Yes! I remember it was a very long time ago! I wrote a short story for a competition in the fourth grade. It was titled "The Mannequin Mansion', and it was about a girl who fell under the earth and found room upon room of mannequins. They came to life and chased her, sort of like 'Alice in Wonderland' meets 'Chucky'. It was a pretty scary story for a fourth grader but I really enjoyed detailing what the mannequins were wearing. I did win a feather quill pen for my efforts.

Although I'm artistic and can probably create a decent cover, I feel its too important and time consuming for me to tackle. That is probably something I will always hire out.

Anything and everything. I read online articles, I read the news, Stephen King, Tracy Chevalier, Agatha Christie, Dan Brown, J.R.R. Tolkien, Facebook, the instruction manual for my new vacuum.. The list never really stops. I was reading on a college level in fifth grade. Reading is akin to breathing.

Ummmm. Paperbacks. Sorry. My daughter has a Kindle, does that count? Ugh...will anyone still buy my book knowing this?

I will, as soon as I find it.

I had a publisher. They weren't traditional, but they did help me to get my feet wet. It wasn't working for me though. I really felt the need to have more control over distribution channels and content. They were kind enough to let me out of the contract and after a lot of soul searching I decided to self publish. It just makes sense for me.

Stringing together wonderful words. Although my books are fast and furious and very funny, I do write short stories also, many of which have a very serious edge to them and are much more descriptive. They are very different styles and give me joy in very different ways, With the humor, I move through it faster and its fun and makes me feel great when someone says they laughed through the whole book. With the more serious writings, I love the artistry of it all.

I'm working on the third book in the "Ghosts, Guilt and Tweezers" Chronicles. I am also simultaneously working on a fantasy teen novel and I also am working to put out a book of short stories.

Breakfast. I get really hungry somehow during the night...

They are proof that what I have done has touched someone, that what I do can make a difference. Because the books deal with death, albeit in a very funny way, it is still a hard subject to talk about or experience. I have received letters from people who have stated that the books have helped them cope with a loss...and that's a very humbling thing, but also very gratifying at the same time.

I also acknowledge that laughing is an amazing stress reliever. I feel great when I'm told by someone that they laughed through the whole book and they can't wait until the next one comes out. The responses from fans are an affirmation that what I do matters.