As a law-abiding citizen, I never knew that law enforcement or the court system was used regularly to address people with depression who go to the ER. It was an absolutely terrifying personal experience, and I wanted to share that truth with others, in addition to how it snapped me back to the reality that I could have been completely lost in the world of psychosis, or on a chronic life-loop heading in and out of such treatment scenarios for the rest of my life if I did not find a solution to my depression. There is help and there is hope for all of us.

I've been a writer of sorts since I was 5 years old, and even spent many years and a teacher of writing and reading. My master's degree is in storytelling, so it is a natural progression for me.

Smashwords does for me what I do not have time or resources to do for myself: get my book out there to other retailers, hosts the sale of my book, and gives plenty of support to indie authors.

I'm a problem solver by nature. My poems are snapshots of moment that I want to distill for others to see. My fiction work are journeys where a character needs to go through some sort of transformation. My non-fiction addresses an issue that I think people need to know more about, and it allows me to give actionable steps to deal with whatever issue I'm writing about. The joy all comes down solving the "what if" for each type of writing. Having others read and use what I create is the proverbial icing on the cake.

I have fans? :-) Seriously, though, I appreciate anyone who reads my work and sees something of value in it. Fans are the lifeblood of my income, my audience, and those who I seek to help. I sincerely want to give them all the value I can for their time and money.

I'm a multiple project personality who loops back, iterates, updates, and adds -- so there is no linear "next" for anything that I do. That said, I have a book I'm working on about solving hunger issues in cities, another on deciding whether or not to go to college, a novel about a WWI-era girl who dreams of going off to become a film star, and more poetry as well as photography. You just never know what's going to pop up next!

Like my work style, there's a wide selection of authors and works that I appreciate: Studs Terkel's Working and Hope Dies Last, anything from Wallace Stegner, Diana Gabaldon's Outlander books, and everything from Neil Gaiman. I do not have a favorite poet, though. It is simply too hard to choose.

Great question for a woman who had major depressive disorder! The first thing is my health and freedom. It is such a gift to be able to wake up in a safe, clean, calm environment with those I love around me. Then, I'm off to solve the little self-created work problems for the day. Even when I write for others, such as writing curriculum for teachers, I set it up with a problem-solution mindset. It is my idea of fun to create solutions.

I read a whole lot, usually one or two books per day. I go for a long walk most days -- at least 45 minutes. I do creative projects -- such as decorate, needle work, and I've got a crazy quilt in progress. Then, like most people, I run my household and take care of my pet, 17-year old toy Poodle, Petey.

I am on several email notification lists that alert me of sales, and that's how I find new authors. However, I'm a voracious reader of business books, so I learn about those through webinars, email marketing, podcasts, and participating in author events such as publishing summits. When I really want something exciting to read in the world of fiction I use my friends and Goodreads connections to help me find what's next to open.

Yes. It was a song. Even as a 5 year old I loved natural beauty and using 'big' words to sound grown up. My little song was about sea shells. "Shells are delicate. Shells are nice. Shells are very pretty things. Yes, oh, yes. Shells are very nice." Isn't that a hoot? But at 5 years old I was so very proud.

To show new things -- ideas, objects, marginalized people, solutions to problems -- to folks who are looking for them. Writing is a discussion starter, door opener, and change agent.