J.R.R Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Diana Wynne Jones, Sergei Lukyanenko, Stephanie Meyer and J.K.Rowling, because they created worlds I would love to live in and characters I would love to know. Mitch Albom and Audrey Niffenegger, for telling beautiful stories around intriguing themes.

I enjoy creating digital art based on my stories as well as creating short animations. I'm also an independent film maker, so when I'm not busy writing stories I like to be busy shooting them. I edit and dabble in special effects as well. I've spent a lot of time teaching myself various software programs and am still learning all the time. I enjoy a little physical exercise...especially swimming and beach walks. Since I spend a lot of time working at my computer I like to break it up with a zumba exercise every hour or so. I just push back my desk chair and get up and dance! I love reading and watching some of my favourite t.v. series on-line. I enjoy writing music on the piano/ keyboard. I don't read music but I enjoy learning chords and patterns and just writing from my heart. To me, writing music is a lot like writing books...both methods tell a story...one you hear, and one you see. Despite my fear of flying I love travelling, experiencing new cultures and meeting new people. Family and friends mean a lot to me...spending special time with them is always a priority.

Writing. I have so much to say and a great sense of urgency that I'll never have enough time to say it all.

Usually only one of two ways...either on recommendation from my daughters, who are avid ebook readers or through sites like The Fussy Librarian, Book Baby or Goodreads.

No, not the first story but I do remember a short story I wrote in elementary school, because I won a contest and got to attend a Young Author's Conference in the State of Maine that year and I was thrilled. It was called 'The Wish' and was about a girl who wished that mosquitoes would cease to exist. When her wish was fulfilled the entire eco- system collapsed and people started dying. To be honest, I can't remember how it ended!

Most of my story ideas are not shy in announcing their arrival. Invited or otherwise I usually sit down and shut up until they are done telling me who they are and where they come from. From there I will do one of two things depending on how the story has arrived and whether or not the characters have already started introducing themselves. I like to get a good outline down on paper, so that may be a chapter by chapter synopsis or if I'm incredibly lucky a scene by scene one. Within that synopsis I will include whatever characters I've met and what I know about them. If I need to find out a lot more I find creating an Enneagram to discover more about the character's personality is particularly helpful. One of the other most useful tools at this stage is to ask questions. For me it isn't about coming up with the characters or story as much as it is about asking questions about the characters and story and then listening for what the answers are. If something doesn't feel right in the story it's usually because I superimposed my own truths that didn't turn out to be truths for my characters so I go back and ask more questions and listen again. I use all this to flesh out the synopsis and once this is done I am ready to write the first draft.

I don't remember the first story I ever read, but I do know that I enjoyed Judy Blume as a younger reader. Later, I know that our assigned reading in school had a big impact on me, especially in middle school/ Jr. High. In particular, the titles: The Emerald Forest, Old Yeller, Where the Red Fern Grows, The Bridge To Terabithia, and Tuck Everlasting. I think absorbing so many tragedies, so young had an impact not only on my future writing but on my developing world view.

I know that there's a lot of advice to work with a graphic designer on this. But with my interest and skills in digital art I like the idea of designing the cover myself. It's part of the whole package and although I'm sure there are a multitude of talented people out there, it's a further creative expression of the story and I want it to be mine. Concept is important here, and it's a lot more difficult than you might initially think. It's not just about making sure you choose an image that captures an important essence of your story it has to be the right one to draw in your particular target audience too. Throw in the importance of font and layout and it's quite a complicated process. I'm always tempted to put way too much information into the cover. Fortunately for me I am surrounded by a good group of people, (especially my kids!) who are happy to tell me what they think works and what doesn't. I owe special thanks to my daughter, Lindsey K. Thompson, for developing the cover design for 'The Inbetween' with me.

A bit of a dumping ground. Spare change, hair elastics, pens, coffee cups and important papers that need my attention...and of course, my monitor, which is where all my attention is actually focused.

When I was a kid I clearly remember the day my class teacher took chalk in hand and scrolled across the blackboard..."Is it better to have loved and lost or never to have loved at all?"

As I grew up and time did what it does...I wrestled a lot with this question.

Many dark nights and dark days passed in that struggle, and at last, "The Inbetween" is my answer to that question.