Yes, I was about 13 years old and I had just returned from a party; the people and the atmosphere of night kept dancing in my mind. I never wanted to forget that night so, I sat down and wrote, or attempted to write a short story, about a girl at her first high school party. And when I started to write that story I realized how difficult it was to tell a story. That is when I began to study other writers and how they approached writing; how they told stories.

Good question! A writing process is very important. I do not have a ritual. I tried for sometime to have a writing place, but I tend to just lie in my bed with the computer on my lap and write. I tend to free-write at first then once I become familiar with my characters I plan the story out. I also keep a list of characters, as I cannot remember people's names that well. When my story is complete I might record myself so I can hear how the words flow on the page.

Yes, It was called A Appointment with a Strange. It was not so much the first story I read, but the first story that really spoke to me and made me want to be a writer. It was the first book that, when I finished, I realized someone created the characters that seemed so real to me. I read the book when I was very young and had forgotten all about it until I started my master's degree in writing. The book had such an impact on me that I spent the entire first year of my master's searching for the book. I needed to remember why I wanted to be a writer. After a long and exhausting search I was speaking to one of my friends on the phone and I told her about my search and she said, "Oh, that book you loved. It is called, "An Appointment with a Stranger, by Jean Thesman."

My guilty pleasure is Romance.

Well I do have a desk and it is upstairs in my walk-up attic. It is an old desk my friend gave me. It looks out a window into the tree tops. And it is empty, because my current writing location is on my lap in my bed.

Seeing my children. I am a recreational runner and I enjoy clearing my mind on a long run. Also, I teach writing and I love my job. I enjoy teaching others how to write as it truly is an important skill.

I take care of my children. I run, I teach. I read of course!

1. Black Water, by Joyce Carol Oates. *spoiler alert* to be able to write a flashback narrative story through the perspective of girl who is drowning is amazing.
2. The Raft, by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen. Writing a story with one character alone on a raft takes true talent.
3. Love in the Time of Global Warming, by Francesca Lia Block
4. Weetzie Bat, by Francesca Lia Block There are no words to explain why I love these books you just have to read them Amazing writer, Amazing stories.
5. Pride and Prejudice - it is not Darcy; it is Lady Catherine de Bourgh - what a strong "head strong" lady.
Summary strong characters get me.

My phone.;

It is very loosely based on my Great Grandfather's story.

Meeting my characters