Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre?

As an adult, I can unashamedly say that I still love YA fiction. Lately, though, the books I’ve found seem to focus more on romance and less on the fun and adventure teens-young adults can still experience before the weight of adulthood weighs down on them. I chose to write one of those. Granted, there’s a little romance, but it’s not the focus of the story at all.

Are you a full-time or part-time writer and how does that affect your writing?

Some days I’m one, some days I’m the other, and some days I’m neither. I’m a full time mom, so when I’m home alone with my kids, they take priority. Every now and then, I can get a few chapters written on my phone, but unless I’m neck deep in a story and run away to the library for a few hours, that’s the extent of my work day. But that DOES give me the chance to work parts out in my head before typing it down!

What have you written so far?

I have three published books on Amazon, the Blue Hat Detective Agency series, but I have the fourth one completed and ready to go. And, of course, The Lost Treasure of Blackbeard.

Do you work with an outline or plot sketch, or do you prefer to let a general idea guide your writing?

I try to have an outline, but it never seems to work out well for me, so it ends up just being written from a general idea. For instance, The Lost Treasure of Blackbeard was originally supposed to be about a cursed coin that forced the descendants of Blackbeard to essentially take a pilgrimage to Blackbeard’s last known locations to search for his treasure. It was great and the outline was mostly done and then after six chapters, it was scrapped. I did another outline, started working on it, and after five chapters, it was also scrapped. And then I said “whatever, here are the characters,” and created the version that was published.

How do you feel about indie/alternative vs. traditional publishing?

I think it’s easier to become a known author with traditional publishing, but at the end of the day, published is PUBLISHED. And with most people looking up topics to read, I think it slightly levels the playing field.

Do you listen to or talk to your characters?

I didn’t listen to my characters, which was why I went through several failed drafts of The Lost Treasure of Blackbeard. We eventually came to an agreement that I would just let them be them with the stipulation that they had to do specific things or else. It worked out well, I think.

What role does research play in your writing?

Research for a story that is about pirates is absolutely essential. I had to look up pirate language, but REAL language, not just what’s been perpetuated by Hollywood. I also had to look into Blackbeard himself, AND I made it a point to visit all of the sites I wrote about in my book (research doesn’t always have to be books!).

What is one thing you hate about being a writer?

The end. You spend a long time creating your characters and getting to know them and eventually, they become members of your family. You know everything about them, even the parts that aren’t written about, and when the story is done, when your time with them is done, it’s like you’re saying goodbye to your best friends. You can prolong the goodbye with writing a series, but eventually, it will still end. I find myself unable to finish writing certain stories simply because of that reason. I know exactly how the ends will happen, so it isn’t writer’s block, but once it’s written, there’s no taking it back.

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