Tell us a little about yourself.

I write about friendship, self-esteem, fitting in, frenemies, crushes, fame, first loves, and values. My work includes contemporary, middle-grade fiction, adult, and young adult rom-com. I am the author of True Colors, Best Friends…Forever?, Next Door to a Star, Landry in Like, Competing with the Star, Dating the It Guy, Can Dreams Come True, and. In Over Her Head: Lights, Camera, Anxiety.

My work has been featured in USA Today, The Flint Journal, the Grand Haven Tribune, the Beavercreek Current, the Bellbrook Times, Springfield News-Sun, Grand Blanc View, Dayton Daily News, and Living Dayton.

I’m originally from Michigan, which is why I love writing about beach towns. I’ve moved around a bit, including a few years living in Europe. I love reading, watching movies, and playing Nancy Drew video games.

Why Do you write?

I’ve always enjoyed creating stories and little worlds for my characters to live in. I used to enjoy doing that with my Barbie dolls as a kid. Writing helps me make sense of the world, and I love to provide escapism for readers the way my favorite writers offer it for me.

What genre do you write, and why did you pick this genre?

I write in a couple of different genres: young adult, middle grade, and chick-lit. Those are some of my favorite genres to read. I never understand people who write in genres they don’t enjoy reading. I also enjoy reading mysteries, but I’ve never been able to finish writing one.

Tell us about your book.

In Over Her Head: Lights, Camera, Anxiety is about a high school girl named Cecily Taylor who is dating her favorite singer/songwriter, and she gets the chance to embark on her dream career as well. Cecily has everything she’s ever dreamed of: the dream guy, the perfect career. Still, she soon finds out the glamourous life differs from what she expected.

How much time do you dedicate to your author career?

I might not write every day, but I do something writing-related every day. The business side of writing life often takes over. I might spend a day doing that or taking classes. It’s my primary focus, though.

How long on average does it take you to write your books?

Each book has been different. The shortest times have been when it’s a book in a series, and I’ve had the pressure to get that done. I have some books that I have spent years writing and re-writing and others that went pretty quickly.

What is the best money you have ever spent on your author career?

Definitely on writing classes and conferences. I have learned so much from those. I started attending them well before I ever finished a book because I think it’s essential to learn as much as possible before you start. It’s like any other career where you need some training to start.

What is the most challenging part of being an author?

A lot of it is difficult, to be honest. I thought public speaking would be the most challenging part for me. I worked hard to overcome that by forcing myself to read at public events before I ever got published, but in the end, that didn’t end up being the hard part after all. I think it’s not knowing how hard it is to maintain the entire career and the pressure.

What is the best piece of advice you have for other authors?

Continue taking classes because it makes you a better writer. I think there’s always room to improve, learn, and grow.

Also, know your strengths going in. Please don’t push yourself to do anything you’re not comfortable with, whether it’s doing a social media thing or something really out of your comfort zone, because it will be evident to the readers. Just because everyone is doing the latest thing doesn’t mean you have to.

What is your favorite book?

Just As Long as We’re Together

by Judy Blume is my favorite for younger readers,

Goodbye Glamor Girl

by Erika, Tamar is my favorite YA book and probably

The Bell Jar

and

The Great Gatsby

are my favorite classics.

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