My characters! They are very busy during the night and I can't wait to get downstairs in the morning, snuggle into my corner of the couch with a steaming mug of coffee, and get to writing down what they've been up to!

I love reading and watching movies! I also spend time with my little girl and hubby, taking walks, hiking, playing games, browsing book stores, whatever suits our fancy at the time.
And research! I'm always perusing the web....

Sometimes I just stumble upon them while online and sometimes they are recommended by friends.

Yes! It was a Christmas story about a family of bears...I was in third grade. By fifth grade I had veered more into the horror/fantasy genre!

I don't really have much of a process...
Most of my inspiration comes from the wild and crazy adventurous dreams that I have. So, most mornings, after the dog wakes me up with poking me with her icy-cold nose, I head downstairs, grab some coffee and toast, and pull out whatever is already written. I skim what I wrote the day before then take the plunge and continue on.
My den is littered with post-its...I'm a big fan of sticky little pieces of paper that can hold my thoughts.
I don't begin with an outline, but generally I tend to get stuck halfway through and making a plot outline saves it.
I've just discovered some writing software that does all kinds of amazing things with outlines and continuity...I'm going to employ it for the sequel to No Time to Cry. Looks like it will be a lot of fun to use!

I've been reading since I was three, a gazillion Little Golden Books!
But as a teen, the first book that sticks out immensely is The Shining by Stephen King! On one hand because of how it is written, the content, and how terrifying the entire thing was (I still get shivers thinking about it) AND on the other hand because it forged a long friendship between me and a boy in my English class...he was sooo dreamy!
The next ones that have influenced me the most are Faerie Tale by Raymond E. Feist, They Thirst by Robert McCammon, and Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

I'm extremely visual and I really need the cover to elicit feelings and draw the prospective reader in, make them need to know what is happening in the book, and also convey what the book makes me feel as I'm reading it. I want my covers to hint at what lies inside on the pages. I want my readers to not just read the words, but I want them to feel and see what is happening.
The colors used withing the artwork, warm or cool tones, harsh or soft lighting, sharp or muted edges... it's all incredibly important. The font is important as well.
It all creates a whole that hopefully captivates a reader long enough to lure them into opening the book and reading the words, makes them want to become a part of the story.
I have an extremely talented artist/designer that knows me very well and knows what I need.

Oh Holy Crow, just five? That's hard! The Shining, They Thirst, Cat Magic, The Vampire Chronicles, and Harry Potter. (And Faerie Tale!)
Why?
They made me feel on such a deep level, whether it was intense fear, longing, love, happiness, sadness, joy, elation, excitement, terror. etc... and they were so well written that I felt as though I were within the pages living with the characters.
And I didn't want any of them to ever end!

Fiction...of all kinds! Dark Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Chick-Lit, Paranormal Romance, Horror, even some YA!

Kindle...but it's the first model and I really need to upgrade!

Which one?
My "desk" moves around...I have the dining room table, the settee in the den, my bed, the living room sofa, the table on the front gallery, and my chair on the balcony. I'm quite mobile, but my bevy of sticky-notes follow me everywhere...sometimes trailing behind me on the floor!
I have folders and writing tablets in a stack, my cup of pens, my laptap, my flash drive, and the ever-present cup of coffee, all cradled precariously in my arms as I move from room to room trying to figure out which holds the right mojo for the moment!

Fear of rejection!
Really though, after so many years of dabbling around with writing and never finishing anything because of possible rejection, possible massive changes to my story, or possibly never seeing my stories in print...I jumped on the band wagon. And now it's here! It's the best feeling in the world to hold my book in my hand! I can't wait to get the next one out there!

I'm currently working on Book Two of the Nine While Nine Legacy!

Anne Rice, Raymond Feist, J.K. Rowling, Alys Arden, Becket, Stephen King, Alex Rosa, Sarah M. Cradit, Neil Gaiman, Greg Wilkey, K.L. Bone, Robert McCammon, Tate Hallaway,....the list is endless!