from the moment I opened it; Twilight-- the ability to take something or someone very ordinary and intertwine it with fantasy is very difficult--especially a love story; The Hunger Games--the idea of a post-world war III world is also fascinating to me, and guessing at which areas were which intrigued me; Kiss the Girls by James Patterson--I've also read nearly all of the Alex Cross books and am intrigued by profilers (I love Criminal Minds as well) which is why his work appeals to me. All of these books have contributed to my work. My second story is about a troubled FBI agent who is coming out from being undercover and meets a woman that is perplexing to him, draws him in and is far too connected to his case. It has undercurrents of all of my favorite works in many ways, but is my way of expressing my interests through the written word.

I like romance, but romance with "teeth." It's not all about sex. For me it's the relationship building, usually some type of struggle to get there, and a very intricate plot interwoven with the love story. Consequently, I write what I want to read, and I hope I am able to provide that same type of story for my readers.

My i-Phone or i-Pad.

Promoting it with my already established readers.

What desk? Laptop for me.

I grew up in the Midwest. I am quite private about my background, but my upbringing made me a very hard-working, strong-willed, and passionate person. It carries through into my writing.

When I was in third or fourth grade. Around the same time I really became interested in reading.

My latest book was actually written prior to the first one I published. But now I'm taking the time to go back and give it the attention it needs. It is very complex, very intricate and will take a lot of time to edit. But it is my favorite and the closest to my heart. It's about an FBI agent who lost his brother in 9/11, and how he finds himself again through meeting a very important woman and through his latest mission.

I've always been writing in some form, whether for fun, through work or for school. It's truly my passion and I love writing Fiction. I love developing characters, settings, plots and twists. As such, publishing has been a lifelong dream of mine and I finally decided to do it by self-publishing and taking the leap.

Smashwords has been very easy to work with, easy to understand and all of the guides are very helpful. I hope it will help me continue to grow as an author.

Writing a scene where you know you just nailed it. That moment where the perfect words come to you and your fingers can't move fast enough to get it all down on the page. It's a rush. And then further down the line, when your readers respond with "I loved that scene!" It's perfect.

Everything. Fans are like a shot of adrenaline. They make me want to write more, to see if I can top a scene or a story or an adventure. Their feedback is extremely important to me.

I am editing the book I described previously, tentatively titled "Covert Redemption." I'm hoping to publish it in the Spring of 2015.

My kids, my husband, my job, writing, running. I am very lucky. I have a great life and that alone inspires me to be better at everything I do.

Playing with my kids, running, watching sports, going out to new restaurants, traveling, concerts, shopping--you name it. I am a very active person with varied interests.