I sat down to write a story inspired by a TV show called UFO Chasers. It was going to be about a woman who becomes a UFO chaser, and has adventures and some harrowing encounters.

But what happened when I started writing the story was a very different experience. Once I'd started telling Cassie's story was something altogether different. I'm not in any way psychic, but it was as if Cassie took over the story and my idea was not HER story. Her story was Lifeboat, and it was what happened to her, for better or worse.

I considered going the traditional publishing route for about a minute I think. While there are pros to it, in my case it didn't make a whole lot of sense. First, Lifeboat doesn't really fit easily into a genre that is highly marketable, which is what most publishers are looking for. It is sci-fi, but it's soft sci-fi. It is aliens and UFOs which many people just will not read.. But it is much more than aliens and UFOs. It is a character driven story, and while it is a bit fantastical, it is, for the most part, not so far fetched that it couldn't be true. It is part womens fiction, part sci-fi, a whole lot of suspense, and just good fiction.

But what it is not, is easily marketable. A traditional publisher would probably not touch it.

But even if they would, well I just like having control over the whole thing. It is my baby and I don't want to make changes just to make it marketable. It would change the whole thing. I like have control over the story, over the cover, everything.

I'm not sure I have many fans yet, but when I get feedback on what people who have read Lifeboat feel about it it rocks my world. I love discussing it. I love hearing what parts they liked and what parts they didn't. I love all of it. Fans rule.

I read a lot.

I blog a lot. You can check out my blog at www.abshepherd.net. I review most of the books I've read on there, and I also feature some of my own dribs and drabs of writing on topics that strike my fancy as well as interviews and guest posts with other authors.

I also am a novice fiber crafter. I dabble in knitting. I've made a few attempts with needle felting which I love but am terrible at.

In many ways. Sometimes I just browse through ebook sales websites. But more often I take review requests on my blog and recommendations from my friends. I also love Goodreads.com and I find a great number of wonderful reads through some of their book clubs. There are so many great ways to find great books.

I'm not a person that judges a book by it's cover. To be honest I find most covers a bit off putting. The blurb is usually what gets me.

The design for Lifeboat had kind of an interesting transition. I had a specific idea in mind and I worked with a graphic artist to make it happen. I liked the cover that was designed. Then I had a friend read Lifeboat. She is a fabulous cover designer in her own right, although most of her work is non-fiction. After she had read it she asked to see the cover I'd had done. She didn't like it. On her own she came up with another design and she showed it to me. I really loved her cover design, so with her permission and a little bit of money changing hands I opted to use hers. It is so much more vibrant than Lifeboat's original cover.

My reading tastes are really varied. I will read anything from YA to crime thrillers and much in between. I love mysteries, I love humor, I love science fiction, I love fantasy.

I'm a bit over vampires and werewolves, and also romances, but nearly anything else is fair game. If the blurb intrigues me I'll give it a go.

I have a Kindle which is my preferred device. I also have a Mi-Gear and a Sony e-reader.

One of the best things about Smashwords is that is offers you e-books in every available ebook format. It doesn't really matter which e-reader you use. Other online retailers aren't that flexible, which is a darned shame.