What is your favorite writing and reading genre? I love to read young adult fantasy books. Some of my favorites are Ember in the Ashes, Six of Crows, Fire, and Poison Study. Where and how did you get your idea for your books? Most of my ideas stem from dreams. Once I have the idea, then I start to plan and develop it into a book.
If a movie or TV show would be created for your books, which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead roles for you books? I would love to have actors/actresses that no one knows play the parts so there aren't any preconceived notions going in. Plus, my stories are all medieval era fantasy stories and I think having someone you've never seen before play the lead roles would add to the allure.
When did you decide to become a writer? I have always written stories for fun. When I had my second child, I wrote The Voice which ended up winning several awards. With the success of this book, I decided to make a career out of writing!
How did you get your book published? How long did it take for you to get it published? It took about three years for my first book to be published. A year to write, six months to find a publisher, and then 18 months to edit and get the book ready for publication.
Do you ever get writer's Block? If so, which book did you get the worst while writing? I usually don't get writers block because I have very detailed outlines that I use. However, every once in awhile I'll come across a scene that I'm not sure how to write. I usually leave myself a little note and move on. When inspiration hits, I go back and write that missing piece.
What is the average time for you to write a book? It takes me one month to plan the story in my head and outline, two months to write the first draft, 4-6 months to revise, and then it goes to editing which can take several months as well.
For your own reading, do you prefer kindle or paperback books? Paperback.
How are the covers made for you book? I work with some very talented cover artists who design and create my covers.
What advice would you give writer wannabes and future/young authors? Read. Reach as much as you can and reread books. By reading, you are learning character development, sentence structure, plot development, and so much more. What do you do during your free time, how do you relax? Read :-)
