I love being able to immerse myself in new worlds that I get to create and getting inside the heads of my characters. Sometimes I can even hear their voices in my head. It makes it all very real for me. Then I can sit back and enjoy reading what I wrote. If I can't enjoy it, then it's not worth doing!

I have a daughter who is autistic, so a great deal of my time is spent with her. Otherwise I am reading. :)

I'm not sure I actually have a process. It's been so different for everything I write. I think the only thing that remains constant is that I always create the character first. I come up with the type of person I want to write about then I build the character around that. Once my characters are born, the story and the world they live in sort of just unfolds around them.

My views on the traditional publishing world are probably not the most popular views. I believe that traditional publishers have really lost sight of what the industry is all about--telling great stories. For most publishers it's become all about quantity over quality. The publishing industry is changing so drastically at the moment and I don't think traditional publishers are doing a very good job at keeping up. I want to be a part of those changes and thrive in them. I don't want to be like many out there who are living in fear of the changes and trying to avoid them.

My fans mean the world to me. It's not just about selling books or recognition. For me it's all about meeting new people and knowing that I somehow managed to change their lives in some small way, even if it's just for the moment while they are being entertained by my stories. I love knowing that someone got enjoyment out of something I created.

I don't remember the very first story, no, but when I was young I had a hard time with reading. Going from 3rd to 4th grade I didn't even have a 1st grade reading level. It was difficult for me. Then one summer they held a "reading olympics" through my school. The one who read the most books over the summer would win a gold medal. I didn't even consider it until my brother's kindergarten teacher gave me some suggestions on how I could make reading easier and encouraged me to participate. So I spent the whole summer reading. I read over 150 books ranging from early reader types to adult sized novels towards the end. I didn't think I won. I figured if I read that many, someone surely read more than me. I was surprised to find that the person who got second place didn't even read half the number of books I did. It was very exciting for me and I was hooked on reading ever since. It changed my life in a very significant way because being able to read really determines how much you are able to learn.

I prefer to read fantasy novels. I love everything from Harry Potter to Twilight. I especially love stories that add a fantastical element to our world as we know it now or an alternative earth.

I usually just browse until something looks interesting to me. Otherwise I go by recommendations.

Right now it's my iPhone, but I would love to get some sort of tablet to read on.

My daughter. She is a truly amazing little girl. :)