Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in Mississippi. We had a few acres of land and lots of neighboring wooded area. I love adventure and exploration. I would stay in the woods from sun up til sundown. I built forts, clubhouses, had bike trails, secret booby traps, and more! We may have struggled financially, but I was the richest child my age in terms of imagination. I was always encouraged to be creative. I was always taught that being different was something to be proud of! It seems like in our society today, being different is shunned upon. I really do think that type of thinking can severely limit a person.
We always watched wrestling growing up. It was a family event. When my brother and I were were about 13 and 10 (I'm older), we decided to host a "wrestling" party and invite all of our friends over. We built a legit life sized wrestling ring out of old washing machines, plywood, wooden posts, and used garden hoses for the ropes. I am still so proud of that to this day.
What's the story behind your latest book?
The Terribly Terrific Tales of Terry Rogers
I love this series so much. I really do. The stories are easy to create, because I just use events that happened in school and add some more fun things to it. It seems like all my fans really love Terry. He's such a like-able character and most people can relate to what he's going through.
One of the best parts of the series are the illustrations. My illustrator, Danko, is a creative genius! He really makes the characters come to life. He takes my words and brings them to life. It's so cool to see your thoughts turn into illustrations. It still blows my mind.
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