Most of my reading is done on the go or late at night, so most of my ebooks go on my phone. I love being able to read anywhere!

Organized clutter. I have a mixed mess of "day job" and writing stacks, prioritized by frequency of use. All of the Underwater book materials are on top! I have a box of quick-reference index cards for characters, creatures, plot points, and cultural references to my left, next to my Eddie Izzard "Cake or Death" coffee cup that serves as a pen holder. My computer is on a raised platform straight ahead, under which I lay out current writing plans, so I can see everything all at once. To my right, I keep a large bottle of water, my a cup of (unfortunately usually cold) coffee, a stack of blank sticky notes and page markers, and the Intrusive Thought Waste Bin. I have a photo from my wedding party, various gothic or water-themed trinkets, and a collage of sticky notes scattered on shelves built into my desk and the surrounding walls.

I grew up as a rural farm girl in the Midwest, a home schooled only child. My nearest neighbor growing up was about a mile away. Climbing trees and playing on the farm, hiking, fossil hunting on gravel roads and plowed fields, playing with all kinds of critters in nature, built within me a strong respect for our world, which was encouraged by my parents. While I was out playing, I invented so many adventures and told stories in my head, which remains true for me as an adult. There is so much to explore which can inspire questions. If I can't find real answers, I often imagine a fantastical reason.

I've always kept a journal, but when I was very young my mother and I would make up stories together. They never went anywhere---half the time, we didn't even finish them. Most of my writing has been for academic purposes: editing plays and scripts for work, compiling resource guides for colleagues, writing essays and proofing papers. About two years ago, in a fit of unhappiness and depression, I decided I wanted to do something fun, just for me, and returned to the creative writing practice once more.

When I first started looking into self-publishing, it was for nonfiction. I have a few manuals that have been in the works for some time. After I shared some of my creative writing with my spouse, however, he said I should put it out there for others to read. I figured, why not? At worst I won't sell any, and even then I get the experience for any other projects I take up in the future. It hasn't been a life-long passion of mine, but it has been a joy to write these characters, and worth all the stress of actually publishing.

I would not have sold a single book, let alone known how, without Smashwords. Their tools have helped me become educated about the process, and I have learned more in a single year working with them than in many of my college courses. I am forever grateful for their support, and applaud the Smashwords staff for their dedication to the cause.

The people. I used to think it was a gimmick when authors spoke about characters telling them things, but it turns out it is true. I love the people that come to me and whisper their stories, and I'm honored that I get to write them down. Equally, I love the people who engage with the characters through my writing, the readers. Both groups are wonderful, and my life has been made so much more full by interacting and conversing with them.

Oh, this is a tough list to nail down. There are so many! Classic fantasy and sci-fi favorites are Robin Hobb, J. R. R. Tolkien, Lois McMaster Bujold, and Terry Pratchett. Favorite romance writers include Nalini Singh and Tiffany Reisz. Paranormal/urban fantasy favorites are Patricia Briggs, Ilona Andrews, and Seanan McGuire. I also adore Scarlett St. Clair, Darynda Jones, Lorelei James, and Kresley Cole. Naomi Novik and Erin Morgenstern also make the list. I could go on and on, but I think I'll have to stop here for now.

Coffee.

Reading or listening to other books, researching topics, and collaborating with local creatives on whatever new arts project is in the works. I enjoy gardening and running, as well, and try to spend as much time outside as is reasonable.

Mostly through random scrolling. In edition to the Smashwords and state library catalogues, Reddit is also a great resource for finding new books, especially by new and self-published authors. Often I will scroll through 'similar to' lists, or try books recommended by friends. When I get hooked on an author or series, I binge, reading/listening to as much as I can as soon as possible, so it can take me a month or two to switch up my sources.

The first one I remember writing by myself was about a woman waiting for her husband to come home from some long journey. It was winter, and she was tucked away in her cottage, snuggled up with her cat in a rocking chair. I think that description is as far as I got with it.

It depends. Freewriting is usually where I start, especially if a character has been whispering in my ear for a bit. It is useful to go for long walks and let my mind wander on topics or characters or 'what if' questions, and characters often surprise me in those moments. Sometimes, when I want to write but don't know what to write, I'll do a character interview by asking, "What is important for me to know today?" Those get very silly, but I've had some good bits come out of it. Often, I write entirely out of order. Sometimes I know where a story starts or ends, but don't have the middle bit. Sometimes I get disconnected scenes, and put them together like puzzle pieces to serve the greater arc of my series. When I'm in the thick of it, I experiment with plugging holes in the plot until I'm satisfied, or I return to what I have already written and reread it to get back on track. Then it is editing, editing, editing, for hours and hours. (My least favorite part.) Sending it off to readers is the hardest part, but finally hitting the 'publish' button is a relief. The work isn't done then, though, because when I get feedback about formatting or other errors, I try to address them as soon as possible.

I don't remember the first story I read, but I remember when I first discovered reading for pleasure and chose to do so of my own will. Being home schooled, I went with my mother to her work every day, which was a long commute. Terribly bored one night and absolutely fidgety, I pulled a Magic Treehouse book out of the back of the car and started reading it. It was the one about mummies, and the kids exploring a tomb. It took me several days to finish it, but that started my ravenous hunger for reading fantasy books on my own, going through 1-3 a day after that until I got to larger and longer books. I think I was about nine or ten.

Some of these are cheating, because they are series and not individual books, but my excuse it that I treat the story as one whole unit, so it counts.
The Mercy Thompson books, because Patricia Briggs just gets people. Mercy is such a cool gal, and what a great rolemodel for women and girls.
Cry Wolf, also by Patricia Briggs, is another book that I could reread all the time. In fact, it is always on my phone. If I can't find a new book to read, I pop open Cry Wolf and reread it. Anna, Charles, Walter and Asil are just so wonderful. The story, while not exactly comforting, always feels safe to me, and when I can't sleep I can settle in and relax with it. It is like coming home every time.
The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern. I reread this book at least once a year, and each time I find a new thing that I didn't notice before. It truly is so rich and magical, I don't think I'll ever be tired of it.
The Lord of the Rings books, because Tolkien's languages and symbolism are so complex and beautiful. It is a classic for a reason.
The Vorkosigan books, by Lois McMaster Bujold. The worlds are so amazing and diverse, and I love to see people of physical difference doing things and being awesome. There aren't enough 'disabled' main characters that get to save the day.

Fantasy, sci-fi, and romance mostly. I'm definitely a fan of smut, but I love it when the characters are interesting, inspiring, and have magical or wild adventures. If there isn't at least a romance subplot, I have a hard time enjoying it, because I think love is one of the most important aspects of our lives. Select nonfiction on the topic of linguistics is a fallback, too.

I'm still trying to find what works for me.