When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
I have the best day job in the world, which is working at an academic library. Surrounded by books, I always have some question I'm researching, whether it's the origins of electromagnetism or exactly how many steps it is to the Sistine Chapel.
When I'm not indoors researching and writing, I draw inspiration from hiking in the gorgeous green Pacific Northwest and discovering new cultures by traveling all over the world. We live in an amazing time period of discovery, technology, and adventure. It's a beautiful time to be alive!
How do you discover the ebooks you read?
As a kid, when we visited the bookstore, my brother and I could see so many glittering new books but we were only allowed one each. I loved going to the library because my parents let me come home with as many books as I could carry -- even if I had to make two or three trips! The library is where I discovered that I loved Anne McCaffrey and diligently collected every book she ever wrote, spending all of my Christmas and birthday money. Libraries are still how I browse authors to see what sticks.
In the e-world, where libraries are often a distant afterthought by publishers, I discover new authors by trying free first. I do get hooked on samples, but happy endings are a requirement for me so I really prefer full free reads. There's nothing that makes me angrier than thinking a book will have a happy ending and then getting horribly surprised! If I love an author's style in a free book, then I will purchase one or two more to see if they have staying power with their characters and plots. Then they become one of my new favorites.
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