What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
My family inspires me to drag myself from the comfort of my covers and go to work my day job. My husband works the night shift, so he is coming as I am going. He changed shifts so that he could help with the children while I'm at work and when I'm writing. We have six children together, and we work together to get everyone to their respective schools every morning and activities in the afternoons/weekends. My husband and children respect my dream of having a successful series of books, and they try very hard to be independent and "let Mom work". I love them for that and try not to let my muse interrupt family time. Their faith in me inspires me to be a better wife, mom, and writer.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in Central Texas where there were plenty of pastures and cattle. It was a rugged life especially since we lived in the rural community away from town when I was young. Supplies had to be stretched, and chores had to be done. I loved it. We moved to the town as my brothers and sisters graduated and left home. My mother became handicapped when I was twelve, and I took care of her. We took care of each other really. The long talks that we had about her life and experiences and my own experiences helped to shape not only my writing but the woman that I became.
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