The next book I plan to publish is a collection of short stories. It's loosely based on random people I have met, and lessons learned. An idea starts from a conversation, and a story just grows from that.

At one time they were on a blog (no longer active), and other peoples sites (now defunct), but always on my computer as well. Because I never knew what to do with them, I kept copies as I experimented with other ways to have my voice heard.

Just recently, I found them as I was cleaning out my computer files. And had a revelation: my close friends and family always liked my writing style. Sometiimes better than my art. So why not share the stores with the world, and see what comes of it?

No, but I remember making it into a book, and even illustrating the whole thing. It had something to do with my two sisters, though. As a kid, I could sit all day and make up little stories. Too bad I threw them away as a teen, it would be fun to be inspired by them now.

I love discovering new people and being inspired. Skirt magazine features many wonderful women writers. There are several on East of the Web that I follow (online) as well. Then of course a friend got me hooked on David Sedaris. And I always enjoy anything by Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, so much I could read them over and over.

As you can see, my tastes are very diverse.

I have a small collection of childrens books, and interior design and art books. What I like most about them all is the simplicity and color.
As far as childrens books, I still have a few from my own childhood, and until a fire, a whole stack of Dr Suess books.
Interior design books give me inspiration to see different possibilites in a space or area.
The art books just never get old to browse through.

As a creative person, I am always making, and doing several projects at once. Sitting still only comes from deep focus, like reading, writing, or painting, for the most part. It's a blessing and a curse. But I try to document all of my creative interests in my blog. Sometimes I even experiment in the kitchen; the culinary results are there too.

I grew up in a small town in Western Kentucky, where everyone knew everyone. Or at least you had an idea who their families were. So there was a sort of boring familiarity about it all. When a new person, or family came around, it made people watching a whole lot more interesting. I would make up stories about people just on observation, to intertain myself.

(Of course my favorite Auntie was an artist and writer. She went through a publisher, but it crossed my mind that maybe someday, I could find a simpler way to write as a career option.)

And when I went off to college, it was only less than an hour away. After a while the sameness got boring as well. The high school field trips didn't give me enough new people to meet, so I took more trips while in college. And even went on exchange for what turned out to be a year, to a state I had never visited. Just because.

As an adult, I still like the idea of meeting new people, and learning from them.

When I get an idea, it goes directly into a word program. Mostly just everything in my head at the moment. Then I go back when I am focused, and flesh it out. Maybe two or three times before it is complete. But I never like to over-think the whole thing. I have to write when words flow. Sometimes I need a cup of hot tea or coffee, and music in my headphones, and the night time. I believe that 10 pm to 4 am timeframe suits me better.

I take random, artsy, photos for no apparent reason, and save them in my iPhoto. Or paint something that I cannot throw away or share publicly. When it's time to create a cover, I go to that folder for inspiration, and always find that odd thing. Then I send it off to my cover designer with notes on ideas, and a book snippet. He gets payed to make that chaos into a work of art called a book cover.

Right now I only have the Kindle app on my phone. I really need to decide which Kindle version I want, and get one.

I have always liked the idea of DIY anything. When indie publishing became possible, I started looking at different options. At first I didn't know anyone who had actually become an indie author. But after actually meeting someone at a conference, I saw what she had done to create and promote her first book. She motivated to get my start on Smashwords, just as she had done.